Part 44 (1/2)

The storekeepers and implement dealers in the small settlements had many bad debts, and their charges were proportionately high, but Harding did not see why he and his friends should pay for the defaulters. Expensive machines were needed; and new wheat was being produced which would resist drought and ripen soon enough to escape the autumn frost; but local dealers were unable, or perhaps too careless, to obtain the seed.

Then, Harding saw that a time was coming when mixed farming produce, which he called truck, would be in strong demand; and it was his custom to antic.i.p.ate a need. Kenwyne and the others recognized the desirability of this, and had agreed to open a joint agency in Winnipeg.

Harding was not sure that the expense could be recouped for a time, but he believed the undertaking would pay in the end.

After finding a suitable office, he called on a number of business men and the flour-millers who were then beginning what was to become the leading industry of the city. He wanted to learn their views about the kind of wheat best suited to their use, and to enter into direct relations with them. On the whole, he succeeded better than he had hoped, and had now only to appoint an agent. Two or three suitable men had offered their services, and it was difficult to decide.

He was thinking over the matter in the newly opened office, when Gerald came in. The Mowbray black sheep seemed to feel no embarra.s.sment in meeting him, for his manner was inclined to be patronizing. Sitting down, he lighted a cigarette.

”This is a new venture. I don't know that it will meet with general approval at Allenwood,” he remarked.

”One mustn't expect too much,” Harding answered. ”I guess the people who object now will come round by and by.”

”I wonder how long you think it will be before my father falls into line,” said Gerald with a careless laugh. ”Everything considered, I rather admire your pluck.”

Harding let this pa.s.s. It was not a tactful allusion to his engagement to Beatrice, and he was annoyed by Gerald's manner. He had not expected much grat.i.tude, but the fellow did not even seem to realize that Harding had saved him from jail.

”I suppose you know I have been turned out of Allenwood,” Gerald resumed.

Harding admitted that he had been told so.

”Since then I've heard from the Government people that they're not likely to want me for the new survey. As a matter of fact, I'm not sorry. The last man I went into the woods with was a sour, exacting brute.”

”They've got to be hard. It isn't easy to run a line through a rough country.”

”n.o.body knows that better than I do,” Gerald replied with feeling.

”Well, I've been here a week, and can't find any congenial occupation.”

”You don't look worried about it.”

Gerald laughed.

”Oh, I'm not, as a rule, despondent; and I knew that I could as a last resort fall back on you. This explains my call. I believe you want an agent to manage your office.”

Harding's expression indicated ironical amus.e.m.e.nt.

”Do you think what you have just told me is a recommendation for the job?”

”It seems to prove my need of it.”

”But not your suitability. I'm not looking for a man whom n.o.body else will have.”

Gerald looked at him in astonishment. Though he had not given the matter much thought, he had imagined that Harding would be glad to do him a favor for his sister's sake. It was something of a shock to be refused.

And the manner of the refusal was mortifying. The fellow was a coa.r.s.er brute than he had thought; but Gerald did not mean to let his resentment run away with him.

”I have a few useful qualifications,” he said. ”Some of the bigger implement dealers and the heads of the milling firms are men of taste and education. It's possible they might rather deal with me than with a drummer fellow, or a raw farmer fresh from the soil.”

”I'm fresh from the soil, but I guess I could run this end of the business,” Harding returned.

Gerald saw that he had blundered; but he did not feel beaten yet.