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ng。〃

〃Oh；　Larry；　I　don't　understand　you　a　bit；〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Of　course　they　want　to　fight　when　they　get　full　of　rage。　　I　would　myself。〃

〃I　believe　you；〃　said　Larry。　　〃You　are　a　real　Irish　terrier。　　You　are　like　father。　　I　am　a　Quaker；　or　perhaps　there's　another　word　for　it。　　I　only　hope　I　shall　never　be　called　on　to　prove　just　what　I　am。　　Come　on；　let's　go　in。〃

For　a　half　hour　they　swam　leisurely　to　and　fro　in　the　moonlit　water。　　But　before　they　parted　for　the　night　Nora　returned　to　the　subject　which　they　had　been　discussing。

〃Larry；　I　don't　believe　you　are　a　coward。　　I　could　not　believe　that　of　you；〃　she　said　passionately；　〃I　think　I　would　rather　die。〃

〃Well；　don't　believe　it　then。　　I　hope　to　God　I　am　not；　but　then　one　can　never　tell。　　I　cannot　see　myself　hitting　a　man　on　the　bare　face；　and　as　for　killing　a　fellow　being；　I　would　much　rather　die　myself。　　Is　that　being　a　coward？〃

〃But　if　that　man；〃　breathed　Nora　hurriedly；　for　the　household　were　asleep；　〃if　that　man　mad　with　lust　and　rage　were　about　to　injure　your　mother　or　your　sisters〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Larry；　drawing　in　his　breath　quickly；　〃that　would　be　different；　eh？〃

〃Good…night；　you　dear　goose；〃　said　his　sister；　kissing　him　quickly。　〃I　am　not　afraid　for　you。〃



CHAPTER　XII

MEN　AND　A　MINE


It　was　early　in　July　that　Mr。　Gwynne　met　his　family　with　a　proposition　which　had　been　elaborated　by　Ernest　Switzer　to　form　a　company　for　the　working　of　Nora's　mine。　　With　characteristic　energy　and　thoroughness　Switzer　had　studied　the　proposition　from　every　point　of　view；　and　the　results　of　his　study　he　had　set　down　in　a　document　which　Mr。　Gwynne　laid　before　his　wife　and　children　for　consideration。　　It　appeared　that　the　mine　itself　had　been　investigated　by　expert　friends　of　Switzer's　from　the　Lethbridge　and　Crows'　Nest　mines。　　The　reports　of　these　experts　were　favourable　to　a　degree　unusual　with　practical　mining　men；　both　as　to　the　quality　and　quantity　of　coal　and　as　to　the　cost　of　operation。　　The　quality　was　assured　by　the　fact　that　the　ranchers　in　the　neighbourhood　for　years　had　been　using　the　coal　in　their　own　homes。　　In　addition　to　this　Switzer　had　secured　a　report　from　the　Canadian　Pacific　Railway　engineers　showing　that　the　coal　possessed　high　steaming　qualities。　And　as　to　quantity；　the　seam　could　be　measured　where　the　creek　cut　through；　showing　enough　coal　in　sight　to　promise　a　sufficient　supply　to　warrant　operation　for　years　to　come。　　In　brief；　the　report　submitted　by　the　young　German　was　that　there　was　every　ground　for　believing　that　a　paying　mine；　possibly　a　great　mine；　could　be　developed　from　the　property　on　Mr。　Gwynne's　land。　　In　regard　to　the　market；　there　was　of　course　no　doubt。　　Every　ton　of　coal　produced　could　be　sold　at　the　mine　mouth　without　difficulty。　There　remained　only　the　question　of　finance　to　face。　　This　also　Switzer　had　considered；　and　the　result　of　his　consideration　was　before　them　in　a　detailed　scheme。　　By　this　scheme　a　local　company　was　to　be　organised　with　a　capitalisation　of　500；000；　which　would　be　sufficient　to　begin　with。　　Of　this　amount　200；000　should　be　assigned　to　the　treasury；　the　remaining　300；000　disposed　of　as　follows：　to　Mr。　Gwynne；　as　owner　of　the　mine；　should　be　allotted　151；000　stock；　thus　giving　him　control；　the　remaining　149；000　stock　should　be　placed　locally。　　The　proposition　contained　an　offer　from　Switzer　to　organise　the　company　and　to　place　the　stock；　in　consideration　for　which　service　he　asked　a　block　of　stock　such　as　the　directors　should　agree　upon；　and　further　that　he　should　be　secretary　of　the　company　for　a　term　of　five　years　at　a　salary　of　2；000　per　annum；　which　should　be　a　first　charge　upon　the　returns　from　the　mine。

〃Ernest　insists　on　being　secretary？〃　said　Nora。

〃Yes；　naturally。　　His　interests　are　all　here。　　He　insists　also　that　I　be　president。〃

〃And　why；　Dad？〃　enquired　Nora。

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　with　a　slight　laugh；　〃he　frankly　says　he　would　like　to　be　associated　with　me　in　this　business。　　Of　course；　he　said　some　nice　things　about　me　which　I　need　not　repeat。〃

〃Oh　pshaw！〃　exclaimed　Nora；　patting　him　on　the　shoulder；　〃I　thought　you　were　a　lot　smarter　man　than　that。　　Can't　you　see　why　he　wants　to　be　associated　with　you？　　Surely　you　don't　need　me　to　tell　you。〃

〃Nora　dear；　hush；〃　said　her　mother。

With　an　imploring　look　at　her　sister；　Kathleen　left　the　room。

〃Indeed；　Mother；　I　think　it　is　no　time　to　hush。　　I　will　tell　you；　Dad；　why　he　wants　to　be　associated　with　you　in　this　coal　mine　business。　　Ernest　Switzer　wants　our　Kathleen。　　Mother　knows　it。　　We　all　know　it。〃

Her　father　gazed　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃Surely　this　is　quite　unwarranted；　Nora；〃　he　said。　　〃I　cannot　allow　a　matter　of　this　kind　to　be　dragged　into　a　matter　of　business。〃

〃How　would　it　do　to　take　a　few　days　to　turn　it　over　in　our　minds？〃　said　his　wife。　　〃We　must　not　forget；　dear；〃　she　continued；　a　note　of　grave　anxiety　in　her　voice；　〃that　if　we　accept　this　proposition　it　will　mean　a　complete　change　in　our　family　life。〃

〃Family　life；　Mother；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne　with　some　impatience。　　〃You　don't　mean〃

〃I　mean；　my　dear；〃　replied　the　mother；　〃that　we　shall　no　longer　be　ranchers；　but　shall　become　coal　miners。　　Let　us　think　it　over　and　perhaps　you　might　consult　with　some　of　our　neighbours；　say　with　Mr。　Waring…Gaunt。〃

〃Surely；　surely；〃　replied　her　husband。　　〃Your　advice　is　wise；　as　always。　　I　shall　just　step　over　to　Mr。　Waring…Gaunt's　immediately。〃

After　Mr。　Gwynne's　departure；　the　others　sat　silent　for　some　moments；　their　minds　occupied　with　the　question　raised　so　abruptly　by　Nora。

〃You　may　as　well　face　it；　Mother；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃Indeed；　you　must　face　it；　and　right　now。　　If　this　Company　goes　on　with　Ernest　as　secretary；　it　means　that　he　will　necessarily　be　thrown　into　closer　relationship　with　our　family。　　This　will　help　his　business　with　Kathleen。　　This　is　what　he　means。　　Do　you　wish　to　help　it　on？〃

The　mother　sat　silent；　her　face　showing　deep　distress。　　〃Nora　dear；〃　at　length　she　said；　〃this　matter　is　really　not　in　our　hands。　Surely　you　can　see　that。　　I　can't　discuss　it　with　you。〃　　And　so　saying　she　left　the　room。

〃Now；　Nora；〃　said　Larry　severely；　〃you　are　not　to　worry　Mother。　And　besides　you　can't　play　Providence　in　this　way。　　You　must　confess　that　you　have　a　dreadful　habit　of　trying　to　run　things。　I　believe　you　would　have　a　go　at　running　the　universe。〃

〃Run　things？〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Why　not？　　There　is　altogether　too　much　of　letting　things　slide　in　this　family。　　It　is　all　very　well　to　trust　to　Providence。　　Providence　made　the　trees　grow　in　the　woods；　but　this　house　never　would　have　been　here　if　Mr。　Sleighter　had　not　got　on　to　the　job。　　Now　I　am　going　to　ask　you　a　straight　question。　Do　you　want　Ernest　Switzer　to　have　Kathleen？〃

〃Well；　he's　a　decent　sort　and　a　clever　fellow；〃　began　Larry。

〃Now；　Larry；　you　may　as　well　cut　that　'decent　sort；'　'clever　fellow'　stuff　right　out。　　I　want　to　know　your　mind。　　Would　you　like　to　see　Ernest　Switzer　have　Kathleen；　or　not？〃

〃Would　you？〃　retorted　her　brother。

〃No。　　I　would　not；〃　emphatically　said　Nora。

〃Why　not？〃

〃To　tell　the　truth；　ever　since　that　concert　night　I　feel　I　can't　trust　him。　　He　is　different　from　us。　　He　is　no　real　Canadian。　　He　is　a　German。〃

〃Well；　Nora；　you　amaze　me；〃　said　Larry。　　〃What　supreme　nonsense　you　are　talking！　　You　have　got　that　stuff　of　Romayne's　into　your　mind。　The　war　bug　has　bitten　you　too。　　For　Heaven's　sake　be　reasonable。　If　you　object　to　Ernest　because　of　his　race；　I　am　ashamed　of　you　and　have　no　sympathy　with　you。〃

〃Not　because　of　his　race；〃　said　Nora；　〃though；　Larry；　let　me　tell　you　he　hates　Britain。　　I　was　close　to　him　that　night；　and　hate　looked　out　of　his　eyes。　　But　let　that　pass。　　I　have　seen　Ernest　with　'his　women'　as　he　calls　them；　and；　Larry；　I　can't　bear　to　think　of　our　Kathleen　being　treated　as　he　treats　his　mother　and　sister。〃

〃Now；　Nora；　let　us　be　reasonable。　　Let　us　look　at　this　fairly；〃　began　Larry。

〃Oh；　Larry！　stop　or　I　shall　be　biting　the　furniture　next。　　When　you　assume　that　judicial　air　of　yours　I　want　to　swear。　　Answer　me。　　Do　you　want　him　to　marry　Kathleen？　　Yes　or　no。〃

〃Well；　as　I　was　about　to　say〃

〃Larry；　will　you　answer　yes　or　no？〃

〃Well；　no；　then；〃　said　Larry。

〃Thank　God！〃　cried　Nora；　rushing　at　him　and　shaking　him　vigorously。　〃You　wretch！　　Why　did　you　keep　me　in　suspense？　　How　I　wish　that　English　stick　would　get　a　move　on！〃

〃English　stick？　　Whom　do　you　mean？〃

〃You're　as　stupid　as　the　rest；　Larry。　　Whom　should　I　mean？　　Jack　Romayne；　of　course。　　There's　a　man　for　you。　　I　just　wish　he'd　waggle　his　finger　at　me！　　But　he　won't　do　things。　　He　just　'glowers'　at　her；　as　old　McTavish　would　say；　with　those　deep　eyes　of　his；　and　sets　his　jaw　like　a　wolf　trap；　and　waits。　　Oh；　men　are　so　stupid　with　women！〃

〃Indeed？〃　said　Larry。　　〃And　how　exactly？〃

〃Why　doesn't　he　just　make　her　love　him；　master　her；　swing　her　off　her　feet？〃　said　Nora。

〃Like　Switzer；　eh？　　The　cave　man　idea？〃

〃No；　no。　　Surely　you　see　the　difference？〃

〃Pity　my　ignorance　and　elucidate　the　mystery。〃

〃Mystery？　　Nonsense。　　It　is　quite　simple。　　It　is　a　mere　matter　of　emphasis。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；〃　said　Larry；　〃or　at　least　I　don't　see。　　But　credit　me　with　the　earnest　and　humble　desire　to　understand。〃