Fighting Byng: A Novel of Mystery, Intrigue and Adventure

by A. Stone

  CHAPTER VIII

  "'Tain't no tarnel use of you talking of going away now," Howardexploded, when I hinted at leaving. "You've stuck your nose in thempapers of your'n every minute an' I haven't had even a chance to talk.You got away from me for five years and can never do that ag'in if Ihave to spend half my time on yer trail," he added, whimsically.

  I spent that day with him and learned that his organization andplanning were wonderful. Cabins for his men and a store for theirwants, standard-gauge tracks built out into the stump land from whicha giant crane plucked stumps as you would turnips and dropped them onflat cars. The plant digested stumps with relish, released theturpentine and rosin, and handed the remaining fiber, like overdonecorned beef, to the beating engines of the pulp mill. A long row ofcotton bales under cover waiting for a favorable market testifiedimpressively to the general efficiency of the management.

  "An' when you told me to pull 'em out and boil 'em, I thought you washalf joking," Howard would mention every now and then with the glee ofa boy getting the point of a joke a day or so late.

  As I came through the paper mill his schooner _Canby_ was just closingher hatches over a load of paper in rolls for New York. I returned tothe bungalow, sat on my end of the veranda smoking, meditating onhuman probabilities, when Mother Purdue waddled up from somewhere.Perhaps waddle may be an exaggeration, but as I didn't especially wantto see her then, it so seemed to me. She appeared to be in anexcellent humor and I was wrong in expecting a dose of refinedcaustic. I offered her a chair, but she preferred the log edge of theveranda against a post, her feet just reaching the ground.

  "Mr. Wood," she began rather impressively, "I wish to apologize for myrudeness when you returned that morning. I was quite beside myself. Inever passed such a night and I shudder now when I recall it. But I amindeed sorry I spoke the way I did. I know now that the children mighthave perished had it not been for you and Mr. Byng, and with utmostgratitude I thank you." Her lips quivered as she finished.

  "I had little to do with it. I assisted Mr. Byng all I could." Abillow of harnessed adipose tissue was a poor substitute for mymeditations.

  "Mr. Byng says it was all your work; quite modest of him. He is awonderful fellow, isn't he?" this time facing me.

  "Mr. Byng is remarkable," I agreed, looking down toward the mill.

  "What are his antecedents?" she asked.

  "Oh, I presume he is of English stock that settled in this country acouple of hundred years ago; his name would indicate that."

  "Being such friends, you must have known him long?" she pursued.

  I assented without being specific.

  "Isn't it too bad he has had no chance for an education?"

  "I think that depends on how you define education. His accomplishmentsindicate a very good education. But if you mean veneer that unfits theyoung for hard knocks and useful effort, he is not educated."

  "I really think you are right, Mr. Wood; the young men of to-day arepoorly equipped, being interested only in spending money, and for theworst that goes with it," she lamented acidly. As I did not reply atonce she waddled away as she had come.

  Next day found the Purdues moving back on their yacht preparing todepart, as their "man" had sufficiently recovered to navigate it. WhenPapa Purdue came to express his gratitude for my part in the rescueof his daughters, a polite duty, there were the same subtle inquiriesregarding Howard Byng. Perhaps Mrs. Potter, who also came alone, wasmore insistent and extended in her inquiries. She appeared to have apersonal interest in Howard. I must confess that inwardly I had no usefor her. The mercenary spirit stuck out all too plainly.

  But when little Norma came all was different. She was like a breath offragrance from another world. One instinctively knew she meant whatshe said. There were no studied words or dollar signs about Norma.

  Howard had something on his mind but waited until he had slept on thesubject once or twice. Two days later he opened up. A distinct crisishad arrived--he was at the fork of the road, and the doubt as to whichway to take was disturbing.

  "What do you think of the Purdues?" he began bluntly, when we hadfinished our breakfast.

  "I saw very little of them," I replied. "They were here but a shorttime and distinctly at a disadvantage, as guests, and more so byreason of the distressing accident to the young ladies. Did he try tosell you his land?"

  "Yes--but he didn't get far on that tack. I did jes' as you said andwaited for him to do the tackin'. He had worked it out pretty wellbefore he tackled me. He said I had the river north, east was swamp,and south I was blocked. He joined me on the west, and I had to havehis land to grow. His price was foolish. I almost laughed in his face.I told him I had enough now to last for years, and that the river atlow tide had three feet of water for over a hundred miles up, and thatthere was stump land all the way."

  "Then what?"

  "That scotched him for a minute. But he came back, and said he knewthere was good water all the time for light draft boats, and he couldgo above me an' build a plant and do jes' what I was doin' hisself."

  "And you agreed?"

  "Yes, I told him the river was Government water and anyone could useit. I didn't tell him he couldn't do what I'm doin' 'cause he didn'tknow how--I jes' talked about sumthin' else."

  "But you found him quite a decent old chap even in trade?"

  "Yes--I think he knew when he came here that I was the only one thatcould take turpentine and rosin from a stump, and then make whitepaper from what's left. He was jes' tryin' me out. An' he didn't sayanything till jes' before he left." Howard got up, looked across theriver, and then walked to the other window, where he could see thecabins, his cotton field, and the plant working full blast.

  "He had changed then?"

  "Yes--he said he wanted me to cum to New York and meet his son-in-law,Mr. Potter, a crackerjack young feller I'd like. He said he'd put inthe land reasonable, and all the cash we needed to make it a bigplant, get another schooner, and build a railroad out to the AtlanticCoast Line and jes' make things hum. He said we'd have a big place inNew York, sell our stuff at topnotch prices, and get suppliescheaper."

  "That seems like a good offer; you must have made quite an impressionon him," I ventured.

  "Is that what you think?" he asked, eyeing me slowly. I ignored thequestion.

  "Great deal depends on whether you'll like the son-in-law, Potter, andif you could work together. Now one lone man can't make much of a dentin the business world and it might be worth looking into."

  "But, Wood, I'm only a Cracker now, used to the country. I don't wantto go to New York, and be a cat in a strange garret. I've been thereand always want to get away. The buildings are so big, every one is insuch a hell of a hurry. I'm actually uneasy there. How would I feelgoin' to the Purdues, with my Cracker talk and swamp ways?" appealedByng, with a note of regret.

  "Think they want you to come or they wouldn't ask you. New York peopleappear cold and mercenary, but once you get close, you find themhuman, just as warm and hospitable as any. A large city forces theminto a mask they don't take off until they are very sure," Iexplained.

  "Yes, I guess so, but I don't understand 'em a bit," he replied with afinality that indicated little chance of his going to New York soon.

  I left him in a few days without the matter being referred to again.