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第26章

the riverman-第26章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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〃I know so。  If he was mad at all; it was only at being found out。〃



〃Maybe;〃 said Orde。



〃We've got an enemy on our hands in any case;〃 concluded Newmark; 

〃and one we'll have to look out for; I don't know how he'll do it; 

but he'll try to make trouble on the river。  Perhaps he'll try to 

block the stream by not breaking his rollways。〃



〃One of the first things we'll do will be to boom through a channel 

where Mr。 Man's rollways will be;〃 said Orde。



A faint gleam of approval lit Newmark's eyes。



〃I guess you'll be equal to the occasion;〃 said he drily。



Before the afternoon train; there remained four hours。  The partners 

at once hunted out the little one…story frame building near the 

river in which Johnson conducted his business。



Johnson received them with an evident reserve of suspicion。



〃I see no use in it;〃 said he; passing his hand over his hair 

〃slicked〃 down in the lumber…jack fashion。  〃I can run me own widout 

help from any man。〃



〃Which seems to settle that!〃 said Newmark to Orde after they had 

left。



〃Oh; well; his drive is small; and he's behind us;〃 Orde pointed 

out。



〃True;〃 said Newmark thoughtfully。



〃Now;〃 said Newmark; as they trudged back to their hotel to get 

lunch and their hand…bags。  〃I'll get to work at my part of it。  

This proposition of Heinzman's has given me an idea。  I'm not going 

to try to sell this stock outside; but to the men who own timber 

along the river。  Then they won't be objecting to the tolls; for if 

the company makes any profits; part will go to them。〃



〃Good idea!〃 cried Orde。



〃I'll take these contracts; to show we can do the business。〃



〃All correct。〃



〃And I'll see about incorporation。  Also I'll look about and get a 

proper office and equipments; and get hold of a book…keeper。  Of 

course we'll have to make this our headquarters。〃



〃I suppose so;〃 said Orde a little blankly。  After an instant he 

laughed。  〃Do you know; I hadn't thought of that?  We'll have to 

live here; won't we?〃



〃Also;〃 went on Newmark calmly; 〃I'll buy the supplies to the best 

advantage I can; and see that they get here in good shape。  I have 

our preliminary lists; and as fast as you think you need anything; 

send a requisition in to me; and I'll see to it。〃



〃And I?〃 inquired Orde。



〃You'll get right at the construction。  Get the booms built and 

improve the river where it needs it。  Begin to get your crewI'm 

not going to tell you how; you know better than I do。  Only get 

everything in shape for next spring's drive。  You can start right 

off。  We have my money to begin on。〃



Orde laughed and stretched his arms over his head。



〃My!  She's a nice big job; isn't she?〃 he cried joyously。







XIV





Orde; in spite of his activities; managed to see Carroll Bishop 

twice during the ensuing week。



On his return home late Monday afternoon; Grandma Orde informed him 

with a shrewd twinkle that she wanted him surely at home the 

following evening。



〃I've asked in three or four of the young people for a candy pull;〃 

said she。



〃Who; mother?〃 asked Orde。



〃Your crowd。  The Smiths; Collinses; Jane Hubbard; and Her;〃 said 

Grandma Orde; which probably went to show that she had in the 

meantime been making inquiries; and was satisfied with them。



〃Do you suppose they'll care for candy pulling?〃 hazarded Orde a 

little doubtfully。



〃You mean; will she?〃 countered Grandma。  〃Well; I hope for both 

your sakes she is not beyond a little old…fashioned fun。〃



So it proved。  The young people straggled in at an early hour after 

supperevery one had supper in those days。  Carroll Bishop and Jane 

arrived nearly the last。  Orde stepped into the hall to help them 

with their wraps。  Hupon the 

vital point of the evening。  He had said something about a plan for 

the week following。



〃But you forget that by that time I shall be gone;〃 said she。



〃Gone!〃 he echoed blankly。  〃Where?〃



〃Home;〃 said she。  〃Don't you remember I am to go Sunday morning?〃



〃I thought you were going to stay a month。〃



〃I was; but Icertain things came up that made it necessary for me 

to leave sooner。〃



〃II'm sorry you're going;〃 stammered Orde。



〃So am I;〃 said she。  〃I've had a very nice time here。〃



〃Then I won't see you again;〃 said Orde; still groping for 

realisation。  〃I must go to Monrovia to…morrow。  But I'll be down to 

see you off。〃



〃Do come;〃 said she。



〃It's not to be for good?〃 he expostulated。  〃You'll be coming 

back。〃



She threw her hands palm out; with a pretty gesture of ignorance。



〃That is in the lap of the gods;〃 said she。



〃Wile was surprised as he approached Miss Bishop to 

lift her cloak from her shoulders; to find that the top of her 

daintily poised head; with its soft; fine hair; came well below the 

level of his eyes。  Somehow her poise; her slender grace of movement 

and of attitude; had lent her the impression of a stature she did 

not possess。  To…night her eyes; while fathomless as ever; shone 

quietly in anticipation。



〃Do you know;〃 she told Orde delightedly; 〃I have never been to a 

real candy pull in my life。  It was so good of your mother to ask 

me。  What a dear she looks to…night。  And is that your father?  I'm 

going to speak to him。〃



She turned through the narrow door into the lighted; low…ceilinged 

parlour where the company were chatting busily。  Orde mechanically 

followed her。  He was arrested by the sound of Jane Hubbard's slow 

good…humoured voice behind him。



〃Now; Jack;〃 she drawled; 〃I agree with you perfectly; but that is 

NO reason why I should be neglected entirely。  Come and hang up my 

coat。〃



Full of remorse; Orde turned。  Jane Hubbard stood accusingly in the 

middle of the hall; her plain; shrewd; good…humoured face smiling 

faintly。  Orde met her frank wide eyes with some embarrassment。



〃Here it is;〃 said Jane; holding out the coat。  〃I don't much care 

whether you hang it up or not。  I just wanted to call you back to 

wish you luck。〃  Her slow smile widened; and her gray eyes met his 

still more knowingly。



Orde seized the coat and her hand at the same time。



〃Jane; you're a trump;〃 said he。  〃No wonder you're the most popular 

girl in town。〃



〃Of course I am; Jack;〃 she agreed indolently。  She entered the 

parlour。



The candy pulling was a success。  Of course everybody got burned a 

little and spattered a good deal; but that was to be expected。  

After the product had been broken and been piled on dishes; all 

trooped to the informal 〃back sitting…room;〃 where an open fire 

invited to stories and games of the quieter sort。  Some of the girls 

sat in chairs; though most joined the men on the hearth。



Carroll Bishop; however; seemed possessed of a spirit of 

restlessness。  The place seemed to interest her。  She wandered here 

and there in the room; looking now at the walnut…framed photograph 

of Uncle Jim Orde; now at the great pink conch shells either side 

the door; now at the marble…topped table with its square paper…

weight of polished agate and its glass 〃bell;〃 beneath which stood a 

very life…like robin。  This 〃back sitting…room〃 contained little in 

the way of ornament。  It was filled; on the contrary; with old 

comfortable chairs; and worn calf…backed books。  The girl peered at 

the titles of these; but the gas…jets had been turned low in favour 

of the firelight; and she had to give over the effort to identify 

the volumes。  Once she wandered close to Grandma Orde's cushioned 

wooden rocker; and passed her hand lightly over the old lady's 

shoulder。



〃Do you mind if I look at things?〃 she asked。  〃It's so dear and 

sweet and old and different from our New York homes。〃



〃Look all you want to; dearie;〃 said Grandma Orde。



After a moment she passed into the dining…room。  Here Orde found 

her;

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