Part 28 (1/2)
”I' for sympathy; and I mustn't keep you from the trout Go and catch as many as you can It must be nice to feel that you have only to pick up a fishi+ng-rod and be young again”
She walked to the gate with hi auto down the uneven road The mud splashed about the car indicated distance traveled at furious speed, but it slowed at the bend near the gate, and Cliffe sighed as he recognized Robinson
”I guess this stopshis rod and creel, he juate, and Evelyn smiled as the car rolled up the drive She was sorry that her father had lost his favorite sport, but his prompt surrender of it was characteristic He was first of all a man of business
”Wired for an auto' to meetpretty hard, and they don't doon theseas fast as he could” He took some letters froet breakfast”
Half an hour afterward they sat in a corner of the veranda, where Mrs
Willans' guests left them alone These quiet, intentto their world
”Well?” Robinson said
”One of two things has got to be done; there's no middle course”
Robinson nodded
”That's true Middle courses generally lead to nothing”
”Very well We can cut out our deal with President Altiera, lose the o; or we can pay up again, hang on, and put the h”
”What's your opinion? The fellow asks for uided by me?”
”Yes,” Robinson said ”Take which you think is the right line; I'll stand in”
”It's pretty hard to see We'll ainst a bigger thing than he thought It's going to cost him and us some money to head off the revolutionists, but if we don't drop out right noe've got to brace up and put it over
Well, as I'ood interest, and if I go on, I've got to sell out stock Ifor me I want a few minutes to think it over”
Robinson had confidence in Cliffe's integrity and judgment
”An hour, if you like,” he said; ”then we'll have to pull out, whatever you decide”
For a long while Cliffe sat silent with knitted brows His wife made claims upon his means that he sometimes found it hard to satisfy; and it was his ahter should be rich After carefully pondering the letters, he saw that he th he could not estimate, and defeat would cost him the fruit of several years' labor Yet the prize to be as te, and he could take a risk Besides, they already had put a good deal of money into it
”Well,” he said at last, ”I've ested with a smile
”That's so,” Cliffe answered in a quiet voice ”What's s myself We can talk it over on the way to town
I'll be ready as soon as I've told my wife”
Robinson took out his watch
”Give you half an hour if we're to catch the train,” he said
Cliffe met Evelyn in the broad hall, and told her that he would have to go south at once