Part 62 (1/2)
The president of the Trust turned, and, followed by his lieutenant, left the room without another word.
CHAPTER XXVI
IN WHICH A SCORE IS SETTLED
Cherry Malotte, coming down to the cannery on her daily visit, saw Willis Marsh and Mr. Wayland leaving it. Wondering, she hurried into the main building in search of Boyd. The place was as busy as when she had left it on the afternoon before, and she saw that the men had been at work all night; many of them were sprawled in corners, where they had sunk from weariness, s.n.a.t.c.hing a moment's rest before the boss kicked them back to their posts. The Chinese hands were stoically performing their tasks, their yellow faces haggard with the strain; at the butchering-tables yesterday's crew was still slitting, slas.h.i.+ng, hacking at the pile of fish that never seemed to grow less. Some of them were giving up, staggering away to their bunks, while others with more vitality had stood so long in the slime and salt drip that their feet had swelled, and it had become necessary to cut off their shoes.
Boyd was standing in the door of the office. In a few words he told her of Mr. Wayland's threat.
”Do you think he can injure the company?” she inquired, anxiously.
”I haven't a doubt of it. He can work very serious harm, at least.”
”Tell me--why did he turn against you so suddenly? What made Miss Wayland angry with you?”
”I--I would rather not”
”Why? I'm your partner, and I ought to be told, You and George and I will have to work together closer than ever now. Don't let's begin by concealing anything.”
”Well, perhaps you had better know the whole thing,” said Boyd, slowly.
”Mildred does not like you; her father's mind has been poisoned by Marsh.
It seems they resent our friends.h.i.+p; they believe--all sorts of things.”
”So I am the cause of your trouble, after all.”
”They blame me equally--more than you. It seems that Marsh made an inquiry into your--well, your life history--and he babbled all the gossip he heard to them. Of course they believed it, not knowing you as I do, and they misunderstood our friends.h.i.+p. But I can explain, and I shall, to Mildred.
Then I shall prove Marsh a liar. Perhaps I can show Mr. Wayland that he was in the wrong. It's our only hope.”
”What did Marsh say about me?” asked the girl.
She was pale to the lips.
”He said a lot of things that at any other time I would have made him swallow on the spot. But it's only a pleasure deferred. With your help, I'll do it in their presence. I don't like to tell you this, but the truth is vital to us all, and I want to arm myself.”
Cherry was silent.
”You may leave it to me,” he said, gently. ”I will see that Marsh sets you right.”
”There is nothing to set right,” said the girl, wearily. ”Marsh told the truth, I dare say.”
”The truth! My G.o.d! You don't know what you're saying!”
”Yes, I do.” She returned his look of shocked horror with half-hearted defiance. ”You must have known who I am. Fraser knew, and he must have told you. You knew I had followed the mining camps, you knew I had lived by my wits. You must have known what people thought of me. I cast my lot in with the people of this country, and I had to match my wits with those of every man I met. Sometimes I won, sometimes I did not. You know the North.”
”I didn't know,” he said, slowly. ”I never thought--I wouldn't allow myself to think--”