Part 23 (1/2)
”Well then, what in thunder,--if I may ask the question,--are you doing out here with this confounded Buncombe-Boomerang mining company?”
”That is just what I wished to tell you to-night,” Houston replied, ”but we must talk low, for walls sometimes have ears,” and placing a chair for his friend near his own, he proceeded to tell him of his object in coming out to the mining camp, of the work which he had accomplished, and of his plans for what yet remained to be done.
Rutherford listened with much interest, deepening into admiration for his friend.
”And now,” said Houston, in conclusion, ”you will see why I could not very well reveal my ident.i.ty to you when we first met. I knew you as soon as I saw your card, but I was a stranger in this part of the country, with a certain role to play, uncertain of success, and, not knowing what difficulties or obstacles I might meet, thought there would be less danger of unexpected complications, if you thought me just what I appeared to be.”
”You thought about right, too,” said Rutherford, ”for I'm awfully careless about anything of that kind, always putting my foot in it, you know; and I don't see how you ever could come out here, a perfect stranger, and carry everything along as smoothly as you have. Well, I remember I was awfully mixed there on the train, when you told me you had come out here to work for that company, for I thought all the time that if you were not a gentleman, then I never saw one; and it's lucky I did have sense enough to think of that, or I might have made a confounded chump of myself.”
”You would have cut me, would you?” asked Houston, laughing, ”I was looking out for that, and would have considered it a rich joke if you had.”
”Rather too rich, I should say,” said Rutherford, coloring. ”Mort has always ridiculed me for that sort of thing, and told me I'd make a precious fool of myself some day; I don't intend to be sn.o.bbish, though he says I am, but that's just my way somehow, unless I happen to like a person. Mort is different from me; he will get along with all sorts of people, you know, but I never could.”
”You are all right,” answered Houston, ”you are a little conscious of your blue blood now and then, but as you grow older you will think less about that, and you have as good a heart as Morton, when a person is fortunate enough to find it.”
”Say,” said Rutherford, suddenly, ”if you and Mort were cla.s.s mates, you must have known Van Dorn.”
”Certainly,” said Houston, smilingly watching the blue coils of smoke from his cigar, ”and when I first saw him with the Winters party, I knew my little game was up, unless I got my work in very expeditiously,” and he described the little pantomime which took place in the office shortly after Van Dorn's arrival, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of Rutherford, who exclaimed:
”Great Scott! but you fellows played that game well, no one ever would have dreamed that you had known each other.”
Houston then told of the plan for Van Dorn's coming in a few weeks, and later, for the arrival of Mr. Cameron with Lindlay.
”Oh,” Rutherford exclaimed, ”now I see why Mort is so anxious to get here at just about a certain time; he knows all about this, and wants to be in at the death himself; well, that suits me exactly. But say, old fellow, isn't this going to be a pretty nasty piece of business for you about that time?”
”It would be if any one should get hold of this before the right time comes, but I do not antic.i.p.ate any trouble, because I intend to be so guarded that nothing regarding my work will be known or suspected until my uncle is here, and we have them securely trapped.
”It will require a cool head and a level one to carry this thing through, and accomplish what you have undertaken,” said Rutherford thoughtfully, as he took one or two turns up and down the room, ”and I guess you are the right one for the work. Van Dorn will be just the one to help you, too, he's pretty cool and quick-witted himself, but I should think you would both need a third party, somebody who has been on the ground for a long time and who understands all about the working of these things.”
”It would be of great a.s.sistance to us, and I intend to keep a look-out, and if it is possible to find such a person, and one whom we can trust at the same time, I shall secure him.”
”Well, I'm sure I wish you success, and I shall be anxious to hear from you while I'm gone, and know how you are coming on.”
They smoked silently for a few moments, then Rutherford said:
”By the way, Houston, how about the congratulations I told you some time ago I was ready to offer whenever the occasion required; are they in order now? or shall I reserve them until my return?”
”They are in order whenever you choose to offer them,” Houston replied quietly.
”Indeed! well, I'm glad to hear it, I thought it about time. I congratulate you most heartily, and tender you both my sincerest wishes for your happiness. I tell you what, old fellow, I think you've found a splendid woman, and I think, too, that you are wonderfully suited to each other. Seems strange, doesn't it? to think of a pair like you two, finding each other in a place like this!”
”It is rather unusual, I admit,” said Houston.
”Yes,” added Rutherford, ”taking into consideration all the surroundings, and the why and wherefore of your coming here, I think it borders on the romantic.”
A moment later he asked, ”Does Miss Gladden know what you are doing out here?” Houston shook his head, in reply.
”Doesn't she know who you really are?”