Part 27 (1/2)

”Show him the plans. If he recognizes them, I'll let the thief know he has been found out. He'll run, and we'll be rid of him without any scandal. We'll arrange for Blake to get the credit for the bridge, after a time. George Ashton and I are rather close together. I don't want him to be hit harder than's necessary.”

”Say, Mr. Leslie, I don't mind admitting you _are_ square!” exclaimed Griffith. ”You don't like Tom, and you know he hasn't a line of proof.

It would be only his word against Laffie's. Unknown engineer trying to blackmail the son of George Ashton. You know what would be said.”

”I told you, I owe him a debt. I intend to pay it in full.”

”One thing though,” cautioned Griffith. ”Even a cornered rat will fight. There's the chance that Laffie may not run. He'd be a drivelling idiot if he did, with his father's millions at stake. Don't forget we've no proof. It won't look even possible to outsiders. Suppose I hold off showing Tom those plans till we see if he can make it on the Zariba Dam? If he pulls that off, no engineer in the U. S. will doubt his claims to the bridge.”

”That means a delay,” said Mr. Leslie irritably. ”My first plan was to send Blake to Michamac at once.”

”Lord! With one cantilever finished and the other out to the central span--if it's Tom's bridge, he'd recognize it as quick as his plans.

And if he did--well, I'd not answer for what would happen to that d.a.m.n thief.”

”H'm--perhaps you're right,” considered Mr. Leslie. He thought a moment, and added with quick decision, ”Very well. Keep him on at the dam. What are you paying him?”

”Two hundred.”

”Double it.”

”No go. He'd suspect something.”

”Suspect, would he? H'm--several expert engineers have failed on that dam. If it can be put through, the project will net me a half-million.

Ten per cent of my profits might stimulate you engineers. I offer fifty thousand dollars as reward to the man who solves the problem of the Zariba Dam.”

”Say, that's going some!” commented Griffith.

”Plain business proposition. If I can't get it done for wages, it is cheaper to pay a bonus than to have the project fail.”

”Good way to put it,” admitted Griffith. ”Don't just know, though, what I'll do with all that money.”

”You? Thought you said that Blake--”

”D'you suppose he'd take a cent of it? He's working for me.”

”But if he does the work?”

”He might accept the credit. The cash would come to me, if he had to cram it down my throat. He won't touch your money.”

”Crazy fool!” rasped Mr. Leslie. Again he paused to consider, and again he spoke with quick decision. ”The Coville Company takes over the project. I don't believe the dam can be built; I'm tired of the whole thing. So I unload on the Coville Company. You see? The company offers the fifty thousand bonus as a last hope. It hires Blake direct on some of its routine work. You insist that he try for the dam, between times.”

”That's the ticket!” said Griffith. ”We'll try it on him.”

”Then call by the Coville office. I'll phone over for them to have the transfer made and a letter waiting for you,” said Mr. Leslie, and he jerked out his watch.

Griffith rose at the signal. He fumbled for a moment with his hat and gloves, and spoke with a queer catch in his voice. ”I'd like to--let you know how I--appreciate--”

”No call for it! no call for it!” broke in Mr. Leslie. ”Good-day!”