"Squire Haynes talks fair enough," he soliloquized; "and,
perhaps, he means what he says. If it hadn't been for what Mr.
Morton told me, I should have confidence in him. But a man who
will betray a trust is capable of breaking his word to me. I
think I'll look round a little, and see if I can't provide for
the worse in case it comes."
Just after Frank left the house, John entered his father's
presence.
"What did Frank Frost want of you, father?" he asked.
"He came about the mortgage."
"Did he want to pay it?"
"No, he wants me to renew it."
"Of course you refused."
"Of course I did no such thing. Do you think I am a fool?"
"You don't mean to say that you agreed to renew it?" demanded
John, in angry amazement.
Squire Haynes rather enjoyed John's mystification.
"Come," said he, "I'm afraid you'll never make a lawyer if you're
not sharper than that comes to. Never reveal your plans to your
adversary. That's an important principle. If I had refused, he
would have gone to work, and in ten days between now and the
first of July, he'd have managed in some way to scrape together
the eight hundred dollars.
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