Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/55

 PAYING THE MORTGAGE.

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��as to his ability and acquirements. At length the sign appeared, conspicuous in black and gold :

" Cameron Bassett."

Spectacles were re-adjusted, as if their owners feared there might be some opti- cal illusion. But there was the name; and after the closest inspection the let- ters did not change.

Moreover, Aunt Jane had company; and. besides, a tall, bearded man had been seen talking with Regis Dunlap. It might be, but if it was, "he looked so dif- ferent there wouldn't anybody know him."

It was Cameron Bassett, with the very same honest, earnest heart and clear head which had characterized him when his face was browned by exposure, and his hands hardened with work few others would have performed. He was wel- comed, not over cordially, at first, but with gradually increasing respect. What- ever business was entrusted to him was faithfully discharged. The illness of a brother attorney gave him an early op- portunity to appear in a case in which he won the admiration of all who heard his masterly plea, and thus his professional and social position were assured.

Not long after, he was consulted in re- gard to the probable success of a suit, which, if entered, would doubtless be sharply contested by the best counsel that money could procure. The plain- tiffs were too poor to run a heavy risk without a reasonable prospect of gaining their suit.

Mr. Bassett engaged to study it up, and give them his honest opinion. It would afford him just the occupation he desired. Records were examined; old and forgotten titles brought to light and compared, and letters written to individ- uals in various parts of the country ; all done secretly, for fear of consequences. At length there was but one link missing; in the chain of evidence, and after long and fruitless search this was discovered where least expected. Every test was applied to prove or disprove its genuine- ness, until not a doubt remained that Peter Greenleaf had been guilty of a stu- pendous fraud, which could be clearly proved against him.

��At the first intimation of this he knew his hour of retribution had come. He had himself sought for the missing link, and failing in his search, trusted that it did not exist. Now all was over. De- fence was useless. He was a ruined man, and chose death rather than disgrace and poverty. He died by his own hand, and, leaving no will, his heirs claimed the property.

They would not lose the large estate without making an effort to retain it ; but their case was lost before it was tried, and although carried into court, resulted in no good to any one except Cameron Bassett, who made a rare desplay of ora- tory and won a munificent fee.

A week after the decision he called upon Elsie Dunlap, who, after congratu- lating him upon his well earned laurels, said:

"Now that you have proved yourself so skillful a detective, I wish you would discover the person who paid Mr. Green- leaf the mortgage on this place. Mr. El- dridge says he is pledged to secresy, and it troubles me."

" Why should it? " he asked.

" Because I am unwilling to be under obligation to an unknown friend. Regis and I worked hard and lived plainly to earn and save money, that we might own our home, and still it is not our own. The money is at interest, waiting for my creditor, but I should be very much hap- pier if it was paid."

Her companion looked at her smilingly until he saw that tears were gathering in her eyes, when he leaned towards her and asked :

" Will you give me a kiss, in proof that your congratulations are sincere?"

She had no time for consideration. She only felt the unspoken love which sur- rounded her, and yielded to the proffered embrace.

'* The mortgage is wholly cancelled," said her lover, when he could find words to express his happiness. " Your grand- mother paid it in kindness to a poor boy who afterwards paid it in money to Mr. Greenleaf."

" Cameron Bassett ! Did you give the money to Mr. Eldridge to pay the mort- gage on this place?" exclaimed Elsie, in

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