Part 42 (1/2)

Also, a month or two later, Thorn and Steel sought speech with me, the former looking almost uncomfortable when his companion said: ”I've been talking with Haldane about taking up my old place, and don't see how to raise the money, or feel very keen over it. We never did much good there since my father went under. The fact is, we two pull well together, and you have the longest head. Won't you run both places and make me a kind of foreman with a partner's interest?”

The suggestion suited me in many ways, but bearing in mind what might be possible, I saw a difficulty. ”I dare say we might make a workable arrangement, and I couldn't find a better partner; but haven't you Sally's interests to consider?” I said.

Steel smiled in an oracular fas.h.i.+on. ”That's Tom's business,” he said, with a gesture, which, though I think it was involuntary, suggested that he felt relieved of a load. ”Sally is a daisy, and I've done my best for her; but though there's n.o.body got more good points, I don't mind allowing she was a blame big handful now and then. Of course, we are all friends here!”

”We won't be if you start in apologizing for Sally,” broke in the stalwart Thorn; and as I glanced at his reddened face, a light dawned on me.

”That's all right!” said the smiling brother. ”There's no use in wasting words on him. He has had fair warning, and I'm not to blame.”

It struck me that the best thing I could do was to shake hands with the wrathful foreman, and I did it very heartily.

”He will think differently some day, and you will have a good wife, Tom,” I said. ”We'll miss you both badly at Crane Valley, but must try to give you a good start off when you take up your preempted land.”

It must be recorded that henceforward Sally was a model of virtue, so much so that I marveled, while at times her brother appeared to find it hard to conceal his astonishment. She was more subdued in manner and gentle in speech, while I could now understand the soft light which filled her eyes when they rested upon my foreman. The former spirit, however, still lurked within her, for returning to the house one evening when spring had come around again, I saw Cotton, who had once been a favorite of hers, leap out of the door with a brush whirling through the air close behind him.

”What is the meaning of this, Cotton?” I asked sharply, and the corporal, who looked slightly sheepish, glanced over his shoulder as though expecting another missile.

”The truth is that I don't quite know,” he said. ”Perhaps Miss Steel is suffering from a bad toothache or something of the kind to-day.”

”That does not satisfy me,” I said, as severely as I could, hoping he would not discover it was mischief which prompted me. ”I presume my housekeeper did not eject you without some reason?”

”Why don't you ask her, then?” said Cotton awkwardly. ”Still, I suppose an explanation is due to you if you insist on it. I went in to talk to Sally while I waited for you, and said something--perfectly innocent, I a.s.sure you, about---- Well--confound it--if I did say I'd been heartbroken ever since I saw her last, was that any reason why she should hurl a brush at me? She used to appreciate that kind of foolery.”

”Circ.u.mstances alter cases,” I said dryly. ”Don't you know that Sally will leave here as Mrs. Thorn in a few weeks or so?”

”On my word of honor, I didn't,” and Cotton laughed boyishly. ”Go in and make my peace with her, if you can. I am positively frightened to. Say I'm deeply contrite and--confoundedly hungry.”

Supper was just ready, but there were only four plates on the table, and when I ventured to mention that Cotton waited repentant and famis.h.i.+ng without, Sally regarded me stonily. ”He can just stay there and starve,”

she said.

Even Thorn, who, I think, knew Sally's weak points and how they were counterbalanced by the warm-heartedness which would have covered much worse sins, laughed; but the lady remained implacable, and, as a result of it, Cotton hungry without, until--when the meal was almost finished--Dixon, who was accompanied by Sergeant Mackay, astonished us by alighting at the door. He brought startling news.

The first carloads of rails and ties for the new road were ready for dispatching, and it would pa.s.s close by my possessions; while, after we had recovered from our excitement, he said: ”I have been searching for a Corporal Cotton, and heard he might be here. Do you know where he is?”

I looked at Sally, who answered for me frigidly: ”You might find him trying to keep warm in the stable.”

Dixon appeared astonished, and Mackay's eyes twinkled, while after some consideration the autocrat at the head of the table said: ”If it's important business, Charlie may tell him that he may come in.”

Cotton seemed glad to obey the summons, and knowing that he had ridden a long way since his last meal, I signaled Dixon to wait, when Sally, relenting, set a double portion before him. It was, therefore, some time later when the lawyer, glancing in his direction, said: ”You are Charles Singlehurst Cotton, born at Halton Edge in the county of Warwick, England?”

The effect was electrical. Cotton thrust back his plate and straightened himself, staring fixedly at the speaker with wrath in his gaze. ”I am Corporal C. Cotton of the Northwest Police, and whether I was born in England or Canada concerns only myself.”

Dixon smiled indulgently, and Mackay, looking towards me, nodded his head with a complacent air of one who has witnessed the fulfilment of his prophecy.

”If I had any doubts before, after inspecting a photograph of you, I have none at present,” the former said. ”Mr. Ormesby forgot to mention that I am a lawyer by profession, and Messrs. James, Tillotson & James, of London, whose name you doubtless know, requested me through a correspondent to search for you. Having business with Mr. Haldane, I came in person. Have you any objection to according me a private interview?”

Cotton looked at me interrogatively, and I nodded. ”You can safely trust even family secrets to Mr. Dixon. He is, or will be, one of the foremost lawyers in the Dominion.”

Dixon made me a little semi-ironical bow, and when he and Cotton pa.s.sed out together into my own particular sanctum, a lean-to shed, Mackay beamed upon me. ”Man, did I not tell ye?” he said.

It was some time before Cotton came back, looking grave and yet elated, and turning towards us, said: ”Mr. Dixon has brought me unexpected news, both good and bad. It is necessary that I should accompany him to Winnipeg. Sergeant, you have the power to grant me a week's leave of absence?”