Part 25 (1/2)
The girl was about to put in a disclaimer, when he flashed a look at her which she could not help but heed. ”I am very stupid about such things,”
she offered, easily. ”I would not have understood it, I am sure.” To her father, she continued, leaving what she felt to be dangerous ground: ”I didn't look for you so early.”
”We finished sooner than I expected,” Mr. Wayland answered, ”so I drove Willis to his hotel and waited for him to dress. I was afraid he might disappoint us if I let him out of my sight. I couldn't allow that--not to- night of all nights, eh?” The magnate laughed knowingly at Marsh.
”I have never yet disappointed Miss Wayland, and I never shall,” the new- comer replied, eying the girl in such a way that Boyd felt a sudden desire to choke him until his smooth, expressionless face matched the color of his evening coat. ”I can imagine your daughter's feminine guests staying away, Mr. Wayland, but her masculine friends, never!”
”What rot!” thought Emerson.
”Well, I couldn't take any chances to-night,” the father rea.s.serted, ”for this is a celebration. I will tell Hawkins to open a bottle of that Private Cuvee, '86.”
”What machinations have you precious conspirators been at now?” queried Mildred.
”My dear, I have effected a wonderful deal to-day,” said her father. ”With the help of Mr. Marsh, I closed the last details of a consolidation which has occupied me for many months.”
”Another trust, I suppose.”
”Certain people might call it that,” chuckled the old man. ”Willis was the inspiring genius, and did most of the work; the credit is his.”
”Not at all! Not at all!” disclaimed the modest Marsh. ”I was but a child in your father's hands, Miss Wayland. He has given me a liberal education in finance.”
”It was a beautiful affair, eh?” questioned the magnate.
”Wonderful.”
”May I inquire the nature of this merger?” Emerson ventured, amazed at this disclosure of the intimate relations existing between the two.
”Certainly,” replied Wayne Wayland. ”There is no longer any secret about it, and the papers will be full of the story in the morning. I have combined the packing industries of the Pacific Coast under the name of the North American Packers' a.s.sociation.”
Boyd felt himself growing numb.
”What do you mean by 'packing industries'?” asked Mildred.
”Canneries--salmon fisheries! We own sixty per cent. of the plants of the entire Coast, including Alaska. That's why I've been so keen about that north country, Boyd. You never guessed it, eh?”
”No, sir,” Boyd stammered.
”Well, we control the supply, and we will regulate the market. We will allow only what compet.i.tion we desire. Oh, it is all in our hands. It was a beautiful transaction, and one of the largest I ever effected.”
Was he dreaming? Boyd wondered. His mouth was dry, but he managed to inquire:
”What about the independent canneries?”
Marsh laughed. ”There is no sentiment in business! There are about forty per cent. too many plants to suit us. I believe I am capable of attending to them.”
”Mr. Marsh is the General Manager,” Wayland explained. ”With the market in our own hands, and sufficient capital to operate at a loss for a year, or two years, if necessary, I don't think the independent plants will cost us much.”
Emerson found his sweetheart's eyes fixed upon him oddly. She turned to her father and said: ”I consider that positively criminal.”