Cockfighter by Charles Willford

Author:Charles Willford [Willford, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Criminals & Outlaws, Fiction, Sports
ISBN: 9781468306903
Publisher: The Overlook Press
Published: 2013-08-10T23:00:00+00:00

Mr. Frank Mansfield

c/o Jeff Davis Hotel

Jacksonville, Florida

Dear Frank:

I handled this matter personally, following your desires throughout, feeling you knew your brother Randall better than me. You did. When I called on him and informed him that you intended to break the will of your father, he laughed. If it hadn’t been for your copious notes, his laughter would have surprised me.

“Is Frank willing to fight this in court?” he asked me.

“No,” I told him (again following your instructions). “Your brother, Frank, said it wouldn’t be necessary. ‘When Randall sees that he is in an untenable position, he will sign a quitclaim deed immediately and move out.”’

Again your brother laughed as you predicted.

“Do you think I’m in an untenable position, Judge?” he then asked.

“Yes, you are,” I told him. “That’s why I brought a quitclaim deed for you to sign.”

He laughed and signed the deed. “In New York,” he said, “you wouldn’t have a chance, Judge.” I remained silent instead of reminding him that the case, if brought to a trial, would be held in Georgia. “When does Frank want me to leave?”

“As soon as the property is sold.”

“Does Frank have a buyer in mind?”

“He recommended that I try Wright Gaylord first,” I said.

This statement gave your brother additional cause for merriment, because he laughed until the tears rolled down his face.

“Frank only wants a profit of one thousand, five hundred dollars,” I told your brother. “He instructed me to give you any amount over that, after deducting my fee, of course.”

“That’s generous of Frank,” he said, “but there are some taxes due, about seven hundred dollars.” “I’m aware of the taxes,” I said.

“All right, Judge. You’ve got your quitclaim deed Continue on down the road and sell the property to Wright Gaylord. I’ll be ready to leave tomorrow morning when you bring me my share, if there’s anything left over.”

Wright Gaylord gave me a check the same afternoon for three thousand, five hundred dollars, which I accepted reluctantly. Given more time I am positive that your property would have sold for eight or possibly ten thousand dollars. But the sum adequately covered your required one thousand, five hundred and my fee of five hundred dollars, so I closed the sale then and there. You didn’t mention it in your notes, but I realize the astuteness of selling to Mr. Gaylord, although I doubt if he did. Upon your marriage to his sister you will automatically get half your farm back and half of his as well. Mr. Gaylord is also a client of mine, and this was a fine point of legal ethics, but inasmuch as he is certainly aware of your engagement to his sister, I did not deem it necessary to remind him.

Enclosed is a certified check for one thousand, five hundred dollars. My fee of five hundred dollars has been deducted, the taxes have been paid, plus stamps, and miscellaneous expenses. I gave your brother a check for seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents. Randall and his wife left yesterday on the bus for Macon.

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