Part 2 (1/2)
”Probably the latter,” said Houston, smiling; then glancing at the card beside his plate, he read, ”J. D. Wilson, President of the Northwestern Mining, Land and Investment Company, Silver City;” and he was the prospective clerk of The Northwestern Mining, Land and Investment Company!
CHAPTER IV.
An hour or two later, the Pacific Express was slowly winding up the long mountain grade, the engine puffing and wheezing in apoplectic fas.h.i.+on, and occasionally emitting short shrieks of protest. The mountains, which had gradually been a.s.suming shape and color, were now looming up in grand proportions, their rugged outlines clearly defined against the sky. Already the mountain breezes, fragrant with the breath of tamarack, spruce and pine, stole in on adventurous wings through the car windows; lifted locks, both golden and silvered, from heated brows, kissed a fretful infant into peaceful slumber, turned the pages of novels and flapped newspapers so persistently that their readers were compelled to abandon them, and brought new energy and inspiration to the languid, listless pa.s.sengers, so that they began to evince symptoms of interest in their surroundings.
In his favorite lounging att.i.tude, Houston sat, his eyes fixed on the mountains, moment by moment growing more distinct in their rugged grandeur, a half-smile of amus.e.m.e.nt playing over his face, as he recalled the interview with the president of The Northwestern Mining, Land and Investment Company. Upon inquiry, he had learned that Mr.
Wilson had boarded the train at a little way station, before daylight that morning, and the zeal displayed by that gentleman in thus seeking to ascertain something regarding the characteristics of his future clerk, by antic.i.p.ating his arrival in this manner seemed to Houston decidedly amusing, and at the same time furnished him a clue concerning the character of one of the men with whom he was to be a.s.sociated.
He was aroused by the entrance of Rutherford, who, having learned that the train would make stops among the canyons they were approaching, was getting his kodak and plates in readiness, preparatory to taking impressions of some of the finest views.
After a few moments, the conversation drifted to the subject of their destination, which they would reach in three or four hours.
”I suppose,” said Rutherford, addressing his companion rather hesitatingly, ”I suppose you will remain in Silver City for some time?”
”I am not quite certain,” he replied, ”my impression is, however, that I shall not be detained there more than a day or two.”
”Indeed! then are you going on farther west?”
”No, I expect to go out among the mines for a while.”
”Among the mines! Now I should think that would be fine; you'll have a chance to see western life in earnest. So you are interested in mines!
Well, I thought something of the kind when you said you were out on business. No wonder you were so cool with old Boomerang this morning, and didn't care for any of his wonderful investments.”
Houston was silent for a moment, a curious smile playing over his fine features; then watching Rutherford keenly through half-closed eyes, he said,
”On the contrary, instead of being a mine owner, as you surmise, I am the employe of a mining company, and 'old Boomerang,' as you call him, is the president of that company.”
Rutherford sat for an instant as if petrified; then managed to gasp, ”Great Heavens! are you a.s.sociated in business with that man?”
”Yes,” said Houston, looking almost as if he enjoyed the situation, ”a.s.sociated as employer and employe. I am going out to fill the position of accountant for the same company of which he is president.”
”Oh, I see; you are just going to take the position. Did you know all the time who he was?”
”I had no more idea than you until I saw his card; but I think he knew me, was looking around, in fact, to see what his new clerk was like.”
”The old beast!” exclaimed Rutherford. His face was a study, it represented so many conflicting emotions; several times he seemed about to speak, then remained silent, looking more and more perplexed.
He was sorely puzzled; Houston was the embodiment of courtesy and refinement, his every word and gesture revealed a man of wealth, education and culture,--and yet, a clerk, and for such a man! and strangest of all, he seemed to feel no chagrin in speaking of his position.
Houston's voice broke in pleasantly upon his cogitations: ”I saw it would never do for you to travel about here under such erroneous impressions; imagining you were a.s.sociating with a heavy capitalist, or a mining broker, when--”
”Oh, hang it all!” interrupted Rutherford, brusquely, ”What difference does it make? You're a gentleman, anybody can see that. I'll own up that it did knock me out at first to find you were connected in any way with that old chap; but I know you're all right, and I had no business questioning around as I did about your affairs; I beg your pardon, and I'll explain now why I did it. I'm a stranger out here, and I've taken an awful liking to you, and when we get to Silver City, if you don't mind, I'd like to keep in with you until I get a little accustomed to the ways out here; that is, if you've no objections.”
”That's all right,” responded Houston cordially, ”stay with me as long as you like; and now, let's go out and take a look at the mountains,”
and the two young men shook hands, each feeling a sort of presentiment that the friends.h.i.+p begun under these peculiar circ.u.mstances was one for life, and such it proved.