CHAPTER XII
THINKING HARD
The days slipped by with great rapidity. They passed far too rapidlyfor Gordon. The expectation of Silas Mallinsbee that David Slossonwould eventually listen to reason, and accept terms for himself similarto those agreeable to him on behalf of the railroad, showed no sign ofmaturing. The firmness of his front in no way seemed to affect thegrafting agent, and from day to day, although the rancher and hisassistant waited patiently for a definite _denouement_, nothingoccurred to hold out promise one way or another. Mallinsbee said verylittle, but he watched events with wide-open eyes, and not altogetherwithout hope that the man would be brought to reason. His eyes were onHazel, smiling appreciation, for Hazel was at work using every art ofwhich she was capable to frustrate any opposition to her father'splans, and to help on, as she described it, the "good work."
"I'm a 'sharper' in this, Mr. Van Henslaer," she declared, in face ofone of Gordon's frequent protests. "I'm no better than David Slosson.And I--I want you to understand that. I think your ideas of chivalryare just too sweet, but I want you to look with my eyes. We're a bunchof most ordinary folk who want to win out. If you and my daddy thoughtby burying him, dead or alive, you could beat his hand, why, I guess itwould take an express locomotive to stop you. Well, I'm out to try andput him out of harm's way in my own fashion. If I can't do it, why,he'll find I'm not the dandy prairie flower he's figuring I am justnow. That's all. So meanwhile get on with any old plans you can findup your sleeve. By hook or _crook_ we've _got_ to make good."
By this expression of the girl's extraordinary determination doubtlessGordon should have been silenced. But he was not silenced, noranything like it. The truth was he was in love--wildly, passionately,jealously in love. It nearly drove him to distraction to watch the wayin which, almost daily, this man Slosson drove out to see Hazel andtake her out for buggy rides or horse riding. Not only that, he andher father were practically ignored by the man. They were just so muchfurniture in the office, and when by any chance the agent did deign tonotice them there was generally something offensive in his manner ofaddress.
Worst of all, as the outcome of Hazel's campaign there were no signsthat matters were one whit advanced towards the successful completionof their project, and the days had already grown into weeks. AllGordon could do was to busy himself with formulating wild andimpossible schemes for beating this creature. And a hundred and onestrenuous possibilities occurred to him, all of which, however, offeredno suggestion of bending the man, only of breaking him. The sum andsubstance of all his efforts was a deadly yearning to kill DavidSlosson, kill him so dead as to spoil forever his chances ofresurrection.
This was much the position when, nearly three weeks later, in responseto a peremptory note from Slosson in the morning, Silas Mallinsbeedecided that Gordon should deal with him on a business visit in theafternoon.
Oh yes, Gordon would interview him. Gordon would deal with him.Gordon would love it above all things. Was he given a free hand?
But Mallinsbee smiled into the fiery eyes of the young giant and shookhis head, while Hazel looked on at the brewing storm with inscrutableeyes of amusement.
"There's no free hand for anybody in this thing, Gordon, boy," saidMallinsbee slowly. "And I don't guess there's any crematoriums orundertakers' corporation around Snake's Fall. Anyway, Hip-Lee wouldn'tdo a thing if you asked him to bury a white man."
"White man?" snorted Gordon furiously.
"Remember you're--fighting for my daddy as well as yourself, Mr. VanHenslaer," said Hazel earnestly.
Gordon sighed.
"I'll remember," he said. And his two friends knew that the matter wassafe in his hands.
Left alone in his office, Gordon endured an unpleasant hour after hisdinner. It was not the thoughts of his coming interview that disturbedhim. It was Hazel. It was of her he was always thinking, when notactually engaged upon any duty. Every day made his thoughts harder tobear.
For awhile he sat before his desk, leaning back in his chair, gazingblankly at the wooden wall opposite him. She was always the same tohim; his worst fits of temper seemed to make no difference. She onlysmiled and humored or chided him as though he were some big, waywardchild. Then the next moment she would ride off with this verminSlosson, full of merry sallies and smiling graciousness, whom, he knew,if she had any right feeling at all, she must loathe and despise.Well, if she did loathe him, she had a curious way of showing it.
He thrust his chair back with an angry movement, and walked off intothe bedroom opening out of the office. He looked in. The neatness ofit, the scent of fresh air pouring in through its open window, meantnothing to him. He saw none of the work of the guiding hand which, inpreparing it, had provided for his comfort. Hip-Lee kept it clean andmade his bed, the same as he cooked his food. It did not occur toGordon to whom Hip-Lee was responsible.
There were pictures on the walls, and it never occurred to Gordon thatthese had been taken from Hazel's own bedroom at the ranch--for hisenjoyment. Nor was he aware that the shaving-glass and table had beenspecially purchased by Hazel for his comfort. There were a dozen andone little comforts, none of which he realized had been added to theroom since it had been set aside for his use.
He flung himself upon the bed, all regardless of the lace pillow-shamwhich had once had a place on Hazel's own bed. He was in that frame ofmind when he only wanted to get through the hours before Hazel's sunnypresence again returned to the office. He was angry with her. He wasready to think, did think, the hardest thoughts of her; but he longed,stupidly, foolishly longed for her return, although he knew that, withher return, fresh evidence of Slosson's attentions to her and of heracceptance of them would be forthcoming.
He was only allowed another ten minutes in which to enjoy his moodymisery. At the end of that time he heard the rattle of wheels beyondthe veranda, and sprang from his couch with the battle light shining inhis eyes.
But disappointment awaited him. It was not Slosson who presentedhimself. It was the altogether cheerful face of Peter McSwain whichappeared at the doorway.
"Say," he cried. Then he paused and glanced rapidly round the room."Ain't Mallinsbee around?" he demanded eagerly.
Gordon shook his head.
"Business?" he inquired. "If it's business I'm right here to attend toit."
Peter hesitated.
"I s'pose you'd call it business," he said, after a considering pause,during which he took careful stock of Mallinsbee's representative.Then he went on, with a suggestion of doubt in his tone, "You deal withhis business--confidential?"
Gordon smiled in spite of his recent bitterness. He moved over to hisdesk and sat down, at the same time indicating the chair opposite him.As soon as McSwain had taken his seat Gordon leaned forward, gazingstraight into the man's always hot-looking face.
"See here, Mr. McSwain, we're at a deadlock for the moment, as maybeyou know. Later it'll straighten itself out. I can speak plainly toyou, because you're a friend of Mr. Mallinsbee, and you're interestedwith us in this deal. I'm here to represent Mr. Mallinsbee ineverything, even to dealing with the railroad people, so anythingyou've got to say, why, just go ahead. For practical purposes you aretalking to Mr. Mallinsbee."
The disturbed Peter sighed his relief.
"I'm glad, because what I've got to say won't keep. If you folks don'tget a cinch on that dago-lookin' Slosson feller the game's up. He'saskin' options up at Snake's. He's not buyin' the land yet, justlookin' for options. Maybe you know I got two plots on Main Street,besides my hotel. Well, he's made a bid for options on 'em for twomonths. He says other folks are goin' to accept his offer. There'sMike Callahan, the livery man. Slosson's been gettin' at him, too.Mike come along and told me, and asked what he should do. I guessedI'd run out and see Mallinsbee. If ther' ain't anything doin' here atBuffalo, why, it's up to us to accept."
The man mopped his forehead with a gorgeous handkerchief. His eyeswere troubled and anxious. He
felt he would rather have dealt withMallinsbee. This youngster didn't look smart enough to deal with thesituation.
Gordon was tapping the desk with a penholder. He was thinking veryhard. He knew that the definite movement had come at last, and that itwas adverse to their interests. This was the reply to Mallinsbee'sresolve. For the moment the matter seemed overwhelming. There seemedto be no counter-move for them to make. Then quite suddenly hedetected a sign of weakness in it.
"Say," he demanded at last, "why does the man want options? I take itoptions are to safeguard him _in case_ he wants to buy. This thinglooks better than I thought. He's guessing he may quarrel with us.He's thinking maybe we won't come to terms. He's worrying that thenews of that will get around, and that, in consequence, up will goprices in Snake's. That'll mean the railroad 'll have to pay throughthe nose, and he'll get into trouble if they have to buy up there. Yousee, the bedrock of this layout is--this place has to boom anyway, andthey've got to get in either here or at Snake's."
Peter rubbed his hands. His opinion of Gordon began to undergorevision.
"Then what are we to do?" The anxiety in his eyes was lessening.
Gordon sprang from his seat, and brought one hand down on his desk witha slam.
"Do? Why, let him go to hell. Refuse him any option," he criedfiercely. "Here, I'll tell you what you do. And do it right away.How do you stand with the folks up there?"
"Good. They mostly listen when I talk," said Peter, with some pride.
"Fine!" cried Gordon. "We'll roast him some. See here, I know you'reholding with us. I know Mike is, and several others. Your interestsare far and away bigger here than in Snake's. So you'll get busy rightaway. You'll get all the boys together who've got interests here.Tell 'em we've fallen out over the railroad deal with Slosson. Tell'em to get the town together, and then let 'em explain about thisrupture. I'll guarantee the rupture's complete. Make 'em refuse alloptions and boost their prices for definite sale, and threaten to raise'em sky-high unless the railroad make a quick deal. Put a fancy figureon your land at which he _daren't_ buy. You get that? Now I'll showyou how we'll stand. He's _got to come in on this place then_. He'llhave to buy at our price, because--_the railroad must get in_. Youmust play the town folks who've got land there, but none here, to forcethe prices up on the strength of our quarrel with the railroad, andI'll guarantee that quarrel's complete this afternoon. Well?"
The last vestige of Peter's worry had disappeared. His eyes shoneadmiringly as he gazed at the smiling face of the man who had conceivedso unscrupulous a scheme. He nodded.
"The railroad's got to get in," he agreed. "If they can't get in herethey've got to there. Offer him boom prices there, and if hecloses--which he _daren't_--we make our bits, anyway. If he don't,then he's got to buy here _on your terms_, and--the depot comes here,and the boom with it. Say, it's bright. An' you'll guarantee thatscrap up?"
"Sure."
Peter sprang to his feet.
"That's Mallinsbee's--word?"
"Absolutely."
The man's hot face became suddenly hotter, and his eyes shone.
"I'll get right back and we'll hold a meetin' to-night. Say, we've gotto fool those who ain't got interests here--they ain't more than fiftyper cent.--and then we'll send prices sky-high. You can bet on it, Mr.Van Henslaer, sir. All it's up to you to do is to turn him down anddrive him our way. We'll drive him back to you. It's elegant."
Gordon gave a final promise as they shook hands when Peter had mountedhis buggy. Then the hotel proprietor drove off in high glee.
Gordon went back to his office without any sensation of satisfaction.He had committed Mallinsbee to a definite policy that might easily fallfoul of that individual's ideas. But he had committed him, and meantto carry the thing through against all opposition.
The cue had been too obvious for him to neglect. It was Slosson whohad made a false move. He was temporizing, instead of acting on afighting policy, and it was pretty obvious to him that his temporizingwas due to his growing regard for Hazel. The man was mad to ask foroptions. He was a fool--a perfect idiot. No, the opportunity had beentoo good to miss. If Slosson had shown weakness, he did not intend todo so. Then, as he sat down and further probed the situation, a realgenuine sensation of satisfaction did occur. There would no longer beany necessity for Hazel to attempt to play the man.
All in a moment he saw the whole thing, and a wild delight andexcitement surged through him. He was in the heart of a youngster'sparadise once more. The sun streaming in through the window was onegreat blaze of heavenly light. The world was fair and joyous, and, forhimself, he was living in a palace of delight.
It was in such mood that he heard the approach of David Slosson.
The agent entered the office with all the arrogance of a detestablevictor. His first words set Gordon's spine bristling, although hiswelcoming smile was amiability itself.
Slosson glanced round the room, and, discovering only Gordon, flunghimself into Mallinsbee's chair and delivered himself of his orders.
"Say, you best have your darned Chinaman take my horse around back an'feed him hay. Where's Mallinsbee?"
Gordon assumed an almost deferential air, but ignored the order for thehorse's care.
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Mallinsbee won't be around this afternoon. He'sgoing up in the hills on a shoot," he lied shamelessly. "Maybe for aweek or two. Maybe only days."
"What in thunder? Say, was he here this morning? I sent word I wascoming along."
Slosson's black eyes had narrowed angrily, and his pasty features wereshaded with the pink of rising temper.
Gordon's eyes expressed simple surprise.
"Sure, he was here. Your note got along 'bout eleven. He guessed hecouldn't stop around for you. You see, a few caribou have been seenwithin twenty miles of the ranch. They don't wait around for businessappointments."
Slosson brought one fist down on the arm of his chair, and in a burstof anger almost shouted at the deferential Gordon.
"Caribou?" he exploded. "What in thunder is he chasin' caribou forwhen there's things to be settled once and for all that won't keep?Caribou? The man's crazy. Does he think I'm going to wait aroundwhile he gets chasin'--caribou?"
Gordon maintained a perfect equanimity, but he wanted to laugh badly.He felt he could afford to laugh.
"There's no need to 'wait around,'" he deferred blandly. "I am here toact for Mr. Mallinsbee--absolutely. The entire affairs of the townshipare in my hands, and I have his definite instructions how to proceed.If you have any proposition to make I am prepared to deal with it."
For all his apparent deference a note had crept into Gordon's tonewhich caught the suspicious ears of the railroad agent. He peeredsharply into the blue eyes of the man across the desk.
"You have absolute power to deal in Mallinsbee's interest?" hequestioned harshly.
"In _Mr._ Mallinsbee's interests," assented Gordon.
"Wal, what's his proposition?" The man's mustached upper lip wasslightly lifted and he showed his teeth.
"Precisely what it was when he first explained it to you."
The deference had gone out of Gordon's voice. Then, after the briefestof smiling pauses, he added--
"That is in so far as the railroad is concerned. For your own personalconsideration his offer of sites to you remains the same as regardsprice, but the selection of position will be made by--us."
Gordon was enjoying himself enormously. He had taken the law into hisown hands, and intended to put things through in his own way. Heexpected an outburst, but none was forthcoming. David Slosson wasbeginning to understand. He was taking the measure of this man. Hewas taking other measures--the measure of the whole situation. Of asudden he realized that he was being told, in his own pet phraseology,to--go to hell. He had consigned many people in that direction duringhis life, but somehow his own consignment was quite a different matter,especially through the present channel.
&
nbsp; He pulled himself up in his chair and squared his shoulders truculently.
"I guess Mallinsbee knows what this means--for him?" he inquiredsharply, but coldly.
"I fancy _Mr._ Mallinsbee does."
"Now, see here, Mister--I ferget your name," Slosson cried, with suddenheat. "I'm not the man to be played around with. If this is your_Mister_ Mallinsbee's final offer, it just means that the railroadcan't do business with him. Which means also that his whole wild-catland scheme falls flat, and is so much waste ground, only fit forgrazing his rotten cattle on. I'm not here to mince words----"
"No," concurred Gordon in a steady, cold tone.
"I said I'm not here to mince words. If I can't get my original termsthere's nothing doing, and I'll even promise, seeing we're alone, toget right out of my way to sew up this concern, lock, stock and barrel."
"That seems to be the obvious thing to do from your point of view--ifyou can," said Gordon calmly. "Seeing that _Mr._ Mallinsbee is nearlyas rich as a railroad corporation, there may be difficulties. Anyway,threats aren't business talk, and generally display weakness. So, ifyou've no business to talk, if you don't feel like coming in on ourterms--why, that's the door, and I guess your horse is still waitingfor that hay you seemed to think just now he needed."
Gordon picked up a pen and proceeded deliberately to start writing aletter. He felt that David Slosson had something to digest, and neededtime. All he feared now was that Mallinsbee or Hazel might come inbefore he rid the place of this precious representative of the railroad.
After a few moments he glanced up from his letter.
"Still here?" he remarked, with upraised brows.
In a moment Slosson started from the brown study into which he hadfallen and leaped to his feet. His narrow black eyes were blazing.His pasty features were ghastly with fury, and Gordon, gazing up athim, found himself wondering how it came that the hot summer sun of theprairie was powerless to change its hue.
The agent thrust out one clenched fist threateningly, and fairlyshouted at the man behind the desk--
"I'll make you all pay for this--Mallinsbee as well as you. You thinkyou can play me--me! You think you can play the railroad I represent!I'll show you just what your bluff is worth. You, a miserable crowd ofland pirates! I tell you your land isn't worth grazing price withoutour depot. And I promise you I'll break the whole concern----"
"Meanwhile," said Gordon, deliberately rising from his seat and movinground his desk, "try that doorway, before I--break you. There it is."He pointed. "Hustle!"
There comes a moment when the wildest temper reaches its limits. Andeven the most furious will pause at the brick wall of possible physicalviolence. David Slosson had spat out all his venom, or as much of itas seemed politic. The threatening attitude of Gordon, his monumentalsize and obvious strength, his cold determination, all convinced himthat further debate was useless. So he drew back at the "brick wall"and negotiated the doorway as quickly as possible.
Two minutes later Gordon sighed in a great relief, and passed a handacross his perspiring forehead. Slosson had passed out of view asMallinsbee, on the back of the great Sunset, appeared on the horizon.
"That was a close call," he muttered. "Two minutes more and the oldman might have spoiled the whole scheme."
Silas Mallinsbee's personality seemed to crowd the little office when,five minutes later, he entered to find Gordon busy at his desk writinga letter home to his mother.
Gordon displayed no sign of his recent encounter when he looked up.His ingenuous face was smiling, and his blue eyes were full of anobvious satisfaction. Mallinsbee read the signs and rumbled out aninquiry.
"Slosson been around?"
Gordon nodded.
"Sure."
"Fixed anything?"
"Quite a--lot."
"You're lookin' kind of--happy?"
"Guess that's more than--Slosson was."
Mallinsbee's eyes became quite serious.
"I told Hazel just now I'd get along back. You see, I kind ofremembered you just weren't sweet on Slosson, and guessed after all I'dbest be around when he came. Hazel thought it might be as well, too.Specially as she didn't want to sit around and find no Slosson turn up.So----"
Gordon was on his feet in an instant. All his smile had vanished. Alook of real alarm had taken its place.
"She was waiting for that skunk? Where?" he demanded in a tone thatsuddenly filled the father with genuine alarm.
"He was to go on to the coalpits after he was through here, and she wasto meet him there an' ride over to the young horse corrals where theybeen breaking. She was to let him see the boys doin' a bit o' bronchobustin'. What's----"
"The coalpits? That's the way he took. Say, for God's sake stay righthere--and let me use Sunset. I----"
But Gordon did not wait to finish what he had to say. He was out ofthe house and had leaped into the saddle before Mallinsbee couldattempt to protest. The next moment he was galloping straight acrosscountry in the direction of the Bude and Sideley's Coal Company'sworkings.