9086
MMEDIATELY [78] after breakfast the following morning, Vance was waited
upon by Col. Bonifield. The old miner bore a troubled expression on his
face. Vance invited him to his room.
“Mr. Gilder,” said the old miner, as he raised himself to his full
height, and with the dignity of a general addressed Vance: “I assure
yo’, suh, I am greatly pained at the uncalled fo’ remarks which my
sister made in yo’r presence last evening; I am indeed, suh.
“I assure you,” replied Vance, “there is no occasion to refer to
the matter at all. I assured your daughter, and I now assure you, that
I have every confidence in the mine, and will continue to have until you
yourself have sufficient reason to shake your faith. I certainly cannot
say more, and under the circumstances could not say less.”
“Mr. Gilder,” said the old miner, “yo’, suh, are a very
honorable gentleman, and I am very proud of my partnership with yo’.
I am indeed, suh. In regard to my sister—in her younger days, I assure
yo’, she was one of the most rema’kable women of Virginia; yes, suh,
a vehy rema’kable woman. She certainly has been a true sister to me,
suh, and a faithful mother to my daughters, but in [79] some way she
disbelieves in Gray Rocks, and would yo’ believe it, suh, she has gone
so far at times as to intimate that I am crazy as a March hare in regard
to ever ‘strikin’ it rich’ on our minin’ property; yes, suh, she
certainly has said some vehy bitter things against Gray Rocks, but fo’
all that, she is a vehy rema’kable woman, even to this day. Yes, suh,
quite rema’kable.”
“I now have a matter, Mr. Gilder,” he continued, “of vehy great
importance to discuss with yo.” Vance offered the old miner a cigar,
which he accepted, and soon they were discussing the “important
matter,” which of course referred to Gray Rocks.
8087
“We are not far away, Mr. Gilder, from the 300 foot level. Our
machinery and pumps, suh, have been workin’ rema’kably well. Two
weeks mo’ and our shaft will be finished; yes, suh, finished. Then we
will cross-cut, and my opinion is, it will be well fo’ yo’ to
remain in Gold Bluff and be ready to send in yo’r resignation as
cor’spondent of that New York paper; yes, suh that is my advice. It
is only proper, suh, that yo’ should enjoy the riches that await
yo’.”
“But supposing, Col. Bonifield,” said Vance, “supposing that you
do not find any pay ore when you crosscut into the vein, as you say; in
that event, I suppose you agree with me that it would be a pretty good
idea for me to hold my position on the Banner?”
“Of cou’se, suh,” replied the old miner, “but there is but one
chance in ten thousand that we won’t strike it. I admit of this one
chance against us, suh, fo’ the sake of [80] argument alone. Mr. Grim
is now takin’ out of the Peacock some of the richest ore I ever saw
in my life, he is indeed, suh—and his mine joins ours, as yo’ know,
directly on the nawth.”
Vance was silent for a few moments, and then said: “In the event, Col.
Bonifield, we do not strike it; what then? Will you be discouraged?”
“No, suh; if we fail at the 300 foot level, suh, and yo’ can furnish
the money, we will start the next mornin’ fo’ the 400 foot level;
but I assure yo’, suh, I have no idea yo ‘ll have to furnish any
mo’ money. Gray Rocks is a sure winner; it is indeed, suh. The oldest
miners in the camp say that if we stick to Gray Rocks it will be worth
mo’ in five years than Rufus Grim’s Peacock mine. When I was yo’r
age, Mr. Gilder,” he continued, blowing a cloud of smoke away out of
the window toward Gray Rocks, “I could not have stuck to that property
year after year as I have been doin’. Why suh, it took a quarter of a
century’s experience fo’ me to learn that a rollin’ stone gathers
no moss’. it did indeed, suh. Now I have observed the fellows that
strike it, in nine cases out of ten, are the ones who follow up and hold
on after they once strike a trail. Why, suh, if yo’ had seen the float
rock that I found befo’ stakin’ out Gray Rocks, yo’ would know why
I believe there is an entire hill full of wealth over yonder.”
While they were talking there came a gentle rap on the door. Vance
called out for them to “come in. The door opened, and a boy sidled
into the room with a letter in his hand and asked for Col. Bonifield.
“At yo’r service, suh,” said the old miner’ rising with much
dignity. “Thank yo’, suh,” said he, taking the [81] letter. The
boy took himself off, closing the door behind him, while the colonel,
adjusting his glasses, read aloud the address, “Miss Louise
Bonifield.”
Dropping his glasses from his eyes, he placed the letter in his pocket
and said: “Mr. Boast has evidently returned to Gold Bluff.”
“Mr. Boast, did you say?” asked Vance.
“Yes, suh, Mr. Boast—a young man in whom I have only the slightest
confidence. His full name is J. Arthur Boast. His father, Colonel Boast,
lives on a ranch about three miles from here.”
Vance could never explain why, but the unfavorable opinion he had formed
of J. Arthur Boast while at Waterville was in the twinkling of an eye
changed to hatred. Soon after, Colonel Bonifield took his departure, and
Vance commenced preparing for his next day’s fishing-jaunt. His door
had been left ajar, and presently he heard a squeaky, ill-omened voice
that he well remembered.
“How do you do, Mr. Gilder?”
Vance turned and saw J. Arthur Boast standing at his door. “How do you
do,” said Vance, rather abruptly.
“I did not expect to find you at Gold Bluff,” said Boast in an
insinuating tone of voice.
“Why not?” said Vance; without deigning to look up.
“Oh, you eastern fellows, and newspaper men in particular, never stay
very long in one place. So you’ve met my old mining friend, Colonel
Bonifield?”
“Yes,” replied Vance.
“I presume you’ve met his daughter, Miss Louise?” As he made this
remark he looked out of the corners of his restless eyes in a manner
that was intended to be cunning. [82] Vance was full of resentment, and
dared not trust himself to make and immediate reply. Presently Boast
continued: “They are old friends, of mine; a most respectable family.
I used to live in Gold Bluff; may live here again. One can’t say what
may happen, you know.”
0090
“I thought,” said Vance, “you were in love with Waterville.”
“One’s in love where one’s possessions are, don’t you see?”
Vance did not reply to the question, but busied himself with his fishing
tackle. Presently Boast took a bottle from his pocket, and said:
“Will you have a drink of red liquor Vance replied in the negative.
“Well, I suppose,” said Boast, “I ought not to drink so much. The
truth is, I am a pretty devilish hard citizen. I am drinking entirely
too much of the stuff, but no one takes interest enough in me to tell me
so; yet I know I’m going to the bad. The habit is formed and what is a
fellow going to do about it?”
He waited [83] some time for a reply, but as Vance made none, he
proceeded to pour out a small portion of the contents of the bottle into
a glass, and then added some water to it and stood looking out of the
window.
“Won’t you be seated?” asked Vance.
“Thank you, I believe I will,” replied Boast, and sat down with the
glass of liquor in his hand, and said nothing for several minutes. He
acted as if he dreaded the ordeal of swallowing the portion, but felt it
would not do to set it aside after all he had said in regard to being
a hard drinker. Finally he gulped it down at a single swallow, and then
drank a great quantity of water immediately afterward. He strangled
considerably and his eyes became very red, and evidently was glad the
trial was over. Presently he said:
“Mr. Gilder, there are things going to happen down at Waterville
in the next ninety days that will surprise everyone. Some very large
manufacturing enterprises wall soon be located there.”
“That certainly is very welcome news,” replied Vance, “as a
property owner in the new city, I am naturally interested in its
development.”
[84] “Property has gone up ten per cent since you were there.”
“Is that so?” said Vance, looking up in some surprise. “Of
course,” Boast continued, “I am selling my special bargain list at
the same old prices, but the Company and other real estate agents who
have desk room here and there over the town, are trying very hard to
inflate prices. I am holding them level, however, and intend to keep on
doing so. I don’t propose having Waterville killed by a lot of town
boomers, who are trying to get prices away above intrinsic values.”
“It is very fortunate,” replied Vance, “that Waterville has such a
conservative citizen as yourself.”
“It’s very complimentary for you to say so, I am sure,” replied
Boast. “Of course. Mr. Gilder, I would not say anything detrimental
about anyone.”
“Certainly not,” replied Vance. The tenor of his conversation was
decidedly wicked in its insinuations; indeed, one to hear him talk would
naturally think the destiny of Waterville rested entirely with J. Arthur
Boast. Presently, in a high, creaking voice, he said:
“How do you like Miss Louise?”
“Miss Louise?” repeated Vance, with a perplexed look on his face.
“Yes, Miss Louise Bonifield. How do you like her? Pretty fair specimen
for the west, ain’t she?”
“My likes and dislikes,” said Vance, “are hardly to be taken into
consideration. One seldom forms an opinion until he is acquainted. Of
course, there are exceptions to the rule. I have known people for a very
short time, and yet instinctively taken a great dislike to them.
Miss Bonifield,” continued Vance, without looking up, [85] “has the
appearance of a lady of refinement and culture, but as my observations
have been limited, I can hardly say more than that I am well pleased
with both the young lady and her father.” At this Vance prepared to
leave the room.
“You’d better drink with me,” said Boast, taking up his bottle
again.
9093
“I am liable to drink every drop of this liquor before I let up,
and you’d only be doing me a kindness by dividing it up with me a
little.”
“No, thank you,” replied Vance. “Very well,” said Boast “I
shall remain in Gold Bluff several days, and hope to see you often.”
Vance closed the door after Boast had left his room, and the one word,
“Scoundrel!” hissed through his teeth.