HELD IN SUSPENSE.
George Cartwright, the retired New York capitalist, belonged to that
older school of American financiers who, having built up large fortunes
by taking advantage of the speculative opportunities of their day, look
somewhat doubtfully from the pinnacle of a successful old age upon the
same adventurous spirit when shown by the active younger generation.
George Cartwright was ready to take a chance, certainly. He had taken
chances all his life. But George Cartwright distrusted mightily what he
called the "slap-dash, smash-bang" system of the modern manipulators of
capital. Some day, he predicted, the manipulators themselves would go
"smash-bang" along with their methods.
Though retired from the rush and drive of active business, the veteran
still enjoyed taking an occasional hand in the game, though more than
ever he played that hand with a dignified leisure befitting the stake.
"A business transaction," said he, "was not something to be put through
with a nod and wink or at most a half dozen monosyllables between as
many bites of a sandwich."
Jefferson Worth was in desperate need of quick action. He was not
playing a game of business for the mere pleasure of playing. He was
fighting for his financial life and every hour's delay increased his
peril. But Jefferson Worth did not need his railroad friend's warning
that an attempt to rush George Cartwright would be disastrous. The old
financier was not at all backward in making known to Jefferson Worth
his opinions of Jim Greenfield and the men associated with him in the
Company. He had had some experience with them not altogether
satisfactory to himself. But an investment in actual improvement and
development enterprises, such as he understood Mr. Worth to be
promoting, was rather an attractive venture. He was going for a week's
trip to San Felipe and when he returned he would take the matter up.
Barbara's father could not urge his need of immediate relief, for to do
so would have been to destroy his only hope. So he was forced to await
the New York man's pleasure. Nor was Mr. Worth ignorant of Greenfield's
efforts as indicated by the presence of Willard Holmes in the city. He
knew also the high regard that Cartwright held for the engineer and
that he would place great value upon the Company man's opinion. What
would Willard Holmes do?
Abe Lee's telegram announcing the strike and the critical situation in
the Basin changed conditions instantly. Now Jefferson Worth's only hope
was to get to Cartwright without delay and to present the urgent need
of immediate action. For while the chances that the old capitalist
would come to the rescue were greatly lessened, Jefferson Worth's
financial ruin was certain if the critical situation at home was not
relieved instantly. Sending the telegram to Abe Lee he took the first
train for San Felipe. It was indeed a forlorn hope.
Mr. Worth's train arrived in San Felipe about eleven o'clock in the
morning. Scanning the register at the principal hotel he found the
eastern man's name, but the clerk informed him that Mr. Cartwright was
out for the day sight-seeing with a party of friends from New York and
would not likely return until late in the evening.
No one observing the quiet, gray-faced man who waited in the hotel
lobby that evening could have said that there was more on his mind than
a mild interest in the evening paper. Yet Jefferson Worth was reading
an account of The King's Basin strike. Finishing the article, he
dropped the paper on his knee while the slim fingers of his right hand
sought his chin with a nervous, caressing motion and his expressionless
eyes moved continually over the crowd in the big room. Outside, the
depot 'bus had just stopped in front of the hotel and a company of
newly arrived guests were entering the corridor, while the bell-boys
were running forward to relieve them of their luggage and lead them to
the spick-and-span clerk behind the register.
First of the group Jefferson Worth saw the portly, well-groomed
president of The King's Basin Land and Irrigation Company and with him
his athletic, bronzed-faced chief engineer.
Even as the two were talking with the clerk and, as Worth rightly
guessed, asking for Mr. Cartwright, the old gentleman with his party of
friends entered. At a word from the man behind the desk Greenfield and
Holmes turned to greet the entering capitalist and his party. They were
all New Yorkers--acquaintances and friends. Coming together with the
width of the continent between them and their homes, their greetings
were cordial--joyful--even boisterous. And as they parted to follow the
waiting bell-boys to their rooms, the western pioneer banker heard them
agreeing to meet and dine together a few minutes later.
Jefferson Worth realized that a business interview with Mr. Cartwright
that evening was impossible. Without visible interest in anything else
he raised his paper again and continued reading.
The next morning when the New York capitalist stepped from the elevator
on his way to breakfast he found himself face to face with the man who
so desperately needed financial assistance. "Why, how do you do, Mr.
Worth. When did you land in San Felipe?" Cartwright's tone seemed to
subtly change his commonplace question into--"Why are you in San
Felipe?"
Jefferson Worth's answer was straightforward. "I arrived yesterday.
Conditions have arisen that make it necessary for me to see you at
once."
The old veteran looked straight into Jefferson Worth's face with the
understanding of one who had himself passed through many a financial
crisis when the issue depended upon time gained or lost. Sometimes the
wheel of Fortune turns with dizzy speed.
"Certainly, Mr. Worth. Come to my room in half an hour," he answered
quickly and as quickly moved away.
When The King's Basin man had placed the situation fairly before him
and the old financier had asked a number of pertinent questions, he
said: "Mr. Worth, I understand that neither the value nor the safety of
my investment is necessarily impaired because you have a situation on
your hands demanding immediate relief. I can see that the capital you
ask me to put into your enterprise will relieve the situation at once
and enable you to place the whole business upon a solid foundation. If
you fail to raise this money, or if you get it too late, you go to the
wall and I lose a chance for what seems a profitable investment. As I
told you, legitimate promotion of actual development projects has
always been attractive to me, but I want to examine into matters a
little further before I give you my final answer. Frankly I want to ask
the opinion of Willard Holmes. I would not place too much confidence in
Mr. Greenfield's judgment, or rather, I should say, in any advice that
he would give me in this particular matter. But I have known Willard
from babyhood. I knew his father and the whole family, and I would be
guided by his opinion as an engineer of conditions in the new country
in which you are all interested. Fortunately Holmes is here in the
hotel. Let me have a little talk with him and I'll give you my answer
without delay."
Writing a brief note asking the engineer to come to his room, he
summoned a boy and directed him to deliver the message immediately. A
few minutes later Jefferson Worth, in the lobby, saw the boy approach
Holmes, who was with Greenfield. The engineer took the note from the
boy, glanced at it and handed it to his companion. For a moment they
stood in earnest conversation; then the engineer turned and moved away.
Jefferson Worth saw him enter the elevator, saw the ornamented iron
door close and the cage glide smoothly upward.
James Greenfield, confident, self-possessed, with the air of one whose
position and future are secure, jovially greeted one of the New York
party, who came up on Holmes's departure, and the two stood laughing
and chatting over their cigars.
Jefferson Worth sat alone in a secluded corner of the lobby.