“Good God! how can that be? Isn’t there th’ writin’s?” “Oh, don’t alarm yourself unnecessarily, Mr. Schofield. It may be all right. The late Mr. Beaumont was a very cautious man, I’ve always understood. Still, as you say, there wasn’t a very spirited bidding when the mill was put up before, and if there should be a general strike, or what comes to much the same thing in the long run, a general lockout, mill property will be a drug on the market.” “Still, aw’ve Mr. Beaumont’s word.” Mr. Storth shrugged his shoulders. “Exactly. Well, Mr. Beaumont’s away. Lord only knows when he’ll be back. It’s the Long Vacation, you know. Meanwhile, tho’ it’s very irregular, I’ll let you have my own cheque, on my private account, for the interest. Doubtless Beaumont will see me all right. All the same, I’m glad my little bit isn’t out on mill property and I’ll take precious good care it never is. Of course, it was all right to have your money out in a good round sum when you were up to your eyes in business, and hadn’t time to look after things. But if I were a man of your years, with a fair amount of leisure and settled in my native village, do you know the kind of investment I should fancy?” “Let’s be knowing, sir, if yo’ don’t mind.” “I’d lend a hundred here and a hundred there on good cottage property—property that I could walk past every day of my life. I should have the satisfaction of knowing I’d helped some hard-working man to become the owner of his own dwelling.” “Wi’ me on th’ top of it.” “Exactly, with you on the top of it, as a sort of ballast; and if you like to devote your retired leisure to serving your native village on the Local Board, or on the Board of Guardians, why you could serve your own interests at the same time by keeping the rates down . . . .” “Them poor rates is a scandal,” interposed Mr. Schofield with conviction. “Keeping the rates down and consequently the value of property up; and with three thousand pounds out in small sums take it you’ve thirty voters at least you can rely on any time you like to put up for office.” “Aw winnot say but aw had thowt o’ th’ Local Board, an’ happen’ th’ Guardians. But nob’dy’s axed me to stand.” Mr. Storth smiled indulgently. “Oh, that’s easily managed when the time comes. Let me see, what’s the formula? ‘Yielding to the urgent solicitations of a large and influential body of my fellow townsmen I have consented to allow myself to be nominated as a candidate for your suffrages at the forthcoming election. If elected, etc.’ But we’re jumping a little before we get to the stile, eh? You haven’t got these thirty nice snug mortgages yet, have you?” “No; but aw sooin can have. Just yo’ call in that brass i’ double quick time.”