"I had an int'rest in Tom Hotchkiss' store. Ye all knowed that; but ye didn't know how much. I went on his notes--all of 'em. For nigh twelve thousand dollars. More'n I got in the world. More'n this place is wuth--an' the stock--_everything_! All I got in the world is gone if Tom Hotchkiss ain't an honest man, and it looks as though he'd run away and didn't intend to come back!" CHAPTER III MARTY SPEAKS OUT The silence of misunderstanding, almost of unbelief, fell upon the little group in the Day sitting room, shocked as it was by Uncle Jason's declaration. Janice could not find her tongue. Aunt 'Mira's fat face was as blank as a wall. Marty finally recovered breath enough to expel: "Whew! Hi tunket! _That's_ what was behind his red vest, was it? Has he really stung you, Dad?" "But, Jase Day!" at last burst out Aunt 'Mira, "ye air jest a-scarin' us for nothin'. Of course you can levy on his goods." "They're not paid for," Uncle Jason interrupted. "That's what Aaron found out for me. Tom got a line of credit I didn't know nothin' about. The jobbers and wholesalers have first call. There are no outstandin' accounts owin' the store; Tom did a spot cash business." "But what did he do with the money he got on the notes you indorsed, Uncle Jason?" cried Janice. "That's what I don't know," Mr. Day replied, sitting down heavily again and resting his head in both hands. "He's gone--and _it's_ gone. That's all I know. I found out to-day he hasn't got ten dollars to his account at the bank. The bank holds most of his notes, and of course they are goin' to come down on me as the notes fall due." Mr. Day groaned very miserably. Salt tears stung Janice's eyelids. "Cricky, Dad! can they take everything that belongs to us?" asked Marty, awestruck. Mr. Day nodded. "Ev'ry endurin' thing. On an indorsement of a note even a man's tools and his household goods ain't exempt." "Oh, Uncle!" cried Janice in pity. "Well, then, Jase Day," gasped his wife, regaining her usual volubility, "what have I allus told ye? If ye'd put the homestead in my name they couldn't get that away from ye. It's what I allus wanted ye to do. And I ain't even got dower right in it, as I'd oughter have. Ye don't 'pear to have the sense ye was born with. Write your name on another man's note--an' for sech a feller as Tom Hotchkiss--when ye didn't know nothin' about him." "I went to school with his father. Old Caleb Hotchkiss and me was chums," defended Uncle Jason weakly. "I allus thought Tom had it in him to make good." "Oh, he's done good, it 'pears," snapped Aunt 'Mira. "He's done _you_ good an' brown. Ye wouldn't tell me nothin' about it, 'cept ye'd invested a little money in the store when 'twas first opened. That's what ye _said_." "And it was the truth," groaned Uncle Jason. "It was later I indorsed the notes."