Thankful's Inheritance Part 63

"Oh," she said, "that's how you feel, is it? Well, if I felt that way toward anybody I don't think I'd be plannin' to marry 'em."

"Ugh! What's the use of talkin' rubbish? I've GOT to marry her, ain't I? She's got that paper I was fool enough to sign. Oh, let me alone, Hannah! I won't go over there till I have to. I'd ruther stay to home enough sight."

Hannah put her arms about his neck. "There, there, Kenelm, dearie," she said soothingly, "you eat your breakfast like a nice brother. I'LL be good to you, if n.o.body else ain't. And I didn't have to sign any paper afore I'd do it either."

Kenelm grunted ungraciously.

"'Twas your fault, anyhow," he muttered. "If you hadn't bossed me and driven me into workin' for Thankful Barnes 'twouldn't have happened. I wouldn't have thought of gettin' engaged to be married."

"Never mind, dearie. You ain't married yet. Perhaps you won't be. And, anyhow, you know I'LL never boss you any more."

Kenelm looked at her. There was an odd expression in his eyes.

"You bet you won't!" he said, slowly. "I'll see to that."

"Why, Kenelm, what do you mean?"

"I don't mean nothin'--maybe. Give me some more coffee."

Captain Obed decided that the present was not the time to suggest a trip to the High Cliff House. He went out again, to walk along the path and think over what he had just heard. It was interesting, as showing the att.i.tude of one of the contracting parties toward the "engagement," the announcement of which had been such a staggering finish to the "big day"

of the County Fair.

Winnie S. came whistling up the path from the village.

"Hi, Cap'n Bangs!" he shouted. "I was just goin' to stop at Hannah's to tell you somethin'."

"You was, eh?"

"Yup. Then I was goin' on to the High Cliff. I've got somethin' to take to Mrs. Thankful. What do you suppose 'tis?"

He exhibited the long envelope.

"John Kendrick sent it to her," he said. "I don't know what's in it. And he wants you to come to his office right off, Cap'n Obed. That's what I was goin' to tell you. He says not to wait till afternoon, same as he said, but to come now. It's important, he says."

John was seated at the desk in his office when the captain opened the door. He bowed gravely.

"Take off your hat and coat, Captain," he said. "Sit down. I'm glad you got my message and came early. I am expecting the other party at any moment."

Captain Obed was puzzled.

"The other party?" he repeated. "What other party?"

"My--er--well, we'll call him my client. He is on his way here and I may need you--as a witness."

"Witness? What to?"

"You will see. Now, Captain, if you'll excuse me, I have some papers to arrange. Make yourself as comfortable as you can. I'm sure you won't have to wait long."

Fifteen minutes later the rasping, arrogant "honk" of a motor horn came from the road outside. Heavy, important steps sounded upon the office platform. The door opened and in came Mr. E. Holliday Kendnick.

Captain Obed had known of the great man's expected arrival, but he had not expected it so early in the day. E. Holliday wore a luxurious fur-lined coat and looked as prosperous and important as ever, but also--so it seemed to the captain--he looked disturbed and puzzled and angry.

The captain rose to his feet and said, "Good morning," but except for a nod of recognition, his greeting was unanswered. Mr. Kendrick slammed the door behind him, stalked across the office, took a letter from his pocket and threw it down upon his attorney's desk.

"What's the meaning of that?" he demanded.

John was perfectly calm. "Sit down, Mr. Kendrick," he said.

"No, I won't sit down. What the devil do you mean by sending me that thing? You expected me, didn't you? You got my wire saying I was coming."

"Yes, I got it. Sit down. I have a good deal to say and it may take some time. Throw off your coat."

E. Holliday threw the fur coat open, but he did not remove it. He jerked a chair forward and seated himself upon it.

"Now what does that thing mean?" he demanded, pointing to the envelope he had tossed on the desk.

John picked up the envelope and opened it. A letter and a bank check fell out.

"I will explain," he said quietly. "Mr. Kendrick, you know Captain Obed Bangs, I think. Oh, it is all right. The captain is here at my request.

I asked him to be here. I wanted a reliable witness and he is reliable.

This," he went on, taking up the letter, "is a note I wrote you, Mr.

Kendrick. It states that I am resigning my position as your attorney.

And this," picking up the other paper, "is my check for five hundred dollars, the amount of your retainer, which I am returning to you. . . .

You understand this so far, Captain?"

E. Holliday did not wait to hear whether the captain understood or not.

His big face flamed red.

"But what the devil?" he demanded.

John held up his hand.

"One moment, please," he said. "Captain Bangs, I want to explain a few things. As you know, I have been acting as Mr. Kendrick's attorney in the matter of the property occupied by Mrs. Barnes. He wished me to find a means of forcing her to sell that property to him. Now, when a person owning property does not wish to sell, that person cannot be forced into giving up the property unless it is discovered that the property doesn't belong to that particular person. That's plain, isn't it?"

He was speaking to Captain Obed, and the captain answered.

"But it does belong to her," he declared. "Her Uncle Abner Barnes willed it to her. Course it belongs to her!"

"I know. But sometimes there are such things as flaws in a t.i.tle. That is to say, somewhere and at some time there has been a transfer of that property that was illegal. In such a case the property belongs to the previous holder, no matter in how many instances it has changed hands since. In the present case it was perfectly plain that Mrs. Barnes thought she owned that land, having inherited it from her uncle.

Therefore she could not be forced to sell unless it was discovered that there was a flaw in the t.i.tle--that she did not own it legally at all. I told my client--Mr. Kendrick, here--that, and he ordered me to have the t.i.tle searched or to search it myself. I have spent a good deal of time at the recorder's office in Ostable doing that very thing. And I discovered that there was such a flaw; that Mrs. Barnes did not legally own that land upon which her house stands. And, as the land was not hers, the house was not hers either."

Holliday Kendrick struck the desk a thump with his fist.

"Good!" he cried. "Good enough! I told 'em I generally got what I wanted! Now I'll get it this time. Kendrick--"

"Wait," said John. "Captain Obed, you understand me so far?"

The captain's outraged feelings burst forth.