Part 56 (1/2)
”Yes. The run is nearly a week old, and I haven't begun to pack my salmon.
I have less than half a boat crew, and of those half are laid up.”
The president of the Trust stirred for the first time since Boyd had begun his recital; the grim lines about his mouth set themselves deeper, and, staring with cold gray eyes at the speaker, he said:
”Well, sir! What you have told me confirms my judgment that Willis Marsh is the right man in the right place.”
Completely taken back by this unexpected reply, Boyd exclaimed:
”You don't mean to say that you approve of what he has done?”
”Yes, of what I know he has done. Mr. Marsh is pursuing a definite policy laid down by his board of directors. You have shown me that he has done his work well. You knew before you left the East that we intended to crush all opposition.”
Emerson's voice was sharp as he cried: ”I understand all that; but am I to understand also that the directors of the N. A. P. A. instructed him to kill me?”
”Tut, tut! Don't talk nonsense. You admit that you have no proof of Willis' connection with the attempt upon your life. You put yourself in the way of danger when you hired scab labor to break that strike. I think you got off very easily.”
”If Marsh was instructed to crush the independents, why has he centred all his efforts on me alone? Why has he spent this summer in Kalvik and not among the other stations to the south?”
”That is our business. Different methods are required in different localities.”
”Then you have no criticism to make--you uphold him?” Boyd's indignation was getting beyond control.
”None whatever. I cannot agree that Marsh is even indirectly responsible for the collision of the scows, for the damage to your machinery, or for the fighting between the men. On the contrary, I know that he is doing his best to prevent violence, because it interferes with the catch. He hired your men because he needed them. n.o.body knows who broke your machinery. As for your fish-trap, you are privileged to build another, or a dozen more, wherever you please. Willis has already told me everything that you have said, and it strikes me that you have simply been outgeneraled. Your complaints do not appeal to me. Even granting your absurd a.s.sumption that Marsh tried to put you out of the way, it seems to me that you have more than evened the score.”
”How?”
”He is still wearing bandages over that knife-thrust you gave him.”
Emerson leaped to his feet.
”He knows I didn't do that; everybody knows it!” he cried. ”He lied to you.”
”We won't discuss that,” said Wayne Wayland, curtly. ”What do you want me to do?”
”I want you to end this persecution. I want you to sail him off.”
”In other words, you want me to save you.”
Emerson swallowed. ”I suppose it amounts to that. I want to be let alone, I want a square deal.”
”Well, I won't.” Wayne Wayland's voice hardened suddenly; his sound, white teeth snapped together. ”You are getting exactly what you deserve. You betrayed me by spying upon me while you broke bread in my house. I see nothing reprehensible in Mr. Marsh's conduct; but even if I did, I would not censure him; any measures are justifiable against a traitor.”
Boyd Emerson's face went gray beneath its coating of tan, and his voice threatened to break as he said:
”I am no traitor, and you know it. I thought you a man of honor, and I came to you, not for help but for justice. But I see I was mistaken. I am beginning to believe that Marsh acted under your instructions from the first.”
”Believe what you choose.”
”You think you've got me, but you haven't. I'll beat you yet.”
”You can't beat me at anything.” Mr. Wayland's jaws were set like iron.