St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-09-02
CHAPTER X1.-fcontInued.l J

YER"
"Oh, mortgages aren't at all serious
not necessarily fatal-lf you don't
take cold or expose yourself before IT'S
over"
How does one contract mort
gage ?" said Zelda.
Il caught mine at college" said OIL
i've. we blew our substance on odu-
cation. I Just found Il out recently.
Mother has Leen carrying the burden
of 1t all by herself The subject isa't
pleasant Let us talk OF something
else"
where do you keep your mortgage"
asked Zelda half-serlously How does
one get at the benst7"
ours seems to be In a bank Just OF
present" answered olive. evaslvely.
THAT sounds formidable hut It's
too bad that YOU have TO move. iIar-
rison street Is the most charming
street In town I can't think OF you 1s
living anywhere else except ! nthis
pretty house"
You'll have TO- for me move almost
at once as they say In stories"
Ielda's father continued TO pay
sum every month 10 her credit at the
bank. and money matters were rarely
did not understand how anxious he was
Co avoid any clash with Rodney Mer-
riam over the management OF her
property. and she did not appreciate
the smallness OF the sum he gave her
compared with the full amount her
property should have earned. Zelda
was spoken OF In Mariona as an heir
ess, and II was the general belief that
M. H.s Al.
left her by her mother. but the large
estate which Ezra Dameron had been
accumulatlng through many years.
There, too, were Mrs Forrest and Rod
ney Merriam. who were chiidloas, both
were rich by local standards
When, one afternoon week later.
Hho decided 90 speak 90 her father
about olives porploxity. she went 90
his once In the Dameron Block and
made no effort 90 conceal the fact that
abe had come on business. Her father
was porlng over his accounts Ra she
stood suddenly on the threshold OF the
private room.
why Bee what brings you heroi"
he exclaimed.
n came ON an errand." said Zelda. Il
don't think your housekeeping 10 we'll
done" she added, gianeing about ths
room
1T serves mo very we'll" said tho
old man. business 10 only to DO con-
Ialdercd as business"
Il have Just heard that olive Mer.
iriam and her mother are In trouble
ahai IT, money trouble"
gic looked at her quickly. and search
I'd her with his sharp eyes Tho Mer-
riama had been trading on zelda's
friendship. he decided. and ho smiled
10 himself as he settled back IN his
chair. determined 20 thwart any auiS-
otio plan that Zelda might broad In
their behalf
II imagine that they have very 1T
tle--yery little" he said.
u know nothing OF their affairni but
I have just learned that they expect
90 move. and when | asked Olive WIN.
she said they owed a debt they couldn't
pay. DO you happen 20 know what
this debt lsg" she asked
yes; | hold the mortgage It's Ia
the hank for collection"
"Sho didn't tell mo that YOU held A.
She said hank had a. The money
was borrowed 10 pay olives way
through school Tho debt In 60 you"
80 me as trustee" he corrected.
"Is Il. then. something of mine. faith
err"
Your surmlse Is quite correct
hold, as trustee FOR you, several notes,
given by Mrs. Merriam. They're now
In default ana In the bank for eolleo-
tion,"
"l'm sorry I didn't know that ear
Her. father. | wish YOU had told mo.
l have been seeing a good deal OF my
Cousin Olive. like her immensely; I
have been TO her house familiarly, and
she has been 10 see me pretty often,
when she could set away from her
work. I didn't know, OF course. that
was even remotely their creditor, The
situation isn't exactly comfortable,
now that ! know A."
I'm sorry that the matter should
have risen; but there Is no reason why
they should transfer their burdens TO
your shoulders. Zee"
Il hope you understand that they
have never mentioned this subject or
hinted that they owed you or me.
only know that they feel they must
leave the house. fancy they are be-
ing pushed by the bank-to pay tho
money"
'rhe bank has. OF course. no alter
native In tho matter It's their busi-
ness 10 collect"
"But II the owner OF the note doesn't
want TO push tho people who made the
debt"
IT is very bad business 10 carry
overdue paper New notes have 60 Lo
given In such cases"
Il was clear TO Zelda that her father
had no sympathy with her liking for
the MeTriams or her wish To help them
In their difficulty. She was sure that
she could manage In some way TO stop
the pressure that was being brought 10
bear on them. and she hoped TO do it
through her father without going 10
her uncle. who would. she knew, give
her any money she might ask. after he
had made a row about H. HUT it Iseas-
ed her TO carry the matter through
with her father.
what Is the amount. father9"
Two thousand dollars-with iater-
est; with accumulated interest"
Zelda smiled in relief She could
comprehend two thousand dollars
And how much Is tho house worth2"
"About five thousand possibly, But
there is no market for such property
Just at present The trend OF real es-
tate is all in another direction"
Il want 10 carry this loan, II II has
40 be carried, personally l want you
10 make II over 20 me. and then take
IL out OF my allowance, or charge II TO
me In the trusteeship. ! suppose l
might buy Il OF you-that would be
moro businesslike; but haven't more
than two hundred dollars. Maybe you'd
sell Il to mo for that, father. as a spe-
cial favor?"
1T Is 10 guard you against Just such
philanthropy that am your trustee.
You know nothing OF these things,