The doctor
says she had ought to go to Chicago. I just can't raise the
price."
"How much is the mortgage?"
"Three thousand," replied the man; and he added with a gust of
weak despair, "My God, man! That mill's all I've got to keep bread
in the mouths of my motherless children."
"I reckon Big Tim has offered to cancel the mortgage notes and
give you about a thousand to go on," Jeff suggested casually.
Killen nodded. "It would put me on my feet again and give the
kiddie her chance." The answer had slipped out naturally, but now
the fear chilled him that he had been lured into making a
confession. "I didn't say I was going to take it," he added
hastily.
"You're quite safe with me, Killen," Jeff told him. He was
wondering whether he could not get Captain Chunn to take over the
mortgage.
"I'm not so much struck on Hardy myself," grumbled the legislator.
"He's a rich man, just as Frome is. Six of one and half a dozen of
the other, looks like to me."
"No, Killen. Frome represents the Transcontinental and the utility
corporations. Hardy stands for the people. And you're pledged to
support Hardy. You mustn't forget that."
"I ain't likely to forget that mortgage either," Killen came back
drearily.
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