Part 15 (1/2)
”Oh, yes! I know,” I said ”But this is different I have become acquainted with you I cannot sail under false colours I have no experience I aed his desk again
”George,--I'm the boss of this affair You must just sit back quiet and listen, while I tell you about it; then you can talk as much as you want
”There's a thousand acres of property that I, or I should say, hter Eileen owns some hundred miles up the coast from here The place is called Golden Crescent Bay My wife took a fancy to it in the early days, when she ca over a ti and she grew so fond of the place that she spent three ht on that very land She left it all to Eileen when she died
”As a business one away up; but, as a husband, as a father and as a sentimentalist, I just can't do it It would be like desecration
”There's two e to it; there's the house we put up, also a little cabin where the present caretaker lives The only other place within a couple of h the bush, is a cottage that stands on the property abutting Eileen's, and close to her bungalow It has been boarded up and unoccupied for quite a while Of course, up behind, over the hills, there are ranches here and there, while, across the bay and all up the coast, there are squatters, settlers, fishermen and ranchers for a fare-you-well”
”You say there is a caretaker there already?” I put in
”Yes!--I was just getting to that He's an old Klondike miner; caot sober Came to, just in time Now he hoards what's left like an old skinflint
Won't spend a nickel, unless it's on booze Drinks like a drowning h ood for what I want now”
”You don't want me to do hi to that, too,--only you're so darned speedy
”He's all right as a caretaker with little or nothing to do, and he will prove useful to you for odd jobs,--but, I have a sal to have half a dozen lu south, and further up, for the next few years
So full steam ahead now
”They require a convenient store, where they can get supplies; grub, oil, gasoline, hardware and such like I need a ood The settlers would find a store up there a perfect God-send
”The property at Golden Crescent is easily got at and is thean eye to business, and with Eileen's consent, I have decided to convert the large front living-rooalow into a store It is plain, and can't be hurt It's just suited for the purpose I have had so in a counter and shelves and shutting the new store off coroceries, hardware, etc, has already been ordered from the wholesalers and should be up there in a few days
”Steamers pass Golden Crescent twice a week When they have anything for you, they whistle and stand by out in the bay; when you want the on the pole, on the rock, at the end of the little wharf; then you row out and e Oh, yes! I'ht man”
He stopped and looked over at e!--will you take the job?”
”What about those other poor beggars who have applied?” I asked
”There you are again,” he exclaimed impatiently ”They had the sa out there till I had seen them in turn Not one of them has the qualifications you have I want a man with a brain as well as a body”