Part 29 (2/2)
March stared, and then mused. ”Well, I'll be--doggoned!”
”Of course, Mr. March, that needn't be unfair to you. Is it to accommodate you, or him, that Major Garnet lends his name?”
”O me!--At least--O! they're always accommodating each other.”
”My father told me of these lands before I came here. He thinks that the fortunes of Suez, and consequently of Rosemont, in degree, not to speak”--the speaker smiled--”of individual fates, _is_ locked up in them.”
”I know! I know! The fact grows on me, sir, every day and hour! But, sir, the lands are my lawful inheritance, and although I admit that the public----”
”You quite misunderstand me! Miss Garnet said--in play, I know--that the key of this lock isn't far off, or words to that effect. Was she not right? And doesn't Mr. Ravenel hold it? In fact--pardon my freedom--is it not best that he should?”
”Good heavens, sir! why, Miss Garnet didn't mean--you say, does Jeff-Jack hold that key? He was holding it the last time I saw him! O yes. Even according to your meaning he thinks he holds it, and he thinks he ought to. I don't think he ought to, and incline to believe he won't!
_Lift_ your miserable head!” he cried to his horse, spurred fiercely, and jerked the curb till the animal reared and plunged. When he laughed again, in apology, Fair asked,
”Do you propose to organize a company yourself to--eh--boom your lands?”
”Well, I don't--Yes, I reckon I shall. I reckon I'll have to. Wha' do you think?”
”Might not Mr. Ravenel let you pay off your mortgages in stock?”
”I--he might. But could I do that and still control the thing? For, Mr.
Fair, I've got to control! There's a private reason why I mustn't let Jeff-Jack manage me. I've got to show myself the better man. He knows why. O! we're good friends. I can't explain it to you, and you'd never guess it in the world! But there's a heavy prize up between us, and I believe that if I can show myself more than a match for him in these lists--this land business--I'll stand a chance for that prize. There, sir, I tell you that much. It's only proper that I should. I've got to be the master.”
”Is your policy, then, to gain time--to put the thing off while you----”
”Good Lord, no! I haven't a day to spare! I'll show you these lands, Mr.
Fair, and then if you'll accept the transfer of these mortgages, I'll begin the work of opening these lands, somehow, before the sun goes down. But if I let Ravenel or Garnet in, I--” John pondered.
”Haven't you let them in already, Mr. March? I don't see clearly why it isn't your best place for them.”
March was silent.
x.x.xII.
JORDAN
Barbara lay on a rug in her room, reading before the fragrant ashes of a perished fire. She heard her father's angry step, and his stern rap on her door. Before she could more than lift her brow he entered.
”Barb!--O what sort of posture--” She started, and sat coiled on the rug.
”Barb, how is it you're not with your mother?”
”Mom-a sent me out, pop-a. She thought if I'd leave her she might drop asleep.”
He smiled contemptuously. ”How long ago was that?”
<script>