I, "the law gives her that, and justly. For the creditors
knew all about the law when they took those bonds. So you need have no
qualms of conscience on that."

"As none of it belongs to me," said Josie, "I shall leave all that to
mamma. I avoid the necessity of settling it by ceasing to be 'the
richest heiress in this part of the West'--one of the uses of adversity.
But to proceed. Mamma says that there is a corporation, or something,
forming to pay our debts and take our property, and that it will take a
hundred thousand dollars more to pay the debts than the estate is worth.
I must understand why this corporation should do this. I can see that it
will save pa's good name in the business world, and save us from public
bankruptcy; but ought we to be saved these things at such a cost? And
can we permit--a corporation--or any one, to do this for us?"

Mr. Elkins nodded to me to speak.

"My dear," said I, "it's another illustration of the truth that no man
liveth unto himself alone--"

She shrank, as if she feared some fresh hurt was about to be touched,
and I saw that it was the second part of the text the anticipation of
which gave her pain. Quotation is sometimes ill for a green wound.

"The fact is," I went on, "that things in Lattimore are not in condition
to bear a shock--general money conditions, I mean, you know."

"I know," she said, nodding assent; "I can see that."

"Your father did a very large business for a time," I continued; "and
when he sold lands he took some cash in payment, and for the balance
notes of the various purchasers, secured by mortgages on the properties.
Many of these persons are mere adventurers, who bought on speculation,
and when their first notes came due failed to pay. Now if you had these
notes, you could hold them, or foreclose the mortgages, and, beyond
being disappointed in getting the money, no harm would be done."

"I understand," said Josie. "I knew something of this before."

"But if we haven't the notes," inquired her mother, "where are they?"

"Well," I went on, "you know how we have all handled these matters here.
Mr. Trescott did as we all did: he negotiated them. The Grain Belt Trust
Company placed them for him, and his are the only securities it has
handled except those of our syndicate. He took them to the Trust Company
and signed them on the back, and thus promised to pay them if the first
signer failed. Then the trust company attached its guaranty to them, and