XXXI
DALY SOLVES THE PUZZLE
The train was speeding along the hillside when Foster took Pete withhim and walked through the rocking cars. As he crossed the platformsbetween them he met an icy wind and saw the dark pines stream by. Itwas obvious that the track was nearly level and the train running fast,for dusky woods and snowy banks flung back a rapid snorting and aconfused roll of wheels. There were not many passengers and nobodyseemed to notice Foster, until as they entered a car near the end a manraised a newspaper he was reading so that it hid his face. As theyleft the car Foster thought he heard a rustle, as if the paper had beenlowered, but did not look round. The thing might have no meaning andhe did not want to hint that he was suspicious.
He felt anxious but cool. Daly was the cleverer man and the game theymust play was intricate, but Foster thought he had the better cards.The last car was empty except for two women, and leaving Pete there, hewent through to the smoking compartment at its end. It had only oneoccupant, who looked up as he came in, and he calmly met Daly's gaze.The fellow had his hand in his pocket and his face was rather hard, buthe did not show surprise or alarm.
"Well," he said, "we have been looking for one another for a long timeand at last have met."
Foster sat down opposite. "That's so. When we began, you were lookingfor me, but since then things have, so to speak, been reversed. I'vefollowed you across England and much of Canada."
"I've wondered what accounted for your boldness."
"It looked as if you knew, but if you don't, I'm going to tell you,"Foster replied. "But I'd sooner you took your hand out of your pocket.It would be dangerous to use a pistol, because my man's in the car.Then I left a plain statement of all I know and surmise about you, withinstructions for it to be handed to the police if I don't come back."
Daly removed his hand and took out a cigarette. "You're not such afool as some of my friends thought, I suspected this for some time."
"We'll get to business," Foster rejoined. "I want to get it finished,although I don't think we'll be disturbed."
Daly gave him a keen glance, which Foster did not understand then, andthe latter resumed: "How did you find out enough about Featherstone toenable you to blackmail him?"
"I was secretary to the man he robbed; as a matter of fact, I stole oneor two of his private papers. I don't know that I meant to use themthen, but was afterwards in need of money and saw how it could be got.The documents prove your partner's offense."
"You began by extorting money, but your last object was to suppress theevidence my partner could give about the cause of Fred Hulton's death."
"Ah!" said Daly. "I wonder how much you or Featherstone know aboutthat. As there are no listeners, we can be frank."
"Very well. You claim to have documents that give you some power overFeatherstone; I have others that give me power over you. Have you gotyours here?"
Daly smiled. "I have not. They're kept where nobody but myself couldfind them."
"I see," said Foster. "Any money you could extort from Featherstonewas to be your private perquisite and not shared with the gang! Well,I've brought my documents for you to examine. This is a traveler'scircular check for yourself, and this is an ordinary bank check foranother man. Taken alone, they don't prove very much, but I'll try toshow how they link up with other matters."
He related how Carmen had given him the packet and his adventures inNewcastle, and when he finished Daly nodded.
"On the whole, you don't argue badly."
"I expect a lawyer prosecuting for the Crown would argue it better,particularly if I was ready to go into the witness-box. Then, ofcourse, there's Featherstone's evidence."
For a moment Daly looked alarmed, but recovered his tranquillitywithout much effort, and Foster saw he had to face his first seriousdifficulty, though there was another. If Daly knew how little Lawrencecould really tell, it would be hard to deal with him.
"Something depends on the importance of Featherstone's evidence."
"Your accomplice thought it important, since he tried to throw him downthe elevator shaft," Foster rejoined. "Anyhow, Featherstone saw theman who killed Fred Hulton."
Daly's smile rather disturbed him. "Then it's strange he said nothingabout it at the inquiry, and when he was in the factory passage spoketo the man he saw as if he was the night guard."
"That's so. You probably know more about the methods of the policethan I do, but I understand they now and then keep something back, withan object. Then Featherstone is not a fool. He was satisfied toanswer the questions he was asked. You mustn't take it for granted hedidn't know the man was a stranger."
There was silence for some moments while Daly pondered this, althoughFoster imagined he had carefully weighed the thing before. Then heasked abruptly: "Did your partner think he saw me?"
"No," said Foster, who resolved to tell the truth.
Somewhat to his surprise, Daly made a sign of acquiescence. "Verywell! You are near the mark, and I'll tell you what happened. There'snot much risk in this, because no Judge would admit as evidencesomething you declared you had been told. Besides, I'll own that it'san unlikely tale. I was not at or near the factory that night, but Ihad done some business with Fred Hulton. The lad was a gambler and I'dlent him money; as a matter of fact, I never got it all back. However,a man who now and then acted as my agent learned something about thecustoms of the factory and went there the night he met Featherstone.But he did not shoot Fred Hulton."
"Then how was the lad killed?"
"He shot himself; in a way, by accident."
Foster looked at Daly with ironical surprise. "Your friends deal toomuch in accidents! It was by an accident Walters left Featherstone onthe snow _couloir_."
"It doesn't matter if you disbelieve me; this is what happened," Dalyrejoined. "My friend--we'll call him the man--went to the office latein the evening and after some talk, covered Hulton with his pistol.The lad had had some trouble about his debts, because the old man wouldhave fired him out of the business if he'd heard of them, and his nervewasn't good. He opened the safe when he was told and the man took thebonds and went out of the office, leaving Hulton in his chair. Wedon't know what the lad thought, but perhaps he saw he would besuspected or was ashamed of not showing more grit. Anyhow, when theman was on the stairs Hulton came up behind and told him to stop. Hehad a pistol, but looked strained and nervous, and the other, who hadput his away, made a rush at him. Hulton slipped on the steps, hispistol went off, and when he rolled to the bottom the other saw he wasdead."
Foster was silent for a time. The story was, on the whole, plausible,and although he did not see why Daly had told it him, he thought hespoke the truth. So far he had been clearing the ground and had notreached his object yet, but Daly showed no inclination to hurry him.They were not likely to be disturbed, and although the rocking of thecar and throb of wheels indicated that the train was running fast, thenext station was some distance ahead. There was moonlight outside andhe saw towering rocks and masses of dark trees roll past.
"Well," he remarked, "you have had a strange career. Leading a gang ofswindlers must have been a change from helping a philanthropist."
Daly smiled rather grimly. "For a long time I served a strange man.Philanthropy loses its charm when it becomes a business and results aredemanded from all the money given. Then my pay was arranged on thesurmise that to be engaged in such an occupation was reward enough, andsomething must be allowed for the natural reaction. As a matter offact, I'm not surprised that Featherstone robbed my employer. Hedeserved it; but I think we can let that go."
Foster nodded and was silent. Perhaps it was because the excitement ofthe chase was over, but he felt dull and tired. He had no sympathywith Daly; the fellow was a rogue, but he had pluck and charm. In asense, it was unnatural that they should be talking quietly and almostconfidentially, but he did not feel the anger he had expected and hisantagonist was calm. Still, he was none the less d
angerous and woulduse any advantage that he could gain.
"Now you had better tell me exactly what you want," Daly resumed.
"I want you to leave my partner alone."
"Would you be satisfied with my promise?"
"No," said Foster; "not without some guarantee."
"Then we must make a bargain. I'm able, if I think it worth while, togive you what you ask. None of my confederates know anything aboutFeatherstone's history; this ought to be obvious if you claim thatWalters meant to kill him. Very well; I can, so to speak, bury anunfortunate error of his so that it will never trouble him again.That's much. What have you to offer?"
Foster was now confronted with the difficulty he dreaded most, but hetried to be firm.
"I don't know that I need make an offer. I think I'm able to dictateterms."
"Are you?" Daly asked with an ironical smile. "Well, suppose you hadme arrested? My defense would be to discredit your partner's evidence.My lawyer would prove that Featherstone was my enemy and had a motivefor revenge, by admitting that I had demanded money from him and wouldtell the court on what grounds. You must see the danger in which you'dput your friend."
Foster saw it; indeed, he had seen it since he began the chase. Hemust silence Daly, but the fellow was a criminal and he could not bringhimself to promise him immunity from the punishment he deserved. Yetnothing less would satisfy the man. It looked as if he must deny hisduty as a citizen if he meant to save his friend. This was theproblem, and there was apparently no solution. Daly, who understoodit, watched him with dry amusement.
"Well," resumed the latter, "I'll make a proposition. To begin with,we'll exchange documents; the checks against the papers that compromiseFeatherstone."
"Which you haven't brought!"
"Just so," said Daly. "If we both engage to make no use of thedocuments we hold, they can be exchanged at some convenient time."
"That means I must put the police off your track and meet you again."
"Exactly; you have no choice. Besides, Featherstone must promise tokeep back anything he knows and you to say nothing about your meetingwith Graham."
"I can't agree," Foster replied.
"Then I'm afraid your partner must take the consequences."
Foster pondered. Daly looked determined, and, knowing his friendshipfor Lawrence, meant to trade on it, but Foster must try to persuade himthat he counted too much on this. The fellow played a clever game, butit was nearly finished and Foster thought he still held a trump.
"We had better ascertain to whom the consequences would be worse," hesaid. "Featherstone risks a stained name, his relations' distress, andthe loss of friends. We'll admit it, but these things can be liveddown. You risk being tried for murder and certainly for a seriousrobbery. There's evidence enough to convict you of a share in thelatter."
"That is so," Daly agreed with unbroken calm. "I'm surprised you don'tsee that it strengthens my demand. It's obvious that you must help meto avoid the trial, or leave me to defend myself by doing as muchdamage as possible. There's no other way."
Foster thought there was, so to speak, a middle way between the two,but it was hateful to indicate, and while he hesitated the car lurchedas the train ran out upon a bridge. The door swung open and Daly'sface got suddenly hard. A passenger from another part of the train hadentered the car and was looking into the smoking compartment. It wasthe man Foster had seen at the hotel. Next moment Daly was on his feetand springing across the narrow floor turned to Foster with a pistol inhis hand.
"Blast you!" he said hoarsely. "You fixed this. I thought you werestraight!"
Foster understood the situation. The man in the next car was Hulton'sdetective or a police official who had known that Daly was on thetrain, and feeling sure of him, had resolved to watch them both. Hehad probably a companion, and Daly knew the game was up. The latter'svoice had warned Foster that he was desperate. Escape was impossible;he meant to fight, and, suspecting Foster of treachery, would shoot himfirst. This flashed upon Foster in a second, and as Daly, still facinghim, opened the vestibule door, he risked a shot and sprang forward.
He heard the pistol explode and his face felt scorched, but he strucksavagely, and something rattled upon the floor. The pistol had droppedand he was somewhat surprised to feel himself unhurt as he grappledwith Daly. They reeled through the door and fell against the rails ofthe platform. Then he got a heavy blow and his grasp slackened.Somebody ran through the smoking compartment, and while he tried tocollect his senses Daly stepped back to the gap in the rails. Fosterwas dizzy, but he saw the man's dark figure against the moonlight.There was a glimmer of snow in the gloom beneath, and a confused din;the roar of wheels and a rattle from the bridge. Then Pete sprangacross the platform, passing in front of Foster, and when the lattersaw the gap again Daly had gone.
Pete leaned against the back of the car, breathing hard and holding apiece of torn silk.
"I was aboot a second ower lang," he gasped. "He just stepped back andleft this in my han'."
Foster, crossing the platform shakily, grasped the rail and lookeddown. There were rocks and small trees immediately beneath him, butfarther back a level white belt indicated a frozen river covered bythin snow. In the middle of this was a dark riband of water where thestream had kept an open channel through the ice. The bridge was one ofthe long, wooden trestles, flung across rivers and narrow valleys, thatare now being replaced by embankments and iron structures. Since theframe, as usual, was open and just wide enough to carry the metals,there was nothing to save anybody who fell off the cars from a plungeto the bottom. Foster thought Daly knew this when he stepped off theplatform. Looking back along the curve of the bridge, he imagined thatthe thing had happened when they were crossing the unfrozen part of thestream. He shivered and then glanced round as a man who had followedPete closely took the object the latter held.
"His necktie," he remarked. "If it had been stronger, we'd have hadhim in handcuffs now."
"Weel," said Pete dryly, "it's no certain I wouldna' ha' gone ower thebrig wi' him."
There was a hoarseness in their voices that hinted at strain, but theman, ordering Foster not to leave the car, hurried away, and soonafterwards the train slackened speed. Then he came back with anotherman, and telling Foster and Pete to follow him, got down upon the line.Curious passengers were alighting and asking questions, but the leaderdid not object when several followed the party. They had to walk somedistance, and when they reached the end of the trestle it was difficultto get down the rocky bank.
The bottom of the hollow was roughly level, but part was covered withsmall, stunted trees, many of which had been uprooted and had fallenacross each other. In the open spaces, rocks and boulders rose out ofan inch or two of snow. It was plain that there was no chance ofDaly's alighting uninjured there. One of the men had brought atrain-hand's lantern, and they followed the curve of the trestle, whichrose, black and ominously high, against the moonlight. It was not verydark among the trees and the beam of the lantern flickered across therocks and fallen trunks, but they found nothing, and presently came tothe ice, where the light was not needed.
Nothing broke the smooth white surface, and the party stopped at theedge of the water, which looked black and sullen as it rolled past,streaked by lines of foam. There was a belt of ice on the other side,but it was bare.
"Must have gone plumb into the river," said one. "We'd see him if he'dcome down where it's frozen."
"Unless he was able to crawl up the bank," somebody suggested.
"I guess that's impossible," another replied, scraping the snow awaywith his boot. "See here, it's hardly two inches deep; nothing tosoften the blow. Besides, anybody falling through the trestle wouldstrike some of the cross-braces or stringers."
The man who had brought Foster touched his companion. "Nothing doinghere. We'll stop at Green Rock and you can raise a posse of ranchersand look round to-morrow. I reckon you won't find anything."
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p; They went back and when the train started the man sat down oppositeFoster in the smoking compartment.
"We'll probably want your evidence," he said. "What's your address?"
Foster noted that he did not ask his name. "Perhaps the HultonManufacturing Company, Gardner's Crossing, would be best. I'm goingthere now."
The man nodded meaningly. "That will satisfy me. On the whole, it'slucky the fellow shot at you and Hulton told us how you stood. Hedidn't miss by much; there's burnt powder sticking to your cheek."
XXXII
FEATHERSTONE APOLOGIZES
Three days afterwards, Foster entered the office of the Hulton Company,where the head and treasurer of the firm waited him. It was late inthe evening when he arrived, but the private office was filled with thesoftened throb of machinery and rumble of heavy wheels. Otherwise itwas very quiet and cut off by a long passage from the activity of themill.
Hulton gave him his hand and indicated a chair. "You have got thinnersince you took your holiday and look fined down. Well, I reckon we allfeel older since that night last fall."
"I do," said Foster, and added: "The mill seems to be running hard."
"She's going full blast. We've had plans for extension standing overuntil I could give my mind to them. I may be able to do so soon, andexpect to consult you and Featherstone. In the meantime, I got yourtelegram and another that to some extent put me wise. But I want afull account, beginning when you left."
Foster told his story, and when he stopped, Hulton pondered for aminute or two. He somehow looked more human than on Foster's lastvisit; his stern vindictiveness was not so obvious, but Foster thoughthe would demand full retribution. Then he said--
"You are keeping something back; I reckon you haven't taken thesechances on my account. There's something behind all this that concernsyou--or your partner--alone. Well, I guess that's not my business."
He paused and resumed in a curt, businesslike manner: "Daly's tale isplausible and may be true, but I have my doubts. Anyhow, I'm not goingto believe it because that doesn't suit my plans. We'll have Walterstried for murder."
"Although you admit he may be innocent!" exclaimed Foster. "It oughtto be enough to charge him with trying to kill Featherstone andstealing your bonds. You have no evidence to convict him of the othercrime."
Hulton smiled. "I don't care two bits if he's convicted or not. Iwant to clear my boy's name and put you into the witness-box."
"But you can't make me adapt my story to fit your charge, and thedefending lawyer would object to Daly's account as hearsay and notevidence. The judge would rule it out."
"I guess so," Hulton agreed. "For all that, it would have some effect,and the judge couldn't rule it out before it was heard." He knittedhis brows and looked hard at Foster. "I'm going to prove that Fred wasrobbed and was not the thief, and though I don't think Walters will beconvicted, he must take his chance. He was one of the gang that causedmy son's death, and when he tried to kill your partner knew what he wasup against."
Foster thought this was frontier justice and urged another objection.
"After all, the matter's in the hands of the police. You can't dictatethe line they ought to take."
Percival, the treasurer, smiled, and Hulton answered with some dryness:"That's true, in a way. But I have some influence, which will be usedfor all it's worth. Anyhow, I've got to be consulted. If it hadn'tbeen for my agents, the police wouldn't have made much progress yet.However, we'll let this go. It may interest you to know that Daly'sgone for good. Read him the night letter, Percival."
It is usual in Canada to allow lengthy telegrams, called night letters,to be sent at a very moderate charge when the lines are disengagedafter business hours, and the treasurer picked up a form. The messagerelated the careful search for Daly's body, which had not been found.The snow for some distance on both sides of the river was undisturbed;there was no sign that an injured man had crawled away, and if thiswere not enough, no stranger had reached any of the scattered rancheswhere he must have gone for food. Daly would not be found until theice broke up.
"I expect you're glad the fellow can't be brought to trial," Hultonremarked, looking hard at Foster.
"I am," said Foster quietly.
Hulton made a sign of understanding and there was faint amusement inhis eyes.
"Well, you have a good partner. I like Featherstone; he's a live,straight man, and if he had trouble in England, has made good here.But he has his limits; I reckon you'll go further than he will."
"No," said Foster. "I don't think you're right, but if you are, I'lltake my partner along with me, or stay behind with him."
"What are you going to do now?" Percival asked.
"Stop at the Crossing and see about starting the mill."
Hulton nodded. "I guess that's the best thing. When you have got herstarted, come and see what we want. I think that's all in themeantime."
Foster left them and began work next day. He wrote to Lawrence tellinghim of his plans, but got no answer for a week, when a telegram arrived.
"Come out if you can leave the mill. You're wanted here," it ran.
Foster was puzzled, because he thought the summons would have come fromLucy if Lawrence was ill. Yet the latter knew he was occupied andought not have sent for him unless he was needed. On the whole, hefelt annoyed. Lawrence, who was sometimes careless, should have toldhim why he was required, and he could not conveniently leave the mill.
Since he had found his partner, he had realized how wide, in a socialsense, was the difference between Alice Featherstone and a smallCanadian lumber dealer, and had, with characteristic determination,resolved to bridge the gap. This meant bold planning and strenuouseffort, but he shrank from neither and meant his partner to help.Lawrence, although resolute enough when things went against them,sometimes got slack when they were going well, and Foster understoodthat Lucy Stephen had money. For all that, if Lawrence was unwillingto keep pace with him, he must be dragged. Foster frowned as he putoff matters that needed prompt attention until his return, and thensent a telegram and caught the next west-bound train.
When he got down at the flag station his annoyance returned. If therewas any ground for his being sent for, he ought to have been told, andif there was not, he had been caused a loss of time that could havebeen well employed. He resolved to tell Lawrence his views upon thisas he took the road to the hotel, but stopped with a beating heart whenhe entered the veranda.
Lawrence lounged negligently in a big chair and greeted him with asmile, but his father, Mrs. Featherstone, and Alice sat close by, withMrs. Stephen and Lucy in the background. It cost Foster something ofan effort to preserve his calm, but he advanced to Mrs. Featherstone,who gave him a look of quiet gratitude that repaid him for much.Featherstone welcomed him heartily, but with a touch of embarrassment,and then Foster thrilled as Alice gave him her hand. There was acurious quiet confidence in her level glance, as if she meant that shehad known his promise would be kept. He did not remember what he saidto Mrs. Stephen and Lucy, but was grateful to Lawrence, who laughed.
"I imagined you'd get something of a surprise, Jake. In fact, when thetrain stopped I pictured you coming up the road as fast as you could,divided between anxiety and a determination to tell me what youthought. Before that, when I got your curt telegram, I told Alice Icould see you frowning as you filled up the form."
"I didn't know Miss Featherstone was here," Foster replied awkwardly.
"That's obvious," Lawrence said, chuckling. "Candor's one of yourvirtues. But what about the rest of us?"
Foster wished he had been more tactful and thought his comrade'samusement might better have been restrained; but Lawrence resumed: "Itmust have been annoying to leave the mill when you had much to do. Thecurious thing is that when you set off from the Crossing with me youdeclared you were tired of working for dollars."
"Mr. Foster's tiredness didn't prevent him from working for hisfriends," Alice interposed.
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"He must work, anyhow; that's the kind of man he is, and I don'tsuppose he was much disappointed when he got a strenuous holiday."
Then Featherstone turned to Foster. "I imagine we both dislike formalspeeches and Lawrence, knowing this, means to smooth over our meeting.For all that, there's something to be said, and now, when the othersare here, is the proper time. When we got your telegram in England Iwas overwhelmed by gratitude and regret. I saw, in fact, what a fool Ihad been." He paused with a gleam of amusement in his embarrassment."Indeed, I'm not sure that the recognition of my folly wasn't thestronger feeling. Now I'm half-ashamed to apologize for my ridiculoussuspicions and must ask you to forget all about them if you can."
"They were very natural suspicions, sir. I couldn't logically blameyou and honestly don't think I did."
"Well," said Featherstone, "it's some comfort to reflect that my wifeand daughter knew you better. I'm glad to think you're generous,because there is no amend I can make commensurate with the service youhave done us."
"In one sense, it was an excellent joke," Lawrence remarked. "WhileJake was lurking in the bogs and putting up with much unpleasantness onmy account, he was suspected of making away with me for the sake of anold traveling bag, which was all he could have got. But don't youthink, sir, there was something characteristic about his telegram? Imean the brief statement of his success."
"My relief was so great that I did not criticize the wording, which I'mnot sure I remember," Featherstone replied.
Lawrence glanced at his mother. "I expect you remember it."
Mrs. Featherstone said nothing, but gave him a gentle, understandingsmile.
Then Featherstone made Foster relate his last meeting with Daly on thetrain. Foster had no wish to harrow the listeners' feelings, but hismemory was strangely vivid and he pictured the scene with unconsciousdramatic power. They saw it all, as he had seen it; the background offlitting trees and glimmering snow, the struggle on the rockingplatform, while the icy wind screamed past the car, and the dark figurefilling, for a moment, the gap in the rails. Then they felt his thrillof horror when the gap was empty and Pete held up the torn necktie.Foster concluded with Pete's terse statement, "He just stepped back."
"Into the dark!" said Alice softly and there was silence for the nextfew moments.
"He made us suffer," Featherstone remarked. "But he had pluck andboldly took the best way. It is not for us to judge him now."
Then Lawrence leaned forward with a flushed face. "In the beginning, Imade you suffer, and it might have been better if I had openly paid formy fault. We'll let that go; but there's something yet to be said."He stopped and looked at the others with badly suppressed emotion."That I have escaped a fate like Daly's is due to the love and trustthat was given me in spite of my offense, and my partner's unselfishloyalty."
Mrs. Featherstone looked at him with gentle approval and her husbandsaid, "Lawrence has taken a very proper line; but I think this matterneed not be spoken of again."
It was a relief to talk about something else, and by and by the partybroke up. An hour or two later, Foster, who wanted to send his foremansome instructions, met Lucy in a passage as he was going to thewriting-room. She stopped him and said, "I haven't thanked you, Jake;you were careful not to give me an opportunity, but you have banished ahaunting fear I couldn't get rid of. You know what I mean--Lawrencetold me his story. Now he is safe."
She stopped Foster, who began to murmur something. "This is not all Iwant to say. I am not the only person who loves Lawrence and owes youmuch. Don't be too modest; urge your claim."
Foster would not pretend he did not understand and looked at hersteadily. "If I made a claim on such grounds, I should deserve to haveit refused."
"Then choose better grounds, Jake; I think they can be found," Lucyanswered with a smile. "But show what you want. You can't expect tohave it offered, for you to pick up."
She went away, leaving him in a thoughtful mood, though his heart beat.Lucy was clever and would not have given him such a hint unless shethought it was justified. Still, she might be mistaken and he fearedto risk too much; then there were other difficulties--he was not rich.He went to the writing-room, knitting his brows, and stopped abruptlywhen he found Alice there alone. She put aside a half-finished letter,as if she did not want him to go away, and he advanced to the table andstood looking down at her.
"I did not send the telegram stating that I had found Lawrence."
"No," she said, smiling, "I know you didn't. But why do you wish toexplain this?"
Foster hesitated. "To begin with, it must have looked as if I wantedto boast about keeping my promise and hint that you owed me something."
"But you were glad you were able to keep your promise?"
"I was," said Foster; "very glad, indeed."
Alice gave him a quick glance that thrilled him strangely. "SoLawrence said for you what you would have liked to say yourself? Onewould imagine he knew your feelings."
"Yes," said Foster steadily, "I didn't tell him, but I think he didknow."
He stopped and Alice looked down at the table for a moment. Then shelooked up again and met his fixed gaze.
"After all, you would have liked to have my gratitude?"
There was something in her face that stirred his blood, and forgettinghis drawbacks he made a reckless plunge.
"I wanted it tremendously, but it wasn't enough."
"Not enough! Aren't you rather hard to satisfy?" she asked with a hintof pride that deceived but did not stop him.
"I'm afraid I'm very rash," he answered quietly. "You see, I wantedyour love; I wanted you. But I was afraid to ask."
She looked at him in a way he did not understand, although her mannerenforced a curious restraint.
"Now I wonder why?"
"You're so beautiful! I durstn't hope you'd come down to my level.I'd nothing to offer."
"You have unselfishness, loyalty, and unflinching steadfastness. Arethese nothing?"
Foster felt embarrassed, but the sense of restraint was stronger.Alice had somehow imposed it and he must wait until she took it away.He thought she wanted him to finish.
"Then I knew my disadvantages. In many ways, Canada is a hard country,and I'm poor."
"Did you think that would count for very much? We are not rich at theGarth."
"I seemed to know that if by any chance you loved me, you would notflinch. But there were other things; your upbringing and traditions.I couldn't hope your parents would agree."
Then Alice got up with a quiet grace he thought stately and stoodfacing him. There was a strange new softness in her eyes that had yeta hint of pride.
"I don't think I am undutiful, but it is my right to choose my husbandfor myself." She paused and his heart beat fast as he waited until sheresumed: "The evening I came to the orchard I had chosen you."
He held out his hands with a low cry of triumph and she came to him.
Next morning Foster saw Featherstone, who listened without surprise,and then remarked: "It would perhaps have been better if you had cometo me before the matter went so far; but I can't lay much stress onthis. The times are changing."
"I couldn't, sir. You see, until last night----"
Featherstone nodded. "Yes, of course! But all that's done with. Ican't understand how the absurd notion came into my mind."
"Things did look suspicious," said Foster, smiling.
"Well," resumed Featherstone, "except for that ridiculous interval, Iliked you from the beginning, as did my wife. Besides, it would bevery hard for either of us to refuse you anything, and if Alice issatisfied--But there's another consideration; I understand fromLawrence that your business is not large, and although Miss Stephenwants him to extend it, this won't augment your share. Well, youunderstand why I must ask you to wait a year, until we see how you geton."
Foster, having succeeded better than he expected, thanked him andagreed, and a few days later returned to the Crossing. TheF
eatherstones were coming to stay there for a time, and businessdemanded his attention. He had long worked hard, but had now an objectthat spurred him to almost savage activity. He resented the loss oftime when Walters was brought to trial and he had to attend the court.The man was sentenced for robbery, and Foster's evidence, althoughobjected to by the defense, sufficed to prove that Fred Hulton had nocomplicity in the theft.
A few weeks later, when Featherstone and his family were at theCrossing, Hulton sent for Foster.
"I suppose you won't want to sell the mill?" he asked.
"No," said Foster. "Business looks like booming and our chances arepretty good."
Hulton made a sign of agreement. "That's so. I reckon you could do abigger trade than you have the money to handle. However, I guess youand Featherstone mean to continue the partnership?"
"Yes," said Foster, quietly, "we stick together."
"Although he is going to marry a lady who will invest some money in thebusiness? If your friendship stands that test, it must be prettysound. But I'd better state why I sent for you. Our trade is growingfast, and there's a risk of our running short of half-worked material.Well, if you won't sell your mill, you must enlarge it on a scale thatwill enable you to keep us going, besides coping with your otherorders. I'm open to supply the capital, and have thought out a roughproposition. Give him the paper, Percival."
The treasurer did so, and Foster studied the terms with keensatisfaction.
"If there's anything you don't agree to, you can indicate it," Hultonremarked.
Foster hesitated. "It's a very fair and liberal offer. But I wouldn'tlike to take it, so to speak, as a reward. You see, I didn't------"
"Expect anything from me," Hulton suggested with dry amusement. "Youwere acting for Featherstone, but were willing to do me a favor!Anyhow, you can regard the thing as a plain business proposition. Iget a number of advantages, besides good interest."
"Then I'll accept the main terms now, because I can promise forFeatherstone," Foster replied. "If any alteration's needed, we cantalk about it afterwards."
He left the office with a thrill of satisfaction. With Hulton's help,he and Lawrence could extend their operations and control a veryprofitable trade. Featherstone had told him he must wait a year, butby this stroke of luck he had made good when only a month had gone.Still, it was characteristic that he finished his day's work before hewent to the hotel where the others were staying.
Featherstone frankly expressed his pleasure at the news, and afterwardsFoster and Alice went out and stopped at the bridge on the outskirts ofthe town. There was a moon in the clear sky and the night was calm.The snow was crisp, but patches of uncovered wood showed where it hadmelted off the bridge, and the southern slope of the river bank wasnearly bare. In the stream, fissured ice drifted down a wide, darkchannel; one felt that spring was coming.
Behind the town, somber pines rolled back across the rocky wilderness;in the foreground, dazzling arc-lamps flung their blue reflections onthe ice, and the lights of the Hulton factory ran far up in gleamingrows. Civilization had reached the spot and stopped for a time. Thescene held harsh contrasts between man's noisy activities and thesilent austerity of the wilds.
"It's a grim country," Foster said. "But one gets fond of it."
Alice put her hand in his. "I think I shall love it; I'm not afraid,Jake. There's something in the clear air and sunshine that makes onebrave. Then it's virgin country; waiting for you and the others tomake good use of."
Foster nodded. "Something of a responsibility! Our efforts are crudeyet and the signs of our progress far from beautiful, but we'll dobetter by and by. Well, I'm glad you're not daunted, though I don'tthink I really feared that." He paused for a moment with a smile ofdeep content. "To-day has banished my last anxiety; I'm a wonderfullylucky man!"
"Not altogether lucky, Jake, I think. Character counts for more thanfortune, and you really won success by the stubbornness you showed inthe Border bogs. It would have come sooner or later, if you hadn't metHulton."
"I'm doubtful," Foster answered. "What I meant to win was you; but ina way, that's wrong. If you hadn't given yourself to me, it would havebeen impossible. Well, it has been a day of triumph, and now, if youare willing, we needn't wait very long."
Alice blushed and looked up with a shy smile. "When you want me, Jake,I will be ready."
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