Part 30 (2/2)
The pleasure of seeing her was so genuine that he squeezed her hands heartily, and entered Hilliard's sanctum with a smile on his lips. It was gone, however, when he reappeared a half-hour later, and in its place an expression which caused her to inquire, quickly, ”What is the matter? Is something wrong?”
He nodded, but it was not until they had reached the outer office that he said: ”Yes, something is decidedly wrong.” Then, in answer to her further question: ”Wait a while; I'm too angry to talk. I'll have to tell you all about it before you'll understand.” He began to mutter harshly under his breath: ”Come along. We'll have lunch, and I'll explain. First, however, tell me why you came out at this season.”
”I have a big mining deal on with Mr. Hilliard. He sent for me, and I came. Oh, I hardly know where to begin! But you remember when you were in Kalvik I told you that I had several men out prospecting?”
”Yes.”
”Well, last summer, long before you came through, one of them located a ledge of copper.”
”You never told me.”
”There wasn't anything to tell at that time--I hadn't received any a.s.say reports, and I didn't know whether the thing was worth telling; but shortly after you left the returns came in, and they showed remarkable values. Now here is the wonderful part of the story. Unknown to me, my man had sent out other samples and a letter to a friend of his here in Seattle. That man had a.s.says made on his own account, and came to Mr.
Hilliard with the result. The very next boat brought him and Hilliard's expert to Katmai. They came over with the mail-carrier. We had opened up the ore body somewhat in the mean time, and it didn't take those men long to see what we had. They were back at my place in no time with a proposition. When I refused to tie up the ground, they made me come out with them--foxy Mr. Halliard had foreseen what would happen, and instructed them to bring me to him if they had to kidnap me. Well, I was a willing victim, and here I am, prepared to deal with Mr. Banker, provided we can reach an agreement. What do you think of me as a business woman?”
Boyd smiled at her enthusiasm. ”I think you are fine in every way, and I hope you take all of his money away from him. I can't get any.”
”It will take a lot of capital and time to develop the mine, and I am fighting now for control--he is a tight-fisted old fellow.”
”I should say he is,” remarked Emerson. ”He has just thrown a bomb into our camp that makes my teeth rattle. He promised to back me for one hundred thousand dollars, and this morning went back on his word and lay down, absolutely.”
”Begin at the beginning, and tell me everything,” commanded the girl. ”I'm dying to know what you have been doing. Now, right from the start, mind you.”
They had reached Emerson's hotel, and, escorting her to the luncheon-room, he proceeded to trace his progress from the day he had bade her farewell in the snows of Kalvik. They had finished their meal before his narrative came to a close.
”To-day Hilliard called me in and coolly informed me that his bank could not make the loan he had promised me, notwithstanding the fact that I had relied on his a.s.surances and ordered my supplies, which are now being s.h.i.+pped.”
”Did he offer any reason for his withdrawal?”
”Oh, I dare say he gave a reason, but he beclouded it with so many words that it was merely a fog by the time he got through. All I could distinguish in the general obscurity was that he would not produce. He said something about the bank being overloaded and the board refusing its consent. It's remarkable what a barricade a banker can build out of one board.”
”And yet, as I understand it, you have sold your output in advance, at a fixed price.”
”Correct.”
”It is very strange! The bank would be perfectly safe.”
”He merely bulkheaded himself in with a lot of smooth language, and when I tried to argue myself over I just slid off. The moment I stepped into his office I felt the temperature drop. Something new has come up; what it is, I don't know. Anyhow, he froze me out.”
”We must raise that money somewhere or we are ruined,” Cherry observed, with decision.
”Well, rather!” Boyd agreed, with a desperate grimace.
The girl laughed. ”Mr. Hilliard and I merely tried each other's mettle this morning. I am to return at four.”
”Let's meet later and dress each other's wounds,” he suggested. Cherry's presence had heartened him wonderfully, and the sight of her brightly animated face across the table inspired him with a kind of joyous courage, the like of which he had scarcely felt since their former meeting. In her company his worries had almost disappeared, laughter had become a living thing, and youth a blessing.
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