"And yet," she went on, "I think that I should have come this morning, after all, even if you had a poorer excuse for your absence, because, you see, I came on business.""You did?""That's why I've come again.That makes it respectable for me to be here now, doesn't it?--for me to have come out alone after dark without their knowing it? I'm here as your client, Joe.""Why?" he asked.
She did not answer at once, but picked up a pen from beneath her hand on the desk, and turning it, meditatively felt its point with her forefinger before she said slowly, "Are most men careful of other people's--well, of other people's money?""You mean Martin Pike?" he asked.
"Yes.I want you to take charge of everything I have for me."He bent a frowning regard upon the lamp-shade."You ought to look after your own property," he said."You surely have plenty of time.""You mean--you mean you won't help me?"she returned, with intentional pathos.
"Ariel!" he laughed, shortly, in answer; then asked, "What makes you think Judge Pike isn't trustworthy?""Nothing very definite perhaps, unless it was his look when I told him that I meant to ask you to take charge of things for me.""He's been rather hard pressed this year, Ithink," said Joe."You might be right--if he could have found a way.I hope he hasn't.""I'm afraid," she began, gayly, "that I know very little of my own affairs.He sent me a draft every three months, with receipts and other things to sign and return to him.I haven't the faintest notion of what I own--except the old house and some money from the income that I hadn't used and brought with me.Judge Pike has all the papers--everything."Joe looked troubled."And Roger Tabor, did he--""The dear man!" She shook her head."He was just the same.To him poor Uncle Jonas's money seemed to come from heaven through the hands of Judge Pike--""And there's a handsome roundabout way!"said Joe.