The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-06-04
CHAPTER XVI.
GREEN MAKES ANOTHER LOAN.

came ana ne was uSlered mo Mr.. Mills
private Office. Harry Pearson was
there, and he received Green with a
welcoming smile as he rose and said:
: "Mr. Green, l am sorry You have been
delayed SO long, but it could not be
helped. l pleaded with my friend Mills
to make an exception of your case, on
account of your sick wife, and bring
you in before your turn, but Mr.. Mills
is very conscientious and systematic in
his business affairs, and he refused to
do it. Said perhaps some of the others
were in as close places as you were, etc.
However, now that you are here, hope
Mr.. Mills will nakelas much haste as
possible and let you 60"
John murmured his thanks for all
this interest on the part Of Pearson,
then turning TO Mills said:
Il suppose you are aware of the OBJ
ject Of my visit?"
Certainly" said Mills. "You want
money, and the first thing to do is to
list the property you propose to give as
security. just call over the articles
VIII ,e | note them down.
J hn named over the articles to-
getner with a description of each one,
including his two horses. the harness,
wagon, plows and other farm property
Now" asked Mills when the list
was complete, 'how much money do
you expect to get on these?"
II haven't made up my mind to any
paiEcular sum-" said John. 81 only
kDQ7 that have given you in every
c9AC OF three hundred dollars worth
of property."
Three hundred" repeated Mills.
"Conld you sell it for that amount?"
4 1No, ~ suppose ! could not under
7 present circumstances" John admitted.
mo, you could not But could you
sell it for two hundred dollars?',
mot at present"
mo, nor you couldn't sell it for one
hundred, could you?"
81 expect not"
'Nor fifty?"
81 don't know. Perhaps I couldn't.
But remember that is no criterion OF
worth. Nothing sells now but food"
But it is a criterion of worth, Mr..
Green" Mills corrected. SIT is critic
rion of value because a thing is only
worth what It will sell for. We govern
our loans by what the property would
fetchif it was sold to-day, and not what
itmight be worth if times were good
and money plenty. Ordinarily your
things might sell for three hundred dol
Wars. They might have been worth that
last year or they may be worth it next
year, but that has nothing to do with
the present time. We're dealing with
the present, and I'll make you loan on
the present value of your property. I'll
advance twenty-five dollars on it,"
Great heavens cried John. "Only
twenty-five dollarsr
"Only twenty-five dollars" Mills re-
peated. II wouldn't do that if your
friend and my friend, Mr., Pearson,
hadn't intcrccded in your behalf. /
would rather not take the business at
all, and but for him | wouldn't offer
to advance more than ten dollars. But
if you want to take twenty-five you can
have it. Please decide quickly, though,
for my time is precious, and others are
in waiting"
81 can't accept so small an amount, :"
John replied, promptly. 81 can do
better. 1 will let it go at fifty, but no
less"
"Then our business is at an end, said
Mills, as he arose and started toward
the door.
Hold on, Mills" Pearson called. 81
want to speak with you moment"
Mills and Pearson withdrew to the
opposite side of the room and talked for
some time in low toues. ,IOhu did not
hear a word that passed between them,
but he felt assured that Pearson was
arguing for him, and when mt last they
came back and sat down he was assured
of this, for Mills said ut once:
"AIr. Green, am going to make an
exception of your case, and advance you
fifty dollars. | wouldn't do it for an
other man on earth. and ought not do
it for you. It is taking u great isli,
and besides it is setting bad precedent.
However, Mr. Pearson says yonr wife
is in bad way, and he has pleaded
with me for her sake to show Il liberal
spirit,and against my Judgment I've con
sented for once to mingle charity with
business. must ask you to lsccp this
transaction quiet. Mt least the amount
of the loan must remain a secret"
John readily consented to this small
request, and Mills proceeded TO make
out the papers, and a few minutes later
John Green emerged from the private
office with fifty dollars in his pocket.
Fifty dollars did say?
Yes, fifty dollars, less Mills commits
sions and interest, which were eight
dollars for sixty days loan, three per
cent. per month for interest and five
per cent. per month for commissions. A
small matrer, truly, and an insignificant
sum. Only eight dollars for the use of
forty-two dollars for two months. At
that rate, if Green had made the loan
for a year he would have received two
L