The Bank of El Dorado, despite Mrs.
Howard's sanguine belief, had long been in bankruptcy, and,
although Colonel Pendleton still survived it, it was certain that
no other president would succeed to his office as trustee, and that
the function would lapse with him. Paul himself, a soldier of
fortune, although habitually lucky, had only lately succeeded to a
profession--if his political functions could be so described. Even
with his luck, energy, and ambition, while everything was possible,
nothing was secure. It seemed, therefore, as if the soulless
official must eventually assume the duties of the two sympathizing
friends who had originated them, and had stood in loco parentis to
the constructive orphan. The mother, Mrs. Howard, had disappeared
a year after the Trust had been made--it was charitably presumed in
order to prevent any complications that might arise from her
presence in the country. With these facts before him, Paul
Hathaway was more concerned in wondering what Pendleton could want
with him than, I fear, any direct sympathy with the situation. On
the contrary, it appeared to him more favorable for keeping the
secret of Mrs. Howard's relationship, which would now die with
Colonel Pendleton and himself; and there was no danger of any
emotional betrayal of it in the cold official administration of a
man who had received the Trust through the formal hands of
successive predecessors.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45