Part 37 (1/2)

”Can't you renew the loan upon any terms?”

”No,” said Davies truthfully. ”I would if I could. I have to meet my engagements and money's scarce.”

Carlyon got up, turning an unlighted cigar in nervous fingers, but there was a smile in his eyes that showed he could face ruin with dignity.

”Then, if that's your last word, I needn't waste your time; and it wouldn't be fair to blame you for my foolishness. I dare say I can find a job as teamster; it seems the only thing that's left.”

”You have grit. I'm sorry I can't keep you on your feet,” Davies answered with more feeling than Carlyon had expected.

”Thanks. Mowbray's waiting outside; I'll send him in.”

Davies looked up when the door opened a few moments later. Gerald's careless manner had gone; he showed obvious signs of strain. Indeed, there was something in his face that hinted at desperation. Davies was not surprised at this. After a curt greeting he took up the newspaper.

”I expect you have seen the report of the company's meeting.”

”I have,” said Gerald. ”It doesn't leave much to the imagination. At last, the directors have treated us with brutal frankness. I've filled up my proxy in favor of appointing a committee to investigate.”

”It can't do much good. The fellows can investigate until they're tired, but they can't find ore that does not exist.”

”It would be some comfort if they found out anything that would put the rogues who deluded us into jail,” Gerald answered savagely.

Davies smiled in a meaning way.

”Rather too drastic a proceeding.” He gave the other a direct glance.

”People who play a crooked game shouldn't appeal to the law.”

The blood crept into Gerald's face and he wondered with dire misgivings what the man meant and how much he knew. He had counted on a report from the mining engineer that would send up the value of his shares, and had rested on this his last hope of escaping from a serious danger.

Instead, he had learned that the mine was barren. It was a crus.h.i.+ng blow, for he must find a large sum of money at once. The consequences would be disastrous if he failed.

”Well,” he said, ”the most important point is that my shares are worth next to nothing, and I've very little expectation of their ever going up. I don't suppose you'd take them as security for a loan at a quarter of their face value?”

”I would not,” Davies answered firmly.

”Very well. My note falls due in a few days. What are you going to do?”

”Present it for payment.”

Gerald looked at him keenly, to see if he meant it; but he could read in the broker's imperturbable face nothing to lead him to doubt this. He tried to pull himself together, and failed. Gerald had not inherited the stern, moral courage of the Mowbray stock.

”You can't afford to let me drop,” he pleaded in a hoa.r.s.e voice. ”As soon as you take away your support the brutes I've borrowed from will come down on me like wolves, and, to protect your interests, you'll have to enforce your mortgage rights. I needn't point out that this will spoil your plans. You're not ready to make your grab at Allenwood yet.”

Davies heard him unmoved. He was comparing his att.i.tude with that of the ruined lad he had just dismissed. Carlyon was, of course, a fool who deserved his fate, but his pluck had roused the moneylender's sympathy.

He did not mean to let it make him merciful, but he had some human feeling, and it inspired him with contempt for Mowbray. The fellow was clever enough to see that Davies' plans were directed against his relatives and friends, but this had not prevented his falling in with them for the sake of a temporary advantage. His pride was a sham; he forgot it when it threatened to cost him something. Moreover he had not been straight with Davies in several ways. He had a rogue's heart, but was without the rogue's usual nerve.

”I often have to change my plans,” Davies said calmly. ”Just now I'm short of money, and must get some in. Anyway, there's no secret about the mortgage; it had to be registered.”

”Of course; but I don't suppose anybody knows about it, for all that.

People don't spend their time turning up these records.”