She had found in Akins, the president of the Montgomery National Bank, an old friend, and it was her way to use her friends when she needed them.

At her instance, Akins and another resident freeholder had already signed the bond when Dan arrived.

Dan was amused by the direct manner in which Mrs.Owen addressed the court; the terminology pertaining to the administration of estates was at her fingers' ends, and there was no doubt that the judge was impressed by her.
"We won't need any lawyer over here, Daniel; you can save the estate lawyer's fees by acting yourself.

I guess that will be all right, Judge ?" His Honor said it would be; people usually yielded readily to Mrs.
Owen's suggestions.
"You can go up to the house now, Sylvia, and I'll be along pretty soon.
I want to make a memorandum for an inventory with Daniel." At the bank Akins gave them the directors' room, and Andrew Kelton's papers were produced from his box in the safety vault.

Akins explained that Kelton had been obliged to drop life insurance policies for a considerable amount; only one policy for two thousand dollars had been carried through.