Part 22 (2/2)
”Well, if I should see him through----”
Monteith shook his head smilingly. ”He wouldn't accept it. You must remember, the boy has the real old Highland pride. No, give him some position where he can earn some money, or think he is earning it, in a short time.”
”You're a Jew at a bargain, Archie Monteith, and a Scotch Jew, at that, which is the worst kind. What sort of apt.i.tude would he have for figures?”
”He seems to display a special apt.i.tude for almost anything he undertakes.”
”Well,--I might,--pshaw, why not? Eleanor needn't know. There's Raye & Hemming. They want a young man in their office. It means a responsible position, though, Archie, with good pay, and I'm depending entirely upon your recommendation. He ought to know something about lumber surely.”
”Raye & Hemming!” Monteith started. ”I'd be delighted to see the boy get such a good opportunity, but the name of that particular lumber company isn't absolutely synonymous with fair-dealing. Remember, Ralph's been very strictly brought up, Captain.”
”Pshaw, they're supposed to muddle a little with politics, but what's the difference? If your paragon is so squeamish you'd better keep him in the bush. I can't think of anything else I could do for him half so good. Those fellows are sharp, I'll admit, but they know how to make money.”
Monteith considered for a moment, then stood up and held out his hand.
”I knew you would do the square thing, Captain,” he said heartily.
”Well, to be honest, I confess I'm not entirely disinterested. That young Carruthers the Grits are bringing out will be sure to rake up this story if I run next fall; and those MacDonalds are double-dyed Grits already. I don't want to give them a handle against me. Young Stanwell will make a better friend than an enemy. I can clear my tender conscience and get him out of the road, and save myself a great deal of future trouble all in one stroke. So there you are, you see.”
Monteith laughed. There was something irresistible about the candour of the man.
”He certainly is an Irishman all through,” was the Scotchman's mental comment.
”And by the way, Archie, does he know anything about this?”
”Not a word. Big Malcolm never told anybody, I fancy. That's a gentleman for you!”
Captain Herbert looked slightly embarra.s.sed.
”I suppose you'd better tell the boy--everything?”
”I think it would be better. He's very fair-minded, and, besides,”
Monteith smiled, ”he is not likely to feel any resentment against Miss Isabel's uncle.”
”That brings up a very important item in our bargain,” said the Captain frowningly, ”and one upon which everything depends.”
”Yes?”
”He'll have to understand that there's to be nothing between him and Bluebell. It seems absurd to talk about such a thing already, but Eleanor seems certain of danger. So you'll have to put the matter plainly to the young man, and explain that if he's so much as caught speaking to her, his position is gone as quick as a gunshot. I owe that much to my sister. She couldn't stand the sight of him, and neither of the youngsters is old enough to be hurt.”
Monteith looked dubious, but he did not hesitate to comply. Ralph would soon forget when he got away into the world, he told himself, and Miss Herbert would probably make the keeping of the bargain very easy for him.
”And now,” cried Captain Herbert, rising with an expression of relief, ”that's over. It's been an abominable tangle all through, a perfect mess, with everyone in the family mixed up in it, and it's a relief to have it settled. Come along, let's go out and breathe some fresh air and look at the dogs!”
XIII
THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
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