CHAPTER XXIII
THE PLOTTERS FOILED
The news of salt being discovered on Mr. Kimball's farm soon becameknown all over Cardiff. People rubbed their eyes, and wondered ifsomething of the kind wouldn't happen on their land. Several began todig in their gardens and back-yards, others on their hillsides, while anumber hurried to the spring-glade to see what a salt mine looked like.These persons were much disappointed, however, as the only thing theysaw was what digging Mr. Vanter's men had done. Mr. Ranquist was onguard, also, and warned all curious ones away.
The deed was to be signed at ten o'clock the next day, and, from thetime Mr. Vanter took Mr. Kimball off with him, until that night, the twospent many busy hours. There was much looking over of legal books andrecords, and a number of consultations in Squire Bimmer's office. Towardthe close of the day, that had been so full of exciting incidents, Mr.Kimball seemed a little more cheerful.
"I think," said Mr. Vanter, as he and the farmer left the squire'shouse, "that we'll have a little surprise for Mr. Ranquist to-morrow."
"I'm sure I hope it'll come out right," remarked Mr. Kimball.
Mr. Vanter started off toward the Pine Tree Inn.
"Whar ye goin'?" demanded Mr. Kimball.
"Why I thought I'd put up at the tavern, just as I did last night,"rejoined Mr. Vanter.
"Not much, ye won't," interposed Mr. Kimball. "I ain't goin' t' hev afriend a' mine eatin' th' kind a fodder ye'll find up at th' Pine Tree.Ye're comin' home 'ith me. I guess we'll be able t' give ye suthin' t'eat, 'n' a place t' sleep."
"Well, if you insist," agreed Mr. Vanter, to whom the prospect ofanother night in the tavern, under the same roof with Mr. Ranquist andMr. Dudley, was not a pleasant one. So he and Mr. Kimball went back tothe big, comfortable farmhouse, where a smoking-hot supper was waitingfor them. And Mr. Vanter did full justice to the tender chicken, friedcrisp in sweet butter, the salt-rising bread, the buckwheat honey, thepreserved plums, the generously frosted fruit and chocolate cakes, and alot besides.
"It's the best meal I've had in a year," he told the delighted Mrs.Kimball, while Clara blushed at the praise bestowed on her cakes.
Every one was up early next morning, and, soon after breakfast, SquireBimmer came along, bearing his seal as Commissioner of Deeds, his lawbooks, and various legal papers.
"I don't calalate I'll hev much need a' this," said the squire,indicating his seal.
"I hope not," replied Mr. Vanter. "But we can't tell. It all depends onMrs. Kimball," and he smiled a little as he said this.
"Wa'al I guess I kin make out t' act jest 's ye told me to," remarkedthat lady. "Ye needn't be afraid a' me goin' back on ye."
"No danger," chuckled Mr. Kimball.
It was about ten o'clock, when Mr. Ranquist, accompanied by Mr. Dudleyand a lawyer, appeared at the farmhouse. They were led into the parlor,a table was cleared, and Mr. Vanter, Mr. Kimball, and Squire Bimmer drewup close to it. Mr. Ranquist glared at Mr. Vanter, and smiled in an easysort of fashion, as though he already had the property in hispossession. He slowly drew from his valise a bundle of bank-bills.
"There's fifteen hundred dollars in that package," he said, addressingno one in particular.
"I suppose everything is in readiness," said Mr. Dudley to his lawyer."Here is the agreement Mr. Kimball has signed. All that is necessary nowis for him to put his name on the deed."
"'N' I'm ready to do thet," spoke up the farmer. Roger and Adrian, whohad entered the room, wondered at his easy compliance. They had expectedhim to refuse, and looked to see Mr. Ranquist compel him, by means ofthe agreement. Pens and ink were ready, and, in a few seconds Mr.Kimball had affixed his signature to the deed, by the terms of which heconveyed a certain tract of land, described very carefully, to theUniversal Salt Company, to have and to hold, and so on, with a lot oflegal terms.
"Now," remarked the lawyer for the two engineers, when he had blottedMr. Kimball's name, "as soon as Mrs. Kimball has signed you will get thefifteen hundred dollars."
"Oh, yes, ye want Mrs. Kimball now," said her husband, smiling a bit,and not at all like a man who has been cheated into selling a valuablesalt mine for a small sum. "Oh, yes, Mrs. Kimball. Wait; I'll call her.Here, mother," he said, going to the door, "come in. We need ye fer aminute."
Mrs. Kimball entered as her husband went out. She was a little excitedover the part she was to play.
"Sign right there, please," said the lawyer, pointing to the space belowMr. Kimball's name, and seeing to it, as the law requires, that thehusband was not present when the wife signed the deed.
Mrs. Kimball did not seem to understand. She made no motion to pick upthe pen. The lawyer waited expectantly, and then said:
"Just sign your name, will you, please?"
"No, sir," replied Mrs. Kimball, firmly, "I won't sign. I've made up mymind not to put my name to this deed, 'n' I ain't agoin' to."
"What?" exclaimed the lawyer.
"What?" cried Mr. Ranquist.
"What?" almost shouted Mr. Dudley.
Then all three said, "What!" in a chorus.
"No, sir!" repeated Mrs. Kimball, "I'm not agoin' t' sign, 'n' thet'sth' end on 't," and she shut her lips firmly.
"Why this is ridiculous. I never heard of such a thing," began thelawyer. "Why, my dear Mrs. Kimball, your husband can't convey thisproperty unless you sign the deed also. That is the law. Husband andwife must both sign the deed. This puts us in a pretty predicament!"
"I thought it would," said Mr. Vanter, softly; and at the words, Mr.Ranquist turned angrily toward him.
"Oh, so you've been meddling," the engineer remarked, with a sneer.
"If you call it that," rejoined Mr. Vanter coolly.
"Can't you induce your wife to sign?" asked the lawyer of Mr. Kimball.
The grizzled farmer, who had returned, smiled good naturedly.
"I don't like t' be disobligin'," he said, slowly, "but from longexperience I know thet whenever Mrs. Kimball makes up her mind not t' doa thing, she won't do it. I've tried her before, 'n' I know. Ef she saysshe won't sign, there's no use a' me, er any one else tryin' t' makeher," and Mr. Kimball sat down.
"And I suppose I hardly need point out," interposed Mr. Vanter, "that,without the consent of Mrs. Kimball her husband cannot legally sell thatproperty. I rather guess the Universal Salt Company will have to getalong without the spring-glade, Mr. Ranquist. What do you think of thesituation now?"
Mr. Ranquist, without replying, turned angrily to his lawyer.
"I'm afraid he's right," assented the legal representative of the foiledplotters. "The law requires the unenforced consent of the wife if thehusband sells any of his property. This is a woman's dower right, andamounts to a third interest in her husband's real estate. We can't getthis land unless Mrs. Kimball signs the deed, and she--"
"She's not goin' t' sign, 'n' ye needn't try t' make her," interruptedthat lady. "I guess that'll put a spoke in yer wheel," she added as sheswept out of the room.
"I rather think th' deal's off, gentlemen," said Mr. Kimball as he laida five hundred dollar bill with the other money. "I'm sorry, but itcan't be helped. Curi's how obstinate some womenfolks be," and hechuckled loudly. "That's yer money back."
For a little while Mr. Ranquist looked very angry and disappointed.
"I think you are all making a mistake," he said. "We made a fair bargainfor the land, and gave you just what you asked. There may be salt on it,and, then, there may not be. If there is, it may not be that there willbe enough to make it pay. But we are willing to take the risk. However,if you think you should have more money, why perhaps five hundreddollars additional--"
Mr. Kimball made a gesture of dissent.
"Or say one thousand more," said Mr. Ranquist, eagerly.
"I reckon we won't do any tradin' t'-day," broke in Mr. Kimball. "Icalalate I'll farm thet salt mine myself. I guess I kin make out t' dig'nuff t' make it pay."
"All right, suit yourself," came from Mr. Ranquist, as if he was readyto
give up. He turned to the lawyer, who handed him a paper.
"I'm sorry," said the engineer, and his lips showed a cruel smile, thatindicated just the opposite feeling, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll beobliged to ask Mr. Kimball to pay off this mortgage. It is some timeoverdue, and has been assigned to us. I presume you have the moneyhandy, Mr. Kimball, otherwise we shall at once begin action toforeclose, and take the farm from you. In the meantime we shall, as amatter of precaution, retain control of that part of the land known asthe spring-glade."
"Wh--What?" stammered poor Mr. Kimball, for the demand of Mr. Ranquistcame like a stab in the back. "Why-why, I thought--"
"Never mind what you thought," interrupted Mr. Ranquist. "The questionis, have you the cash to pay off this mortgage with?" and his tone helda threat.
"N-no, sir--I can't say--wa'al, I ain't got it, 'n' thet's th'--"
"Oh, yes, he has it all right," broke in Mr. Vanter. "Here is themoney!"
He threw a roll of crisp bills on the table.
"I think you'll find the amount correct," he went on, turning to Mr.Ranquist, who showed every sign of deep chagrin. "I rather guess I'vebeaten you at your own game," proceeded the surveyor. "I was preparedfor this little move on your part. Now, if you will kindly cancel themortgage I guess that will be about all to-day."
There was nothing for Mr. Ranquist to do, but accept the offer, and takethe money. He would much have preferred foreclosing the mortgage, sincethen he would be in possession of the farm and the valuable salt mine.
"How--how's this?" began Mr. Kimball brokenly. "I didn't know--"
"That's enough, now," said Mr. Vanter kindly. "I'm attending to this foryou. The mine on your land will be worked by the Pipe Line Salt Company,and not by the Universal," he said to Mr. Ranquist. "Still, if you careto make us an offer, we may be willing to consider it. And, now, let mebid you good day."
Silently receipting for the money, and cancelling the mortgage, Mr.Ranquist, followed by Mr. Dudley and the lawyer, left the room, neitherone speaking.
"Hurrah!" cried Adrian, as the door closed on the plotters, "we beat'em, Roger. Hurrah!"
"And it's all due to Roger, here," said Mr. Vanter as he shook handsheartily with the boy. "If he hadn't discovered the white crystals, andcalled to see me, these men would now be in possession of the salt mine.As it is, Mr. Kimball still owns it."
"But ye paid th' mortgage," insisted the farmer, to whom the wholetransaction was still much of a mystery. "That entitles ye t' th' farm,don't it?"
"You may look upon that as a loan from me," said Mr. Vanter. "A sort ofinvestment. But we are all still pretty much in the dark. Suppose thereis salt in such a small quantity that it will not pay to mine it?"
This idea made every one feel quite anxious.
"We'll soon find out, however," went on the surveyor, "for I'm going tosink a shaft to-morrow. Until then we shall have to be patient."