Part 26 (1/2)

Keith straightened himself. ”Dr. Chalmers said when some one praised him as better than other Scotchmen, 'I thank you, sir, for no compliment paid me at the expense of my countrymen.” He half addressed himself to the Scotchman.

Matheson turned and looked him over, and as he did so his grim face softened a little.

”I know nothing about your doctors,” said Mr. Halbrook; ”what I want is to get this work done. Why can't you let me know to-day what it will cost? I have other things to do. I wish to leave to-morrow afternoon.”

”Well,” said Keith, with a little flush in his face, ”I could guess at it to-day. I think it will take a very short time. I am familiar with a part of this property already, and--”

Mr. Halbrook was a man of quick intellect; moreover, he had many things on his mind just then. Among them he had to go and see what sort of a trade he could make with this Squire Rawson, who had somehow stumbled into the best piece of land in the Gap, and was now holding it in an obstinate and unreasonable way.

”Well, I don't want any guessing. I'll tell you what I will do. I will pay you so much for the job.” He named a sum which was enough to make Keith open his eyes. It was more than he had ever received for any one piece of work.

”It would be cheaper for you to pay me by the day,” Keith began.

”Not much! I know the way you folks work down here. I have seen something of it. No day-work for me. I will pay you so many dollars for the job. What do you say? You can take it or leave it alone. If you do it well, I may have some more work for you.” He had no intention of being offensive; he was only talking what he would have called ”business”; but his tone was such that Keith answered him with a flash in his eye, his breath coming a little more quickly.

”Very well; I will take it.”

Keith took the papers and went out. Within a few minutes he had found his notes of the former survey and secured his a.s.sistants. His next step was to go to Captain Turley and take him into partners.h.i.+p in the work, and within an hour he was out on the hills, verifying former lines and running such new lines as were necessary. Spurred on by the words of the newcomer even more than by the fee promised him, Keith worked with might and main, and sat up all night finis.h.i.+ng the work. Next day he walked into the room where Mr. Halbrook sat, in the company's big new office at the head of the street. He had a roll of paper under his arm.

”Good morning, sir.” His head was held rather high, and his voice had a new tone in it.

Mr. Wickersham's agent looked up, and his face clouded. He was not used to being addressed in so independent a tone.

”Good morning. I suppose you have come to tell me how long it will take you to finish the job that I gave you, or that the price I named is not high enough?”

”No,” said Keith, ”I have not. I have come to show you that my people down here do not always put things off till to-morrow. I have come to tell you that I have done the work. Here is your survey.” He unrolled and spread out before Mr. Halbrook's astonished gaze the plat he had made. It was well done, the production of a draughtsman who knew the value of neatness and skill. The agent's eyes opened wide.

”Impossible! You could not have done it, or else you--”

”I have done it,” said Keith, firmly. ”It is correct.”

”You had the plat before?” Mr. Halbrook's eyes were fastened on him keenly. He was feeling a little sore at what he considered having been outwitted by this youngster.

”I had run certain of the lines before,” said Keith: ”these, as I started to tell you yesterday. And now,” he said, with a sudden change of manner, ”I will make you the same proposal I made yesterday. You can pay me what you think the work is worth. I will not hold you to your bargain of yesterday.”

The other sat back in his chair, and looked at him with a different expression on his face.

”You must have worked all night?' he said thoughtfully.

”I did,” said Keith, ”and so did my a.s.sistant, but that is nothing. I have often done that for less money. Many people sit up all night in Gumbolt,” he added, with a smile.

”That old stage-driver said you were a worker.” Mr. Halbrook's eyes were still on him. ”Where are you from?”

”Born and bred in the South,” said Keith.

”I owe you something of an apology for what I said yesterday. I shall have some more work for you, perhaps.”

The agent, when he went back to the North, was as good as his word. He told his people that there was one man in Gumbolt who would do their work promptly.

”And he's straight,” he said. ”He says he is from the South; but he is a new issue.”

He further reported that old Rawson, the countryman who owned the land in the Gap, either owned or controlled the cream of the coal-beds there.