Rodgers Warren
intended, or hoped, to make restitution before he died."
"Yes. Knowin' 'Bije, I can see that. He was weak, that was his main
trouble. He didn't mean to be crooked, but his knees wa'n't strong
enough to keep him straight when it come to a hard push. But he made his
note payable to a Company that was already sold out, so it ain't good
for nothin'. Now, why--"
Graves struck the table with his open hand.
"He doesn't understand at all," he exclaimed, impatiently. "Captain
Warren, listen! That note is made payable to the Akrae Company.
Against that company some unknown stockholder has an apparent claim
for two-fifths of all dividends ever paid and two-fifths of the seven
hundred and fifty thousand received for the sale. With accrued interest,
that claim amounts to over five hundred thousand dollars."
"Yes, but--"
"That note binds Rodgers Warren's estate to pay that claim. His own
personal estate! And that estate is not worth over four hundred and
sixty thousand dollars! If this stockholder should appear and press his
claim, your brother's children would be, not only penniless, but thirty
thousand dollars in debt! There! I think that is plain enough!"
He leaned back, grimly satisfied with the effect of his statement.
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