Before John could say more Rowe asked: "And how much help will you need?"
"I don't know."
"You haven't anything to go on, then?" as if disappointed.
"Not yet. You see, Miss Foraker needs help very badly, I think. I—I didn't want to hold out any false hopes to her. I wanted to be sure before I mentioned it."
"I see—" Once more the gleam of triumph came into his eye. "Have you had it estimated?"
"No. I've gone on the opinion of others."
"Your father wired Tolman, his old cruiser, to meet me here. He should be up from Saginaw today. It won't take him long to give us something definite and dependable."
"The value's there, all right," John said. "Tolman's report should satisfy father. I suppose he'll want that first."
He had risen.
"Surely," said Rowe, lightly enough. "A matter of a few days—and it won't take him long to make up his mind when he hears the facts," with a light sniff.
"You'll stay on, then?"
"I think not. I'll get out as soon as Tolman gets in, which'll probably be tonight."
They halted on the steps of the hotel.
"I don't suppose, then, there's any chance of buying?" Rowe asked.
"Not one in the world!"
"But if this Miss—Miss Foraker needs help so badly, I should think—"
"You don't know her! She'd lose everything before she'd listen to talk of selling!"
