letter, Miss Putnam, and I have come to see if I can be of
any service to you."
"Oh! I know you can," said Lindy; "you are wealthy--"
"I beg your pardon," interposed Quincy, "I am not what they call a
wealthy young man; the fact that my father is possessed of a large
fortune has probably given rise to the incorrect impression just
repeated by you."
"I understand," said Lindy, with a laugh. "What I meant to say was, that
you are undoubtedly acquainted with wealthy gentlemen, who know the best
ways of investing money. I find my money a great trouble to me," she
continued. "I had $25,000 invested in a first mortgage, but the property
has been sold and the money repaid to me, and I don't know what to do
with it."
"The obvious thing to do," remarked Quincy, "is to invest it at once, so
that it will begin paying you interest."
"That is just what I wished to see you about," responded Lindy. "How
would you advise me to invest it?" she asked.
"I would not presume," replied Quincy, "to give positive advice in such
a case. I would go either to Foss & Follansbee, or Braithwaite & Mellen,
or perhaps Rothwell Brothers & Co., look over the securities they have
for sale and make my own selection, if I were in your place."
Lindy was manifestly disappointed at Quincy's polite refusal to
recommend any particular security, but she evidently realized that
further argument or entreaty would be useless, so she quickly changed
the subject by remarking that her mother had considerable money
invested, but that she was a woman who never took any advice and never
gave any.
"I wonder who my mother is going to leave her money to? Do you know, Mr.
Sawyer?"
Quincy replied that he did not. "But she did tell me that by the terms
of your brother's will you were not to inherit it."
"Well, if you ever find out," said Lindy, "you will tell me, won't you,
Mr. Sawyer?"
"Yes," said Quincy, "unless I am requested to keep it a secret."
"But you wouldn't keep it from me, their own daughter," said Lindy.
"Well," he replied, "I don't think it at all likely that they will
inform me; but I promise to tell you if I learn who it is and am not
bound in any way to keep the information secret."
"And will you tell me just as soon as you know?" persisted Lindy.
"In less than twenty-four hours from the time I learn the name you
shall hear it from my own lips," he replied.
"Thank you," said Lindy. "Would you like to see father and mother?
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