Part 17 (1/2)

”I'll be brief,” began Leslie. ”The fact is that we want a capable man accustomed to the planning and construction of irrigation works, and two of our directors rather fancy you. The right man would have full control of practical operations, and I have a tolerably free hand in respect to financial conditions. The main thing we wish to discover is, are you willing to consider an offer of the position?”

It was on the surface a simple business proposition, but Thurston's nostrils dilated and his brows contracted, for he guessed what lay behind it.

”I've heard Savine is a liberal man,” continued Leslie, who mistook Thurston's hesitation. ”Still, considering your valuable experience in the Orchard Valley, I have power to outbid him. You certainly will not lose financially by throwing in your lot with us.”

Then Thurston's anger mastered him, and he flung prudence to the winds.

”Your employers have chosen a worthy messenger,” he declared, so fiercely that Leslie recoiled. ”Did you suppose that I would sell my benefactor, for that is what it amounts to? Confusion to you and the rogues behind you! There's another score between us, and I feel greatly tempted to----”

He looked ready to yield to the unmentioned temptation. Leslie, glancing around anxiously, backed away from him, but restrained himself with an effort. Thurston stood panting with rage. There was a sound of approaching footsteps, and the secretary slipped away, leaving the irate engineer face to face with an amused elderly gentleman and Helen Savine. Geoffrey did not know how much or how little they had seen.

Helen beckoned to him.

”My father has looked tired during the last hour,” she said aside. ”I have been warned that excitement may prove dangerous, but hardly care to remind him of it. Would you, as a favor to me, persuade him to return home with you?”

There was no doubt of Thurston's devotion, for Helen had eyes to see, and she sighed a little, but contentedly, when he hurried away.

Nevertheless, she was still perplexed, for she had seen Mrs. Leslie looking at him pleadingly, and now Mr. Leslie shrank away from him.

Mrs. Leslie was certainly attractive, and yet Helen thought that she knew Thurston's character.

Geoffrey found Savine, who appeared to have suddenly collapsed as if the fire of brilliancy had burned itself out. With more tact than he usually possessed, Thurston persuaded the older man to take his leave.

As they all stood on the broad wooden steps Helen stretched out her hand to Thurston.

”Thank you, Geoffrey,” she said softly. ”Believe me, I am grateful.”

Standing bareheaded beside a pillar, Thurston looked after them as they drove away. It was the first time Helen had called him ”Geoffrey,” and he fancied that he had seen even more than kindness in her eyes.

”And it is her father whom they tempted me to betray! d.a.m.n them!” he growled. ”The only honest man among them included me among those who lean upon Savine! Savine will need a stay himself presently, and one, at least, will not fail him. Ah, again!--what the devil are you wanting?”

The last words were spoken clearly, but Leslie, to whom they were addressed, smiled malevolently.

”It would pay you to be civil,” he threatened. ”I have no particular reason to love you, and might prove a troublesome enemy. However, because my financial interests, which are bound up with my employers', come first, I warn you that you are foolish to hold on to an a.s.sociate, who has strong men against him, a speculator whose best days are over.

I'll give you time to cool down and think over my suggestion.”

”You and I can have no dealings,” declared Geoffrey. ”What's done cannot be undone--but keep clear of me. As sure as there's a justice, which will bring you to book, even without my help, we'll crush you, if you get in Savine's way, or mine.”

”I think this is hardly becoming to either of us, and the next time the Company wants your views it can send another envoy,” a.s.serted Leslie.

”In the expressive Western idiom, it would save trouble if you keep on thinking in just that way,” Geoffrey rejoined.

The two men parted, Leslie to go back to where Millicent was holding a group of men interested by her forced gayety and Geoffrey to walk slowly out into the moonlight where he could think of Helen and wonder how confidently he might hope to win her love.

CHAPTER XIV

THE WORK OF AN ENEMY

It was a bitter morning when a weary man, sprinkled white with powdery snow, came limping into Thurston's camp, which was then pitched in the canon. A pitiless wind swept down from the range side across the thras.h.i.+ng pines, and filled the deep rift with its shrill moaning which sounded above the diapason of the shrunken river. A haze of frost-dried snow infinitesimally fine, which stung the unprotected skin like the p.r.i.c.k of hot needles, whirled before the wind and then thinned, leaving bare the higher shoulders of the hills, though a rush of dingy vapor hid the ice-ribbed peaks above. The canon was a scene of appalling desolation, but few of the long-booted men who hurried among the boulders had leisure to contemplate it. The men were working for Geoffrey Thurston, who did not encourage idleness.

So the stranger came almost unnoticed into the center of the camp where Thurston saw him, and asked sharply, ”Where do you come from, and what do you want?”