The Winning of Barbara Worth

by Harold Bell Wright

  CHAPTER XIII.

  BARBARA'S CALL TO HER FRIENDS.

  That night, long after Kingston was still and the Manager of The King'sBasin Land and Irrigation Company was fast asleep, Jefferson Worth andAbe Lee talked in the little tent that, from the lantern within, glowedin the darkness, seemingly the one spot of light under the desert stars.

  The next morning the surveyor left town on the stage, but not as he hadplanned. Abe knew now where he was going and what he was going to do.He was bound for the city by the sea and he carried in his pocketseveral letters of introduction, written by his employer and addressedto different firms engaged in manufacturing and selling thingselectrical. And more than this, Abe would see Barbara.

  Jefferson Worth did not breakfast with Abe that morning nor did he seehim off on the stage, but a few minutes after the surveyor had lefttown his employer passed down the street in the direction of the store.

  As Mr. Worth drew near his place of business he saw, posed just withoutthe door, one whom the most casual of observing strangers would havesupposed instantly to be the proprietor of the store, the owner of thebuilding--if not, indeed, the proprietor and owner of all Kingston andmany miles of country round about.

  The portly figure, clad in a business suit of gray, with a vast,full-rounded expanse of white vest, expressed in every curve opulentwealth and lordly generosity. The clean-shaven face, fat and florid,beamed upon the world from above the clerical severity of a black tiewith truly paternal benevolence; while the massive head was not inreality crowned but was covered by a hat such as commanding generalsalways wear in pictures. The pose of the figure, the lift of thecountenance, the kingly mien of eye and brow made it impossible tomistake his majesty. In comparison with this august personage, thefigure and air of Jefferson Worth were pitifully inadequate.

  The great one welcomed the financier at the latter's own door with anair of royal hospitality. Extending his hand as if he stepped down onlyone step from his throne and speaking in a tone that was meant toconfer marked distinction upon the humble recipient of his favor, hesaid: "Mr. Worth, I am delighted, more delighted than I can express, towelcome you to our city. It is a great day for this country--a greatday!" He wrung the financier's timid hand with two hundred and fiftypounds of emotional energy. "Mr. Greenfield and I, with our friends andassociates in the East, and Mr. Burk and Holmes here in the field, aredoing what we can for these people, but there is a great work here yetfor men like you--men of some means and financial ability, who will getbehind the smaller business interests and build them up on a solidfoundation. My heart rejoiced for the country, sir, when I heard thismorning that you had purchased this establishment. Deck is a goodhonest fellow, you know, but--" An expansive smile of confidentialunderstanding finished this sentence, and the words--"My name isBlanton, Mr. Worth--Horace P. Blanton"--seemed to settle at once anydoubt as to the position and authority of the speaker.

  Jefferson Worth did not explain that he had owned the store from thebeginning and that Deck Jordan was no more than his very capable agent.Indeed Mr. Worth said nothing at all. He even appeared to shrink withbecoming modesty though there was the faintest hint of a twinkle in thecorners of his eyes--a hint so faint that Horace P. Blanton, from hisgreat height, overlooked it.

  The big man, in a lower tone of confidential familiarity, asked: "Haveyou heard from Greenfield lately?"

  "No."

  "I wrote Jim some time ago that he would have to come out here himself.There are some conditions developing here that should have his personalattention, and I'll be blessed if I'll stand seeing him neglect them!I'm a western man myself, Worth; and you know we do things in thiscountry."

  "You are interested in The King's Basin Company?"

  The answer was given in a tone of tolerant surprise that any one shouldthink he would toy with a thing of such trifling importance. "Me? Ohno!--that is, not directly you understand. But I am deeply interestedin the development of the country. Let me show you a little of what weare doing here. It's amazing how the world outside fails utterly tograsp the magnitude of the enterprise. Even the newspapers arecriminally negligent. Quite recently I had occasion to tell my goodfriend, the editor of the Times, that if he didn't give us somethinglike a fair showing I would see to it personally that the bulk of ourbusiness went to San Felipe. It's a burning shame the way they havepersistently ignored us."

  Mr. Worth made an ineffectual attempt to escape but the white vestblocked his move. Pointing to a half-finished building on the nearestcorner, the great one explained in the tone of a personal conductor:"That is our new hotel--one of the finest buildings in the southwest.The young man who will run it for us is personally superintending theconstruction. Bright boy, too. You must let me introduce you to him."

  Jefferson Worth, gazing at the modest building under construction,murmured: "You are interested, you say?"

  "Oh no; that is--only in a way, you understand. I have a hand in mostof these enterprises."

  "This town needs a good hotel," said Mr. Worth, mildly.

  "That building farther down--the one where the foundation is justcompleted--is our Opera House. It is being erected by one of the bigCoast syndicates and will be a magnificent hall of amusement andentertainment as well as a place for public gatherings of all kinds. Ihave been in close personal touch with the men in charge of theenterprise and they understand that we will tolerate nothing that isnot first class."

  "The people need such a building," was the quiet comment.

  "In the block opposite our bank will be located. They will be workingon the vault in another two weeks. While the building is well underway, as you see, the organization of the institution is not yet madepublic. Only a few of us on the inside, you understand, know who isback of the enterprise."

  "I see," said Jefferson Worth. "A bank is a good thing for the country."

  Pointing up the street, the great one in the white vest continued:"There you see the office of our paper--The King's Basin Messenger. Themachinery is being installed now. I'm mighty proud of the young man whois starting that work. He will be a credit to us I promise you.Directly opposite is The King's Basin Land and Irrigation Companybuilding with the offices of the Company. You must let me introduce youto the manager, Mr. Burk, and to Holmes, the engineer. Come, we will goover there now." He started forward with perspiring energy, butJefferson Worth, seizing the opportunity, gained the doorway of thestore and vanished.

  For two weeks Mr. Worth seemed to devote his time wholly to his store.Though Deck Jordan still continued the active management, it wasgenerally understood that Mr. Worth, having but recently purchased theestablishment, retained Deck until, as it was generally expressed, hegot the run of the business. At an old desk in a cubby-hole of anoffice roughly partitioned off in one corner of the room, the financierspent nearly every hour of the day apparently poring over his accounts.

  Here the Manager from across the street found him when he called toexplain to Mr. Worth the advantage of an alliance between the store andthe Company. Mr. Burk did not stay long, but upon his return to hisoffice wrote a long, confidential letter to his superiors. Thethoughtful Manager's letters to his superiors were always confidential.

  Willard Holmes also called to pay his respects; to inquire whether MissWorth was well; and--as Holmes put it to himself when he was againsafely outside the building--to turn himself inside out for thecritical inspection of the man who hid behind that gray mask.

  So far as the Manager of The King's Basin Land and Irrigation Companyobserved, Jefferson Worth, beside buying the store, made only one smallinvestment. He purchased from the Company a small tract of land justinside the limits of the townsite. Then almost before Mr. Burk knewthat it was before them, the town council passed an ordinance grantingpermission to the Worth Electric Company to place their poles and tostretch wires on the streets of the town, and the first issue of TheKing's Basin Messenger announced with a great flourish of trumpets thatKingston was to have lights.

  The article explai
ned that Mr. Abe Lee, the well known engineer,formerly with the K. B. L. and I. Company, would have charge of theconstruction work and would push it with his usual energy. For sometime Mr. Lee had been in the city arranging for material, which wouldbe shipped immediately. Mr. Worth had stated to the Messenger that Mr.Lee would return to Kingston in a day or two and would break ground forthe power plant at once. The Messenger also gave an interesting historyof Jefferson Worth's successful career from farm-boy to financier withan appreciation of his character and congratulated the citizens that aman of such financial strength and genius had come to invest the fruitof his toil in the new country.

  Mr. Burk read the Messenger's article thoughtfully. Then Mr. Burk wroteanother confidential letter to his superiors.

  Over this enterprise of Jefferson Worth, as set forth in the Messenger,the citizens were enthusiastic. Horace P. Blanton was more thanenthusiastic. Meeting Mr. Burk as the latter was returning to hisoffice after dinner he blocked the Manager's way with his white vestand, wiping the sweat of honest endeavor from his brow, deliveredhimself. "Well, sir; we landed it. Biggest thing that ever happened toKingston. Double our population in three months. I told my friend Worththat they would have to come through with that franchise whether theywanted to or not, and by George! we landed it. There was nothing elseto do."

  The Manager thoughtfully flicked the ashes from his cigar. "And what isthis that you have landed?"

  "What! haven't you heard? Have you seen the Messenger?" He drew a paperfrom his pocket and placed a finger on the headlines: "Electric Lightsfor Kingston."

  The Manager shifted his cigar to the corner of his mouth and, castinghis head in the opposite direction, surveyed the excited Horace P. asan artist might view an interesting picture. "So you are interested inthe Worth Electric Company?"

  "Oh no; that is, not exactly, you know. My name will not appear in thecompany. But Jeff and I are very warm friends, you understand, and forthe sake of Kingston I am bound to take an interest in his enterprise."

  At this the thoughtful Mr. Burk became suddenly confidential. Tappinghis companion impressively on the arm and speaking in a low tone ofvast import, he said: "Blanton, be careful; be careful. Don't get intoWorth's schemes too deeply. A man of your standing and influence, youknow, can't afford to play into the hands of a four-flusher."

  Then the Manager of The King's Basin Land and Irrigation Companyslipped easily away before the other could reply.

  Three minutes later the man in the big white vest overtook theCompany's chief engineer in the doorway of the restaurant. "Goodmorning, Holmes; good morning." The simple greeting seemed to come froma great heart that was fairly staggering under a burden of otherpeople's woes.

  As the boy placed their dinners before them, Horace P. Blanton, shakinghis massive head, murmured sadly: "It's a burning shame, Holmes; aburning shame."

  "The coffee, you mean?" queried the engineer, digging up a spoonful ofsediment from the bottom of his heavy cup and inspecting it critically."It looks shameful, all right; and it may have been overheated sometime in past ages, but the temperature doesn't appear to be abovenormal to-day."

  The big man did not smile; his burden was too heavy. "I mean," heexplained, "the way these four-flushers come in here and attempt towork their graft right under our eyes. Did you hear about this manWorth getting that franchise out of the council? I did my level best,but what's the use. It's all as plain as day but you can't hammer anidea into the boneheads that run this town. I had a little talk withBurk over the matter this morning. He agrees with me perfectly. We'vegot to take hold of this thing, Mr. Holmes, or the town will go to thedogs. I wish Greenfield would come on."

  The engineer agreed heartily that it might be well to take hold ofsomething. But what? That was the rub--what? He gently intimated thatif Horace P. Blanton could not find a way to avert the awful calamitythat threatened the public, the public was in a bad way. Clearly it wasup to Horace P. to save Kingston.

  The dinner over the men separated quickly: the man in the white vest tocarry the burden of Kingston's future on his fat shoulders, and theengineer to inspect the work at Dry River Heading.

  The evening of the third day after Abe Lee's return to Kingston thesurveyor and his employer were in Mr. Worth's office. The work ofexcavation for the foundation of the power plant would begin in themorning, and Mr. Worth had planned to leave town the following morningfor a week's business trip to the city.

  The two men were interrupted in their conversation by a loud familiarvoice on the store side of the board partition.

  "Busy, be they? Well, fwhat the divil should they be but busy? Do yesuppose I thought they was a-playin' dominoes?"

  Abe grinned at his employer. They both listened.

  Deck Jordan's voice said: "But you better not go in now, boys. Theywill be through in a little while."

  "Go in? Who the hell's talkin' av goin' in? Do ye think, ye dangedcounter-hopper, that we've no manners at all? For a sup o' wather I'dgo over to ye wid me two hands!"

  And another softer voice drawled: "Run along Deck. Me an' my pardnerpromises not to turn violent or break into the sanctuary. We'll justcamp here peaceful 'til the meetin's over."

  Abe chuckled. "I knew they would be along as soon as they heard thenews." He lifted his voice. "Come in, boys."

  Instantly Barbara's "uncles" appeared. "We axes yer pardon, Sorr, fornot comin' before to pay our respects, but we only heard yestherdaythat ye was in the counthry. Ye see, afther we finished at the river wewas transferred over on Number Three at the tail end av nowhere an'knew nothin' at all 'til someone brung into camp the paper that towldabout yer doin's. An' how is our little girl?"

  "Very well," said Mr. Worth. "She told me to be sure and remember herto you."

  "I saw her the other day," said Abe. "She sent you both her love."

  "Well, now, fwhat do ye think av that? Tex, ye danged owld sand rat,ut's proud av yersilf ye should be to be the uncle av sich a darlin'.An' tell us now, Sorr, fwhat's this I hear about yer buildin' a powerplant for electric lights, or street cars, or somethin'? We thoughtthat the lad here left the danged counthry for good, an' sarves thimdanged yellow-legs that boss the Company right for not knowin' a manwhin they see wan."

  "We begin work in the morning. Abe is in charge."

  "Hurroo!" exclaimed the delighted Irishman. "An' ut's men ye'll bewantin' av course; wan to handle the greasers, which is cake to me, an'wan to boss the mule skinners, which is pie for Tex. I'm thinkin' theCompany will be short handed at Number Three in the mornin'."

  "I have been holding these places open for you," Abe laughed. "If Icould get hold of Pablo, now, I would be all right. Barbara said to besure and get him too. He's still at Dry River Heading, I hear."

  As the two were leaving Texas Joe said to Abe: "Are you plumb certainPablo is at the Heading?"

  "That's what one of the crew told me to-day."

  "Well, then I reckon he'll be along pronto."

  The next morning when Abe went to the site of the work the first man hesaw was Barbara's friend, Pablo. The Mexican greeted the surveyor witha show of white teeth.

  "Did you come to work?" asked Abe.

  "Si, Senor. Senor Texas he come las' night with two horses. He saySenor Abe want you quick, Pablo. La Senorita say you come. So I am comepronto, like he say."

  "Texas Joe went for you last night?" repeated Abe.

  "Si, Senor. If you want me come--if La Senorita want me come--Senor Texhe go tell me come. I come. It is no much ride for vaqueros like SenorTex and me."

  "But you have your job with the Company?"

  The Mexican shrugged his shoulders and his teeth showed. "Senor Worthand Senores Lee and Tex and Pat good company for Pablo. Beside, isthere not La Senorita? She was good to me when I was sick with no oneto help. Do not we all--Senores Lee and Tex and Pat, and Senor Worthand me--do not we all work for La Senorita in La Palma de la Mano deDios? Is it not so? Beside I think sometime La Senorita come--then Iwould be near. In the Company t
here is no Senorita."