"Very well, mother, I'll go now. I suppose it won't make any difference if I don't come back for an hour or two."

"No, that will be in time."

Mrs. Frost did not ask Frank where he was going. She had perfect faith in him, and felt sure that he would never become involved in anything discreditable.

Frank pa.s.sed through the village without stopping at the store. He deferred his mother's errand until his return. Pa.s.sing up the village street, he stopped before the fine house of Squire Haynes. Opening the gate he walked up the graveled path and rang the bell.

A servant-girl came to the door.

"Is Squire Haynes at home?" inquired Frank.

"Yes, but he's eating breakfast."

"Will he be through soon?"

"Shure and I think so."

"Then I will step in and wait for him."

"Who shall I say it is?"

"Frank Frost."

Squire Haynes had just pa.s.sed his cup for coffee when Bridget entered and reported that Frank Frost was in the drawing-room and would like to see him when he had finished his breakfast.

"Frank Frost!" repeated the squire, arching his eyebrows. "What does he want, I wonder?"

"Shure he didn't say," said Bridget.

"Very well."

"He is captain of the boys' company, John, isn't he?" asked the squire.

"Yes," said John sulkily. "I wish him joy of his office. I wouldn't have anything to do with such a crowd of ragam.u.f.fins."

Of course the reader understands that this was "sour grapes" on John's part.

Finishing his breakfast leisurely, Squire Haynes went into the room where Frank was sitting patiently awaiting him.

Frank rose as he entered.

"Good morning, Squire Haynes," he said, politely rising as he spoke.

"Good morning," said the squire coldly. "You are an early visitor."

If this was intended for a rebuff, Frank did not choose to take any notice of it.

"I call on a little matter of business, Squire Haynes," continued Frank.

"Very well," said the squire, seating himself in a luxurious armchair, "I am ready to attend to you."

"I believe you hold a mortgage on our farm."

Squire Haynes started. The thought of Frank's real business had not occurred to him. He had hoped that nothing would have been said in relation to the mortgage until he was at liberty to foreclose, as he wished to take the Frosts unprepared. He now resolved, if possible, to keep Frank in ignorance of his real purpose, that he might not think it necessary to prepare for his attack.

"Yes," said he indifferently; "I hold quite a number of mortgages, and one upon your father's farm among them."

"Isn't the time nearly run out?" asked Frank anxiously.

"I can look if you desire it," said the squire, in the same indifferent tone.

"I should be glad if you would."

"May I ask why you are desirous of ascertaining the precise date?" asked the squire. "Are you intending to pay off the mortgage?"

"No, sir," said Frank. "We are not prepared to do so at present."

Squire Haynes felt relieved. He feared for a moment that Mr. Frost had secured the necessary sum, and that he would be defeated in his wicked purpose.

He drew out a large number of papers, which he rather ostentatiously scattered about the table, and finally came to the mortgage.

"The mortgage comes due on the first of July," he said.

"Will it be convenient for you to renew it, Squire Haynes?" asked Frank anxiously. "Father being absent, it would be inconvenient for us to obtain the amount necessary to cancel it. Of course, I shall be ready to pay the interest promptly."

"Unless I should have sudden occasion for the money," said the squire, "I will let it remain. I don't think you need feel any anxiety on the subject."

With the intention of putting Frank off his guard, Squire Haynes a.s.sumed a comparatively gracious tone. This, in the case of any other man, would have completely rea.s.sured Frank. But he had a strong distrust of the squire, since the revelation of his character made by his friend Mr.

Morton.

"Could you tell me positively?" he asked, still uneasy. "It is only ten days now to the first of July, and that is little enough to raise the money in."

"Don't trouble yourself," said the squire. "I said unless I had sudden occasion for the money, because unforeseen circ.u.mstances might arise.

But as I have a considerable sum lying at the bank, I don't antic.i.p.ate anything of the kind."

"I suppose you will give me immediate notice, should it be necessary.

We can pay four hundred dollars now. So, if you please, the new mortgage can be made out for half the present amount."

"Very well," said the squire carelessly. "Just as you please as to that.

Still, as you have always paid my interest regularly, I consider the investment a good one, and have no objection to the whole remaining."

"Thank you, sir," said Frank, rising to go.

Frank took his hat, and, bowing to the squire, sought the front door.

His face wore a perplexed expression. He hardly knew what to think about the interview he had just had.

"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."