Part 34 (1/2)

He was at fault on two points, for, though compelled to answer her, he should not have volunteered any information as to what was in the letter, nor should he have attempted to change the subject, for this made it clear to Ida that things had been said which he did not wish her to suspect. There would, of course, be reproaches, but it seemed probable that there would be a word or two of half-contemptuous advice as well, and she felt reasonably sure what this would be. Weston of Scarthwaite had, no doubt, suggested that the man of whom she had spoken so favorably would be a fool if he did not marry her. A trace of color crept into her face, and, seeing that there was a certain diffidence in her companion's manner, she felt that she hated Weston of Scarthwaite. It was, however, evident that silence would be too suggestive just then.

”I didn't make a promise, after all,” she said. ”Are you afraid that I gave your people a wrong impression about you?”

”No,” replied Weston quietly, looking her in the eyes. ”I know you would say nothing that was not kind of me. Still, the only thing that would affect my people would be the fact that I haven't succeeded at anything yet.” He smiled rather grimly. ”I'm not sure it wouldn't please them, in a way. You see, they probably expected it.”

On the whole, both of them were glad that Miss Farquhar came in just then; and in a few more minutes Stirling appeared, and they went in to dinner. It was not a very elaborate meal, for the contractor, who had once toiled much as Weston had done, was, like a good many others of his kind, in some respects a simple and frugal man. Still, when Ida and Miss Farquhar left them, he laid a cigar-box on the table and filled Weston's gla.s.s with wine.

”Now,” he said, ”if you have no objections, you can tell me what you're doing in Montreal.”

Weston supplied him with a brief account of his business, and Stirling, who asked one or two very shrewd questions, sat apparently reflecting for a minute or two.

”You struck n.o.body in Vancouver who seemed inclined to take a hand in it?”

”Only one concern, and they seemed very doubtful. Anyway, their terms were practically prohibitive.”

”Grafton?”

”No. Norris & Lander.”

”Well,” said Stirling, ”before you could expect to do anything here, you'd want to locate the reef and get some big mining man to visit it and give you a certificate that it was a promising property. If you had that, and a bag of specimens of high-grade milling ore, people would listen to you.”

”The trouble is that I can't get them.”

”Then,” observed Stirling, ”I guess you'll have to fall back on your friends.”

”I'm afraid that none of my friends have any money to invest; and, in any case, I'd rather deal with strangers,” said Weston.

His host glanced at him very keenly.

”Seems to me you have got to let the thing go,” he said.

”No,” declared Weston. ”In some respects, it's a crazy project; but I'm going on.”

Stirling quietly turned the conversation into another channel, but when Western took his departure he called up his secretary on the telephone.

”I want you to write Norris & Lander, Vancouver, the first thing in the morning, and get it off by the Pacific express,” he said. ”Tell them they can let a young man named Weston, with whom they've been in communication, have the money he asks for, to count as stock when he starts his company, at the biggest discount they can get. They can charge me usual brokerage, but they're to keep my name out of it.”

The secretary said it should be done, and Stirling sat down to his cigar with a smile. He was inclined to fancy that Weston would find Norris & Lander much more amenable after that. It was an hour later when Ida came into the room, and he looked at her thoughtfully.

”There's some grit in that young man, and I guess it's just as well,”

he observed. ”He's up against quite a big proposition.”

He saw the faint gleam in Ida's eyes.

”If he has taken hold, I think he will put it through,” she said.

She turned away the next moment, and moved a gla.s.s on the table; but, when she looked around again, she saw Stirling's smile.

”Well,” he said, ”considering everything, it's quite likely.”