the man from glengarry-第67节

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〃All　right；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃I　guess　they'll　suit　me。〃

The　colonel　made　no　mistake　in　deciding　for　Ranald's　quarters。
They　consisted　of　two　rooms　that　formed　one　corner　of　a　long；
wooden；　single…story　building　in　the　shape　of　an　L。　　One　of　these
rooms　Ranald　made　his　dining…room　and　bedroom；　the　other　was　his
office。　　The　rest　of　the　building　was　divided　into　three　sections；
and　constituted　a　dining…room；　reading…room；　and　bunk…room　for　the
men。　　The　walls　of　these　rooms　were　decorated　not　inartistically
with　a　few　colored　prints　and　with　cuts　from　illustrated　papers；
many　and　divers。　　The　furniture　throughout　was　home…made；　with　the
single　exception　of　a　cabinet　organ　which　stood　in　one　corner　of
the　reading…room。　　On　the　windows　of　the　dining…room　and　bunk…room
were　green　roller　blinds；　but　those　of　the　reading…room　were　draped
with　curtains　of　flowered　muslin。　　Indeed　the　reading…room　was
distinguished　from　the　others　by　a　more　artistic　and　elaborate
decoration；　and　by　a　greater　variety　of　furniture。　　The　room　was
evidently　the　pride　of　the　company's　heart。　　In　Ranald's　private
room　the　same　simplicity　in　furniture　and　decoration　was　apparent；
but　when　the　colonel　was　ushered　into　the　bedroom　his　eye　fell　at
once　upon　two　photographs；　beautifully　framed；　hung　on　each　side　of
the　mirror。

〃Hello；　guess　I　ought　to　know　this；〃　he　said；　looking　at　one　of
them。

Coley　beamed。　　〃You　do；　eh？　　Well；　then；　she's　worth　knowin'　and
there's　only　one　of　her　kind。〃

〃Don't　know　about　that；　young　man；〃　said　the　colonel；　looking　at
the　other　photograph；　〃here's　one　that　ought　to　go　in　her　class。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Coley；　doubtfully；　〃the　boss　thinks　so；　I　guess；
from　the　way　he　looks　at　it。〃

〃Young　man；　what　sort　of　a　fellow's　your　boss？〃　said　the　colonel；
suddenly　facing　Coley。

〃What　sort？〃　　Coley　thought　a　moment。　　〃Well；　'twould　need　a　good
eddication　to　tell；　but　there's　only　one　in　his　class；　I　tell　you。〃

〃Then　he　owes　it　to　this　little　woman；〃　pointing　to　one　of　the
photographs；　〃and　she；〃　pointing　to　the　other；　〃said　so。〃

〃Then　you　may　bet　it's　true。〃

〃I　don't　bet　on　a　sure　thing；〃　said　the　colonel；　his　annoyance
vanishing　in　a　slow　smile；　his　first　since　reaching　the　province。

〃Dinner'll　be　ready　in　half　an　hour；　sir；〃　said　Coley；　swearing
allegiance　in　his　heart　to　the　man　that　agreed　with　him　in　regard
to　the　photograph　that　stood　with　Coley　for　all　that　was　highest　in
humanity。

〃John；〃　he　said；　sharply；　to　the　Chinese　cook；　〃got　good　dinner；
eh？〃

〃Pitty　good；〃　said　John；　indifferently。

〃Now；　look　here；　John；　him　big　man。〃　　John　was　not　much　impressed。
〃Awful　big　man；　I　tell　you；　big　soldier。〃　　John　preserved　a　stolid
countenance。

〃John；〃　said　the　exasperated　Coley；　〃I'll　kick　you　across　this　room
and　back　if　you　don't　listen　to　me。　　Want　big　dinner；　heap　good；
eh？〃

〃Huh…huh；　belly　good；〃　replied　John；　with　a　slight　show　of　interest。

〃I　say；　John；　what　you　got　for　dinner；　eh？〃　asked　Coley；　changing
his　tactics。

〃Ham；　eggs；　lice；〃　answered　the　Mongolian；　imperturbably。

〃Gee　whiz！〃　said　Coley；　〃goin'　to　feed　the　boss'　uncle　on　ham　and
eggs？〃

〃What？〃　said　John；　with　sudden　interest；　〃Uncle　boss；　eh？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　unblushing　Coley。

〃Huh！　　Coley　heap　fool！　　Get　chicken；　quick！　meat　shop；　small；　eh？〃
The　Chinaman　was　at　last　aroused。　　Pots；　pans；　and　other　utensils
were　in　immediate　requisition；　a　roaring　fire　set　a…going；　and　in
three…quarters　of　an　hour　the　colonel　sat　down　to　a　dinner　of　soup；
fish；　and　fowl；　with　various　entrees　and　side　dishes　that　would
have　done　credit　to　a　New　York　chef。　　Thus　potent　was　the　name　of
the　boss　with　his　cook。

John's　excellent　dinner　did　much　to　soothe　and　mollify　his　guest；
but　the　colonel　was　sensitive　to　impressions　other　than　the　purely
gastronomic；　for　throughout　the　course　of　the　dinner；　his　eyes
wandered　to　the　photographs　on　the　wall；　and　in　fancy　he　was　once
more　in　the　presence　of　the　two　women；　to　whom　he　felt　pledged　in
Ranald's　behalf。　　〃It's　a　one…horse　looking　country；　though；〃　he
said　to　himself；　〃and　no　place　for　a　man　with　any　snap。　　Best　thing
would　be　to　pull　out；　I　guess；　and　take　him　along。〃　　And　it　was　in
this　mind　that　he　received　the　Honorable　Archibald　Blair；　M。　P。　P。；
for　New　Westminster；　president　of　the　British　Columbia　Canning
Company；　recently　organized；　and　a　director　in　half　a　dozen　other
business　concerns。

〃Colonel　Thorp；　this　is　Mr。　Blair；　of　the　British　Columbia　Canning
Company；〃　said　Coley；　with　a　curious　suggestion　of　Ranald　in　his
manner。

〃Glad　to　welcome　a　friend　of　Mr。　Macdonald's；〃　said　Mr。　Blair；　a
little　man　of　about　thirty；　with　a　shrewd　eye　and　a　kindly　frank
manner。

〃Well；　I　guess　I　can　say　the　same；〃　said　Colonel　Thorp；　shaking
hands。　　〃I　judge　his　friends　are　of　the　right　sort。〃

〃You'll　find　plenty　in　this　country　glad　to　class　themselves　in
that　list；〃　laughed　Mr。　Blair；　〃I　wouldn't　undertake　to　guarantee
them　all；　but　those　he　lists　that　way；　you　can　pretty　well　bank　on。
He's　a　young　man　for　reading　men。〃

〃Yes？〃　said　the　colonel；　interrogatively；　〃he's　very　young。〃

〃Young；　for　that　matter　so　are　we　all；　especially　on　this　side　the
water　here。　　It's　a　young　man's　country。〃

〃Pretty　young；　I　judge；〃　said　the　colonel；　dryly。　　〃Lots　of　room　to
grow。〃

〃Yes；　thank　Providence！〃　said　Mr。　Blair；　enthusiastically；　〃but
there's　lots　of　life　and　lots　to　feed　it。　　But　I'm　not　going　to
talk；　Colonel。　　It　is　always　wasted　breath　on　an　Easterner。　　I'll
let　the　country　talk。　　You　are　coming　with　us；　of　course。〃

〃Hardly　think　so；　my　time　is　rather　limited；　and；　well；　to　tell
the　truth；　I'm　from　across　the　line　and　don't　cater　much　to　your
royalties。〃

〃Royalties！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Blair。　　〃Oh；　you　mean　our　governor。
Well；　that's　good　rather；　must　tell　the　governor　that。〃　　Mr。　Blair
laughed　long　and　loud。　　〃You'll　forget　all　that　when　you　are　out
with　us　an　hour。　　No；　we　think　it　well　to　hedge　our　government　with
dignity；　but　on　this　trip　we　shall　leave　the　gold　lace　and　red　tape
behind。〃

〃How　long　do　you　propose　to　be　gone？〃

〃About　four　weeks。　　But　I　make　you　a　promise。　　If　after　the　first
week　you　want　to　return　from　any　point；　I　shall　send　you　back　with
all　speed。　　But　you　won't　want　to；　I　guarantee　you　that。　　Why；　my
dear　sir；　think　of　the　route；〃　and　Mr。　Blair　went　off　into　a
rapturous　description　of　the　marvels　of　the　young　province；　its
scenery；　its　resources；　its　climate；　its　sport；　playing　upon　each
string　as　he　marked　the　effect　upon　his　listener。　　By　the　time　Mr。
Blair's　visit　was　over；　the　colonel　had　made　up　his　mind　that　he
would　see　something　of　this　wonderful　country。

Next　day　Coley　took　him　over　the　company's　mills；　and　was　not　a
little　disappointed　to　see　that　the　colonel　was　not　impressed　by
their　size　or　equipment。　　In　Coley's　eyes　they　were　phenomenal；　and
he　was　inclined　to　resent　the　colonel's　lofty　manner。　　The　foreman；
Mr。　Urquhart；　a　shrewd　Scotchman；　who　had　seen　the　mills　of　the
Ottawa　River　and　those　in　Michigan　as　well；　understood　his　visitor's
attitude　better；　and　besides；　it　suited　his　Scotch　nature　to　refuse
any　approach　to　open　admiration　for　anything　out　of　the　old　land。
His　ordinary　commendation　was；　〃It's　no　that　bad〃；　and　his
superlative　was　expressed　in　the　daring　concession；　〃Aye；　it'll
maybe　dae；　it　micht　be　waur。〃　　So　he　followed　the　colonel　about　with
disparaging　comments　that　drove　Coley　to　the　verge　of　madness。　　When
they　came　to　the　engine　room；　which　was　Urquhart's　pride；　the　climax
was　reached。

〃It's　a　wee　bit　o'　a　place；　an'　no　fit　for　the　wark；〃　said
Urquhart；　ushering　the　colonel　into　a　snug　little　engine…room；
where　every　bit　of　brass　shone　with　dazzling　brightness；　and　every
part　of　the　engine　moved　in　smooth；　sweet　harmony。

〃Slick　little　engine；〃　said　the　colonel；　with　discriminating
admiration。

〃It's　no　that　bad　the　noo；　but　ye　sud　hae　seen　it　afore　Jem；　there；
took　a　hand　o'　ita　wheezin'　rattlin'　pechin　thing　that　ye　micht
expect　tae　flee　in　bits　for　the　noise　in　the　wame　o't。　　But　Jemmie
sorted　it　till　it's　nae　despicable　for　its　size。　　But　it's　no　fit
for　the　wark。　　Jemmie；　lad；　just　gie't　its　fill　an'　we'll　pit　the
saw　until　a　log；〃　said　Urquhart；　as　they　went　up　into　the　sawing…
room　where；　in　a　few　minutes；　the　colonel　had　an　exhibition　of　the
saw　sticking　fast　in　a　log　for　lack　of　power。

〃Man；　yon's　a　lad　that　kens　his　trade。　　He's　frae　Gleska。　　He　earns
his　money's　warth。〃

〃How　did　you　come　to　get　him？〃　said　the　colonel；　moved　to　interest
by　Urquhart's　unwonted　praise。

〃Indeed；　just　the　way　we've　got　all　our　best　men。　　It's　the　boss
picked　him　oot　o'　the　gutter；　and　there　he　is　earnin'　his　twa　and　a
half　a　day。〃

〃The　boss　did　that；　eh？〃　said　the　colonel；　with　one　of　his　swift
glances　at　the　speaker。

〃Aye；　that　he　did；　and　he's　only　one　o'　many。〃

〃He's　good　at　that　sort　of　business；　I　guess。〃

〃Aye；　he　kens　men　as　ye　can　see　frae　his　gang。〃

〃Doesn't　seem　to　be　able　to　make　the　company's　business　pay；〃
ventured　the　colonel。

〃D'ye　think　ye　cud　find　one　that　cud？〃　pointing　to　the　halting　saw。
〃An　that's　the　machine　that　turned　oot　thae　piles　yonder。　　Gie　him
a　chance；　th