the man from glengarry-第58节

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〃Wait　a　moment。　　I　want　to　prevent　all　possibility　of　mistake。
There　may　be　a　reply；　and　Harry；　old　chap；　I'd　rather　not　answer
any　questions。〃

Harry　gazed　at　him　a　moment　in　perplexity。　　〃All　right；　Ranald；〃　he
said；　quietly；　〃you　can　trust　me。　　I　haven't　the　ghost　of　an　idea
what's　up；　but　I　know　you're　square。〃

〃Thanks；　old　fellow；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　will　never　give　you　reason　to
change　your　opinion。　　Now　get　out；　I'm　awfully　busy。〃

For　some　minutes　after　Harry　had　left　the　room　Ranald　sat　gazing
before　him　into　space。

〃Poor　chap；　he's　got　his　fight；　too；　but　I　begin　to　think　he'll
win；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　once　more　returned　to　his　work。　　He
had　hardly　begun　his　writing　when　the　inner　door　of　his　office
opened　and　Mr。　St。　Clair　came　in。　　His　welcome　was　kindly　and
cordial；　and　Ranald's　heart；　which　had　been　under　strong　discipline
all　morning；　leaped　up　in　warm　response。

〃You　had　a　pleasant　trip；　I　hope？〃　inquired　Mr。　St。　Clair。

〃Fine　most　of　the　way。　　Through　May　and　June　the　flies　were　bad；
but　not　so　bad　as　usual；　they　said；　and　one　gets　used　to　them。〃

〃Good　sport？〃

〃Never　saw　anything　like　it。　　What　a　country　that　is！〃　cried
Ranald；　his　enthusiasm　carrying　him　away。　　〃Fishing　of　all　kinds
and　superb。　　In　those　little　lonely　lakes　you　get　the　finest　black
and　white　bass；　beauties　and　so　gamy。　　In　the　bigger　waters；
maskalonge　and；　of　course；　any　amount　of　pike　and　pickerel。　　Then
we　were　always　running　up　against　deer；　moose　and　red；　and　everywhere
we　got　the　scent　of　bear。　　Could　have　loaded　a　boat　with　furs　in
a　week。〃

〃We　must　go　up　some　day；〃　replied　Mr。　St。　Clair。　　〃Wish　I　could　get
away　this　fall；　but　the　fact　is　we　are　in　shallow　water；　Ranald；
and　we　can't　take　any　chances。〃

Ranald　knew　well　how　serious　the　situation　was。　　〃But；〃　continued
Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃this　offer　of　the　British…American　Lumber　and　Coal
Company　is　most　fortunate；　and　will　be　the　saving　of　us。　　With　one
hundred　thousand　set　free　we　are　certain　to　pull　through　this
season；　and　indeed；　the　financial　stringency　will　rather　help　than
hinder　our　operations。　　Really　it　is　most　fortunate。　　Indeed；〃　he
added；　with　a　slight　laugh；　〃as　my　sister…in…law　would　say；　quite
providential！〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　of　that；〃　said　Ranald；　gravely；　〃but；　Mr。　St。
Clair〃

〃Yes；　no　doubt；　no　doubt；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　hastening　to　recover
the　tone；　which　by　his　unfortunate　reference　to　Mrs。　Murray；　he　had
lost。　　The　thought　of　her　was　not　in　perfect　harmony　with　purely
commercial　considerations。　　〃The　fact　is；〃　he　continued；　〃that
before　this　offer　came　I　was　really　beginning　to　despair。　　I　can
tell　you　that　now。〃

Ranald　felt　his　heart　tighten。

〃One　does　not　mind　for　one's　self；　but　when　family　interests　are
involvedbut　that's　all　over　now；　thank　God！〃

Ranald　tried　to　speak；　but　his　mind　refused　to　suggest　words。　　His
silence；　however；　was　enough　for　Mr。　St。　Clair；　who；　with　nervous
haste　once　more　changed　the　theme。　　〃In　my　note　to　you　last　night
you　got　it；　I　supposeI　referred　to　some　changes　in　the　firm。　〃

Ranald　felt　that　he　was　being　crowded　against　the　ropes。　　He　must
get　to　freer　fighting　ground。　　〃I　think　before　you　go　on　to　that；
Mr。　St。　Clair；〃　he　began；　〃I　ought　to〃

〃Excuse　me；　I　was　about　to　say；〃　interrupted　Mr。　St。　Clair；
hastily；　〃Mr。　Raymond　and　I　have　felt　that　we　must　strengthen　our
executive。　　As　you　know；　he　has　left　this　department　almost
entirely　to　me；　and　he　now　realizes　what　I　have　long　felt；　that　the
burden　has　grown　too　heavy　for　one　to　carry。　　Naturally　we　think　of
you；　and　I　may　say　we　are　more　than　glad；　though　it　is　a　very
unusual　thing　in　the　business　world；　that　we　can；　with　the　fullest
confidence；　offer　you　a　partnership。〃　　Mr。　St。　Clair　paused　to
allow　the　full　weight　of　this　announcement　to　sink　into　his
manager's　mind。

Then　Ranald　pulled　himself　together。　　He　must　break　free　or　the
fight　would　be　lost　before　he　had　struck　a　blow。

〃I　need　not　say；〃　he　began　once　more；　〃how　greatly　gratified　I　am
by　this　offer；　and　I　feel　sure　you　will　believe　that　I　am　deeply
grateful。〃　　Ranald's　voice　was　low　and　even；　but　unknown　to　himself
there　was　in　it　a　tone　of　stern　resolve　that　struck　Mr。　St。　Clair's
ear。　　He　knew　his　manager。　　That　tone　meant　war。　　Hastily　he
changed　his　front。

〃Yes；　yes；　we　are　quite　sure　of　that；〃　he　said；　with　increasing
nervousness；　〃but　we　are　thinking　of　our　own　interests　as　well　as
yours。　　Indeed；　I　feel　sure〃here　his　voice　became　even　more
kindly　and　confidential〃that　in　advancing　your　position　and
prospects　we　areI　am　only　doing　what　will　bring　myself　the
greatest　satisfaction　in　the　end；　for　you　know；　Ranald；　Iwe　do
not　regard　you　as　a　stranger。〃　　Ranald　winced　and　grew　pale。　　〃We
my　familyhave　always　felt　toward　you　aswell；　in　fact；　as　if　you
were　one　of　us。〃

Mr。　St。　Clair　had　delivered　his　last　and　deadliest　blow　and　it
found　Ranald's　heart；　but　with　pain　blanching　his　cheek　Ranald
stood　up　determined　to　end　the　fight。　　It　was　by　no　means　easy　for
him　to　strike。　　Before　him　he　saw　not　this　man　with　his　ingenious
and　specious　pleadingit　would　not　have　been　a　difficult　matter　to
have　brushed　him　asidebut　he　was　looking　into　the　blue　eyes　of
the　woman　he　had　for　seven　years　loved　more　than　he　loved　his　life；
and　he　knew　that　when　his　blow　fell　it　would　fall　upon　the　face
that；　only　a　few　hours　ago；　had　smiled　upon　him；　and　upon　the　lips
that　had　whispered　to　him；　〃I　will　remember；　Ranald。〃　　Yet　he　was
none　the　less　resolved。　　With　face　set　and　bloodless；　and　eyes　of
gleaming　fire；　he　faced　the　man　that　represented　what　was　at　once
dearest　in　life　and　what　was　most　loathsome　in　conduct。

〃Give　me　a　moment；　Mr。　St。　Clair；〃　he　said；　with　a　note　of
authority　in　his　tone。　　〃You　have　made　me　an　offer　of　a　position
such　as　I　could　hardly　hope　to　expect　for　years　to　come；　but　I
value　it　chiefly　because　it　means　you　have　absolute　confidence　in
me；　you　believe　in　my　ability　and　in　my　integrity。　　I　am　determined
that　you　will　never　have　cause　to　change　your　opinion　of　me。　　You
are　about　to　complete　a　deal　involving　a　very　large　sum　of　money。
I　have　a　report　here；〃　tapping　his　desk；　〃which　you　have　not　yet
seen。〃

〃It　really　doesn't　matter！〃　interjected　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃you　see；　my
dear　fellow〃

〃It　matters　to　me。　　It　is　a　report　which　not　only　you　ought　to
have；　but　which；　in　justice；　the　buyer　of　the　Bass　River　Limits
ought　to　see。　　That　report；　Mr。　St。　Clair；　ought　to　be　given　to
Colonel　Thorp。〃

〃This　is　sheer　folly；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　St。　Clair；　impatiently。

〃It　is　the　only　honorable　course。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　insult　me；　sir？〃

〃There　is　only　one　other　thing　I　would　rather　not　do；〃　said　Ranald；
in　a　grave　voice；　〃and　that　is　refuse　Colonel　Thorp　the　information
he　is　entitled　to　from　us。〃

〃Sir！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃this　is　outrageous；　and　I　demand
an　apology　or　your　resignation！〃

〃Colonel　Thorp；〃　announced　a　clerk；　opening　the　door。

〃Tell　Colonel　Thorp　I　cannotah；　Colonel　Thorp；　I　am　glad　to　see
you。　　Will　you　step　this　way？〃　opening　the　door　leading　to　his　own
office。

The　colonel；　a　tall；　raw…boned；　typical　〃Uncle　Sam；〃　even　to　the
chin　whisker　and　quid　of　tobacco；　had　an　eye　like　an　eagle。　　He
shot　a　keen　glance　at　Mr。　St。　Clair　and　then　at　Ranald。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　helping　himself　to　a　chair；　〃this　here's　all　right。
This　is　your　manager；　eh？〃

〃Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　introducing　him。

〃How　do　you　do？　　Heard　about　you　some；〃　said　the　colonel；　shaking
hands　with　him。　　〃Quite　a　knocker；　I　believe。　　Well；　you　rather
look　like　it。　　Used　to　do　some　myself。　　Been　up　north；　so　the　boss
says。　　Good　country；　eh？〃

〃Fine　sporting　country；　Colonel；〃　interrupted　St。　Clair。　　〃The
game；　Mr。　Macdonald　says；　come　right　into　your　tent　and　bed　to　be
shot。〃

〃Do；　eh？〃　　The　colonel's　eagle　eye　lighted　up。　　〃Now；　what　sort　of
game？〃

〃Almost　every　kind；　Colonel；〃　replied　Ranald。

〃Don't　say！　　Used　to　do　a　little　myself。　　Moose？〃

〃Yes；　I　saw　a　number　of　moose　and　any　amount　of　other　deer　and；　of
course；　plenty　of　bear。〃

〃Don't　say！　　How'd　you　come　to　leave　them？　　Couldn't　have　done　it
myself；　by　the　great　Sam！　　Open　timber？〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Ranald；　slowly；　〃on　the　east　of　the　Bass　River〃

〃All　that　north　country；　Colonel；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　〃is　pretty
much　the　same；　I　imagine；　a　little　of　all　kinds。〃

〃Much　water；　streams；　and　such？〃

〃Yes；　on　the　west　side　of　the　Bass　there　is　plenty　of　water；　a
number　of　small　streams　and　lakes；　but〃

〃Oh；　all　through　that　north　country；　Colonel；　you　are　safe　in
having　a　canoe　in　your　outfit；〃　said　Mr。　St。　Clair；　again
interrupting　Ranald。

〃Lots　of　water；　eh？　　Just　like　Maine；　ha；　ha！〃　　The　colonel's　quiet
chuckle　was　good　to　hear。

〃Reminds　me〃here　he　put　his　hand　into　his　inside　pocket　and
pulled　out　a　flask；　〃excuse　the　glass；〃　he　said；　offering　it　to　Mr。
St。　Clair；　who　took　a　slight　sip　and　handed　it　back。

〃Have　a　little　refreshment；〃　said　the　colonel；　offering　it　to
Ranald。

〃I　never　take　it；　thank　you。〃

〃Don't？　　Say；　by　the　great　Sam；　how'd　you　get　through　all　that　wet
country？　　Wall；　it　will　not　hurt　you　to　leave　it　alone；〃　solemnly
winking　at　St。　Clair；　a