Part 36 (1/2)
The boys nodded to signify that they understood.
”Pendleton is a shrewd fellow,” said Mr. Kenby, ”and while we may not like him personally, I do not believe he would bother with a mining proposition at all if he did not see money in it.”
”That's true,” said Mr. Duncan. ”Like yourself I have some confidence in the actual value of the property. What I am afraid of is that Pendleton is seeking a way to eventually crowd the boys out of the proposition altogether. There is only one way to remedy such a thing-that is through a controlling interest in the mine, and that the boys have not got.”
”Then let me suggest that we induce Lucy to part with her share to Fleet,” said Mr. Kenby. ”That will give the boys a three-fifths interest, and will overcome the difficulty you mention.”
”A good idea,” said Mr. Duncan. ”Chot shall write to Lucy at once. She is in Stockdale with her aunt-or, at least, she said that was where she was going when she left here a few weeks since.”
”I'll write to her to-night,” said Chot, which called forth a wink from Fleet. Chot understood the wink but paid no attention to it, and Fleet subsided.
”Be careful how you word the letter,” said Mr. Duncan. ”It is a delicate subject for her, and there is no use to offend her or prejudice her against her father.”
”Leave that to me,” said Chot. ”I had a perfect understanding with her at the time the papers were signed. She loves her father, I think, but knows he does not always deal squarely.”
”An awful position for a girl to be in,” said Mr. Kenby, with a grave shake of the head. ”It's lucky that Lucy has an aunt to stay with.”
”It is,” said Chot. ”Mrs. Dashworth does not like Mr. Pendleton, and will always look after Lucy's welfare.”
”Well, if she does not, there are others who will,” said Chot's father, in a grim tone that sent a thrill through each of the boys.
”I'll tell you, fellows,” said Chot, when Mr. Duncan and Mr. Kenby had gone down into the library for a smoke before retiring, ”this mine is going to cause us trouble. I can feel it in die air. That is, unless we relinquish all claim to it, and that I'm sure none of us are inclined to do.”
”No; not in the face of facts made clear to-night,” said Tom. ”Something has always told me that Luther Pendleton was a rascal of the first water. I cannot say what has made me believe this-instinct, perhaps-but ever since that day at the bra.s.s works, after my father died, when he told me of the obligation we would have to pay, I have mistrusted him.”
”Pendleton may know more of your father's accounts than he cares to admit,” said Fleet.
”I have often thought that, and am waiting such a time as I can confront him with something substantial in the way of proof to that effect,” said Tom.
”It has always seemed to me,” said Chot, ”that Luther Pendleton was not the sort of man to be the father of a fine girl like Lucy. I heartily wish he was not her father, for you must realize that regard for her would hold us back in this matter, when otherwise we would be inclined to see Pendleton severely punished.”
”It is for Lucy's sake that I have never quite expressed my sentiments with regard to her father,” said Tom.
The boys finally separated for the night, Fleet going home with his father, and Tom to his attic den where he had a comfortable bed.
Chot sat up late, writing first to Commandant Cullum about Hoki, and then to Lucy. He went into considerable detail in the latter, asking Lucy if she would transfer the stock to Fleet for a sum to be agreed upon.
He mailed the letters in the morning.
CHAPTER XXV-CONCLUSION
For the next few days Fleet kept away from his chums for the greater part of the time, and when they pressed him to know how he was occupying his time, he merely winked, and said:
”Wait and see.”
Hour after hour he spent in his den, the door locked, and the only way they could communicate with him at such a time was by means of a telephone, and then his answers were sometimes short.
”I'm awfully busy,” he said one day to Chot, when his chum rang him up and asked him to go swimming in the creek. ”Sorry, but I'll have to ring off.”