I have it here now, and in the meanwhile
surrender it to you. Of the rest, you will make whatever use that
appears desirable for the general benefit of Silverdale. Courthorne
has absolutely no claim upon it."
He laid a wallet on the table, and Dane glanced at Colonel Barrington,
who nodded when he returned it unopened.
"We will pass it without counting. You accept the charge, sir?" he
said.
"Yes," said Barrington gravely. "It seems it is forced on me. Well,
we will glance through the statement."
For at least ten minutes nobody spoke, and then Dane said. "There are
prairie farmers who would consider what he is leaving behind him a
competence."
"If this agreement, which was apparently verbal, is confirmed by
Courthorne, the entire sum rightfully belongs to the man he made his
tenant," said Barrington, and Macdonald smiled gravely as he glanced at
Winston.
"I think we can accept the statement that it was made without question,
sir," he said.
Winston shook his head. "I claim one thousand dollars as the fee of my
services, and they should be worth that much, but I will take no more."
"Are we not progressing a little too rapidly, sir?" said Dane. "It
seems to me we have yet to decide whether it is necessary that the man
who has done so much for us should leave Silverdale."
Winston smiled a trifle grimly. "I think," he said, "that question
will very shortly be answered for you."
Macdonald held his hand up, and a rapid thud of hoofs came faintly
through the silence.
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