Part 27 (1/2)

”Hot foot to the devil.”

”Your recognition of the fact does you credit, even if the perception is a little tardy. I think you will further recognise the fact that I take a hand none too soon.” The mask on Hartwell's face grew denser.

”I recognise the fact very clearly that, until you came, the fork of the trail was before me. Now it is behind and--we are on the wrong split.”

”Precisely. I have come to that conclusion myself. In order to act wisely, I a.s.sume that it will be best to get a clear idea of conditions, and then we can select a remedy for those that are making against us. Do you agree?”

”I withhold a.s.sent until I know just what I am expected to a.s.sent to.”

Hartwell looked annoyed. ”Shall I go on?” he asked, impatiently.

”Perhaps your caution will allow that.”

Firmstone nodded. He did not care to trust himself to words.

”Before we made our contract with you to a.s.sume charge of our properties out here I told you very plainly the difficulties under which we had hitherto laboured, and that I trusted that you would find means to remedy them. After six months' trial, in which we have allowed you a perfectly free hand, can you conscientiously say that you have bettered our prospects?”

Hartwell paused; but Firmstone kept silence.

”Have you nothing to say to this?” Hartwell finally burst out.

”At present, no.” Firmstone spoke with decision.

”When will you have?” Hartwell asked.

”When you are through with your side.”

Hartwell felt annoyed at what he considered Firmstone's obstinacy.

”Well,” he said; ”then I shall have to go my own gait. You can't complain if it doesn't suit you. In your reports to the company you have complained of the complete disorganisation which you found here. That this disorganisation resulted in inefficiency of labour, that the mine was run down, the mill a wreck, and, worst of all, that there was stealing going on which prevented the richest ore reaching the mill, and that even the products of the mill were stolen. You laid the stealing to the door of the Blue Goose. You stated for fact things which you acknowledged you could not prove. That the proprietor of the Blue Goose was striving to stir up revolt among the men, to organise them into a union in order that through this organised union the Blue Goose might practically control the mine and rob the company right and left. You pointed out that in your opinion many of the men, even in the organisation, were honest; that it was only a scheme on the part of Morrison and Pierre to dupe the men, to blind their eyes so that, believing themselves imposed on and robbed by the company, they would innocently furnish the opportunity for the Blue Goose to carry on its system of plundering.”

Firmstone's steady gaze never flinched, as Hartwell swept on with his arraignment.

”In all your reports, you have without exception laid the blame upon your predecessors, upon others outside the company. Never in a single instance have you expressed a doubt as to your own conduct of affairs.

The a.s.sumed robbery of the stage I will pa.s.s by. Other points I shall dwell upon. You trust no one. You have demonstrated that to the men. You give orders at the mine, and instead of trusting your foremen to see that they are carried out you almost daily insist upon inspecting their work and interfering with it. The same thing I find to be true at the mill. Day and night you pounce in upon them. Now let me ask you this. If you understand men, if you know your business thoroughly, ought you not to judge whether the men are rendering an equivalent for their pay, without subjecting them to the humiliation of constant espionage?” He looked fixedly at Firmstone, as he ended his arraignment.

Firmstone waited, if perchance Hartwell had not finished.

”Is your case all in?” he finally asked.

”For the present, yes.” Hartwell snapped his jaws together decidedly.

”Then I'll start.”

”Wait a moment, right there,” Hartwell interrupted.

”No. I will not wait. I am going right on. You've been informing yourself generally. Now I'm going to inform you particularly. In the first place, how did you find out that I had been subjecting the men to this humiliating espionage, as you call it?” Firmstone waited for a reply.

”I don't know that I am under obligations to answer that question,”

Hartwell replied, stiffly.