Part 27 (2/2)

”You may have needed me, Hiram, but you don't now--you are nicely started and you have better help now than I can give,” I broke in, looking at Anna Bell, who was as much affected as Hiram. ”She is courageous, a natural diplomat and wonderful at plans, and besides, you can now stand alone and must learn to rely on yourself, and besides, more than two in a firm often complicates matters.”

”I know--I know--I can see--but you don't explain--what is this you are hinting----?”

”Hiram, it may be better for it to come to you gradually. Now let us talk about money for my train goes soon and I find I need some money, and I must give you the big check necessary to pay for the timber land.

First of all, will you cash these checks for me? These are my salary checks I have never used,” I explained as I took them out, turned to the desk and endorsed them, aware that Hiram and Anna Bell were looking at each other and trying to understand.

”Ben, I am sure this is only a misconception--a feeling of delicacy--that you may be interfering----”

”No, Hiram, my plans are definite; I cannot change them if I would,”

said I, handing him the checks as soberly as though not antic.i.p.ating his astonishment when he saw them.

At first he did not look at them, but laid them on his knee as a mere matter of detail. He was too busy trying to divine what was going on in my mind; finally glancing down at them, he became aware there was something familiar about them, and then his excitement knew no bounds.

”How the devil”--he began, raising half out of his chair, tapping the checks wildly--”how did you get these? Why, these are like the ones I used to--now I understand,” he said, subsiding, quite overcome. ”Ben, were you paid by my father? My G.o.d, is it possible--then he didn't kick me out--it was just his way----”

”Just his way to teach you to work and make amends for his neglect, and here is another one, the big one for fifty thousand signed by him, too--you may be surprised to know he is now down in the lower reaches of the river, duck-shooting. When I saw him yesterday, I had no difficulty; everything seemed to be prepared for the proposition,” I said; looking quizzically at Anna Bell. Mixed with her delight was a shade of fear and apprehension. I tried to make her understand that she must tell him herself about her captivating the Gold-Beater, securing his approval and further support, of the Becker episode, her a.s.sumed name--and all to help Hiram. In fact, I did not have the courage to do it.

”I can hardly conceive my father----” Here his voice broke completely.

”And you can hardly credit that the _Fearsome_ might have been placed conveniently in the ca.n.a.l----”

”Oh, heavens, and I thought we were doing it--and did he plan all that trouble in the river--did his men, the lawyers, take her from----?”

”Yes, I guess he did, Hiram; he wanted to try you out--a last real trial----”

”And the barrel, Ben, did he have anything----?”

”No, Hiram, that was a piece of just dumb luck that will always be with you--send me a check for half of it when you get things straightened out,” I said, grabbing my grip and bolting. As I rounded the corner of the hall for the elevator, I glanced back. They stood out in the hall, their arms around each other, watching me go.

THE END

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