THIRLWELL'S REWARD
Winter was nearly over when, one evening, George and Scott arrived at
the Farnam homestead where Agatha was a guest. The house was centrally
heated, and when the party gathered in Mrs. Farnam's pretty, warm room,
Agatha wondered what Thirlwell was doing in the frozen North. Farnam had
invested some money in the mine, and Agatha knew George had come to talk
about the company's business.
"Things are not going well with us," he said presently. "Our money's
nearly spent and Thirlwell has not been able to get out much ore. I
think I told you he suspected Stormont sent the men who staked the
claims behind our block, and the fellow's now getting on our track. He's
been to see Gardner, Leeson, and one or two others."
"It would be awkward if they turned us down," Farnam remarked.
Agatha waited. She knew Gardner and Leeson held a number of the shares,
but she did not understand the matter yet.
"Very awkward," George agreed. "I went to Leeson, and although he didn't
say much, I reckon Stormont wants to buy his stock. He allowed that he
and Gardner were not satisfied about our prospects, and I couldn't give
him much ground for holding on. Then I went to Hill, who said he'd got
an offer for his stock and meant to sell, but wouldn't name the buyer. I
suspected Stormont again, but we won't know until we get the transfer
form."
"One could head him off by bidding higher for the shares," Farnam
suggested. "Still I suppose it's impossible. Anyhow, I have no more
money."
"That applies to all of us," George said dryly.
Agatha smiled, for the situation had a touch of ironical humor. In a
sense, she was rich, but she was forced to practise stern economy and
had not the means to defend her wealth.
"But what is Stormont's plan?" she asked.
"I don't know," said George. "That's the worst, because it's a sure
thing he has a plan. When he's ready he'll get after us."
"For revenge?"
"Not altogether, I think," Scott replied. "He has a pick on you and
Thirlwell, but it's money he wants. If he could let you down when he got
the money, it would, no doubt, add to his satisfaction."
"If he bought up a large number of the shares, it would give him a
dangerous power," Agatha said thoughtfully. "Besides, he might persuade
some of the other people to vote with him. It's unlucky we issued so
many shares, although, of course, we needed the capital."
Scott made a sign of agreement. "We kept a block large enough to give us
control unless nearly all the other holders voted against us, which we
could not expect. The trouble is, that our difficulties at the mine have
made them anxious. Stormont has probably worked on this, but it's hard
to see how he means to use the people."
For some time they puzzled about Stormont's object, but could not find a
clue, and by and by Agatha said, "You must write to Mr. Thirlwell."
"Thirlwell's job is to get out the ore, and we're up against things now
because he hasn't done as much as we expected," George replied.
Agatha's eyes sparkled. "He has done all that was possible. You must
write to him."
"Very well," said George, and began to talk about something else.
* * * * *
A week or two later Stormont bought a large number of shares, but this
was all, and the snow was beginning to melt when George got an ominous
hint that the other's plans had matured. Stormont telephoned asking if
he would meet him and a few of the shareholders at Montreal to talk
about an important matter, and George fixed a day a week ahead. Then he
went to see Agatha.
"It's lucky Mr. Thirlwell is coming down," she said. "Telegraph for
somebody to meet him and tell him to be quick. He must get to Montreal
for the meeting."
"I doubt if he can get through in time and don't see what he can do if
he comes," George objected.
"Don't argue, but send the telegram. He has always been able to do
something when there was a difficulty to be met," Agatha rejoined; and
George did as she ordered.
On the day of the meeting she joined George and Scott at Montreal and
felt a pang of disappointment when she found Thirlwell had not arrived.
"Your messenger couldn't have gone far, and a number of things may have
delayed Thirlwell, but I know he'll come," she said to George, who
smiled.
"He'll come if it's possible; he's an obstinate fellow," Scott agreed.
"There's a train just before the meeting. Will you go to the station?"
"Yes," said Agatha. "I feel he will be there."
"Then you'll hold us up; that train is often late," George grumbled.
"Have you got a hint about what Stormont wants?" Agatha asked Scott.
"Not yet, but we'll know soon. I expect George told you Stormont has
floated a company to work the claims his men staked behind our block."
They had some hours to wait because the meeting was in the afternoon,
and Agatha found the shops strangely unattractive; moreover, she did not
know if it would be prudent to buy the things she wanted. In the
afternoon she went to the Canadian-Pacific Station, and being told the
train had left Ottawa late, she sat down in the neighboring square by
the Cathedral. She was surprised to find that she was nervous, but this
was not altogether because of the money at stake. Thirlwell had not
failed her yet and it would be a painful shock if he did so now. She had
a half-superstitious feeling that it was important he should come. If he
arrived, all would go well; if not--but she refused to follow the
thought, and looked at her watch. Only a few minutes had gone since her
last glance and she tried to conquer her impatience.
Her heart beat when she stood beside the platform gate as the long train
rolled in. The cars were crowded, but she thrilled when Thirlwell jumped
down from a vestibule. He looked thin and tired, but smiled when she
gave him her hand.
"I'm here," he said. "A little late, but the train was held up by a
broken trestle."
"You are always where you are wanted," Agatha replied, with a touch of
color in her face. "One trusts people like that."
Thirlwell said he would get a hack in the square, and Agatha studied him
as they drove across the city. Sometimes his face was stern, but for the
most part, it wore a look of quiet satisfaction, and once or twice his
eyes twinkled, as if he were amused by something.
"It's too bad to hurry you off to an important meeting when you're
tired," she said.
Thirlwell laughed. "I expect to hold out until the business is finished.
In fact, I'm looking forward to meeting Mr. Stormont."
He had made a long and risky journey over a rough trail and across
rotten ice, and after George's messenger found him had pushed on as fast
as possible through deep, melting snow, but he did not mean to talk
about this. By and by he gave Agatha a humorous account of a small
accident at the mine, and she followed his lead. She had felt disturbed
and anxious, but now he had come she could smile. For all that she was
silent when they drove up a shabby street where the company's office was
situated at the top of an old building.
The office had two rooms; one very small, where a wheat-broker had a
desk and combined the secretary's duties with his regular business. The
other was larger, and when George and Scott went in was occupied by
Stormont, Gardner, and two or three other gentlemen. George imagined
they had come early to arrange their program.
"You are punctual, but I'm sorry I must ask you to wait," he said. "Miss
Strange will not be long and wishes to be present when we begin. She
holds the largest block of shares."
"Then I suppose Miss Strange must be indulged; but I don't know that her
holding is larger than these gentlemen's and mine," Stormont replied
with a meaning smile.
George saw he had been given a hint, but he and the others began to talk
good-humoredly. All knew that a struggle was coming, but polite
amenities were dignified and marked one's confidence. By and by the door
opened and Stormont frowned as Thirlwell came in with Agatha.
"We are glad to see Miss Strange, but Mr. Thirlwell owns none of the
company's stock," he said.
Thirlwell smiled, in a rather curious way, but said nothing and Agatha
replied: "Mr. Thirlwell is the manager; I asked him to come."
"Then I take back my objection," Stormont said with a bow. "I asked you
and Mr. Strange to meet us so that we could talk informally about some
business. Although we must call a shareholders' meeting if my
suggestions are approved, we hold enough stock between us to force
through any decision at which we arrive."
"To begin with, you had better state whose votes you command," said
George.
When Stormont gave the names the secretary opened the register and then
nodded. "If all who are present and the others Mr. Stormont mentions
agree, it would give a larger majority than our constitution requires."
"We'll take it for granted that the gentlemen would vote as Mr. Stormont
directs," said George, who looked disturbed. "We wait his proposition."
"My friends and I are dissatisfied with the way things are going. No ore
has been smelted; and, so far as we can learn, the quantity in the dump
is small. We are working on an unprofitable scale, and need more labor
and better and more expensive machines. In short, we need more money. I
have no doubt Mr. Thirlwell will admit this."
"A larger capital would be an advantage," Thirlwell assented dryly.
"We can't extend our capital," George objected. "It was hard work to get
the stock we have issued taken up."
"I can show you how the difficulty can be got over," Stormont resumed.
"You know I floated the Adventurers Company to work the back blocks, and
as the claims haven't come up to our expectations, we have more money
than we can use, while the Agatha Company has not enough. Well, I
propose that you combine with us on the terms I've drafted. If you don't
approve them all, we'll meet you where we can."
He gave George a paper, but Agatha interposed: "You can take it for
granted that we will not make the combine."
Stormont smiled, deprecatingly. "I'm afraid you cannot help yourselves,
Miss Strange."
Agatha looked at George, whose face got red.
"I can understand the Adventurers being anxious to take us in. Your
property is worthless, Mr. Stormont, and ours is rich."
"We're willing to pay."
George studied the paper and then threw it down. "You're willing to pay
about a quarter of what the mine is worth! After reading that document,
it's obvious that you mean to put the screw to us; but we'll fight."
Scott, who glanced at the draft of agreement, nodded, but Stormont said:
"You might make some trouble, but must be beaten."
"Why?" Agatha asked.
"I think your brother knows. Each share in your company carries a vote;
I hold a large block, and the gentlemen who have promised to support me
hold more. If you force us to call a meeting, we will count you out."
"There are some shares in reserve," said Agatha, whose eyes sparkled
defiantly.
Stormont smiled. "If you have some rich friends, you might, of course,
persuade them to buy the shares and vote for you; but you can't sell
them in the ordinary way. I imagine Mr. Strange has tried!"
Agatha saw that George had tried when she glanced at his disturbed face.
Then she turned to Thirlwell and noted, with surprise, that he looked
amused. She could see nothing in the way matters were going that
warranted his humorous twinkle. It looked as if Stormont would win, and
she felt that she was being robbed to satisfy his greed; but the mine
meant more to her than the money she had expected to get. She had
resolved to make it famous as a monument to her father; its success was
to prove that his life had not Been wasted in empty dreams.
"Investors are a suspicious lot," Stormont went on. "They don't like to
lose their money, and you must admit that there's not much to encourage
buyers of your shares to run the risk. The ore is rich, but we are up
against obstacles that your manager is obviously unable to remove. In
fact, my scheme ought to work out for your benefit."
The sneer at Thirlwell roused Agatha. "The obstacles will not vanish if
you get control, and you cannot find a manager who will do as well. Then
the scheme will not benefit me; it is meant to benefit nobody but you.
If your friends are foolish enough to support it, you will find a way of
overreaching them."
George frowned. Agatha's indignation was warranted, but this was not the
line to take at a business meeting. Then Gardner looked up, rather
sharply, as if the girl's remarks had excited some suspicion that was
already in his mind.
"I think you must see that any advantage Mr. Stormont gains will be
shared by the rest."
"If you believe this, you are very dull," Agatha replied.
"Anyhow, you'll admit that we are short of money and don't know where to
get it, while to combine with the Adventurers would supply the needed
capital."
"Yes," said Agatha. "But Mr. Stormont wants to take your shares for much
less than they are worth. You can let him have yours, if you like; he
shall not get mine!"
"Then you must try to sell them, and you'll find it difficult," Leeson
interposed. "If you force us to call a meeting, we can carry our
scheme."
"You are all against me!" Agatha exclaimed, looking at the others. "You
have let Mr. Stormont cajole you!"
"I don't know that we have been _cajoled_," Leeson answered with a
doubtful smile. "In a sense, however, we are against you. We are
business men and must protect our interests in the best way we can."
"Trusting Mr. Stormont is not the best way," Agatha rejoined, without
regarding Scott's amusement and George's frown.
"I'm afraid we must call the meeting," Gardner broke in. "We hoped you
would have met us, Miss Strange, because you are bound to lose when we
take a formal vote."
Agatha felt desperate and glanced at Thirlwell; if he could do nothing
else, he could sympathize. He gave her an encouraging smile as he got
up, for he knew his time had come and had been silent because he wanted
to let Stormont reveal his plans. The latter, however, obviously meant
to leave the argument to his dupes. Agatha, noting his confidence,
remembered that when they reached the office he had asked her to wait a
few minutes while he talked to the secretary.
"Mr. Stormont made two rash statements," he said. "He told us the
reserved shares could not be sold, and that he could count upon a
majority."
"I object to Mr. Thirlwell's speaking," Stormont said with some alarm.
"We allowed him to stay at Miss Strange's request, but the manager has
no vote."
"I imagine Mr. Stormont doesn't know I am a shareholder. Perhaps the
secretary will enlighten him."
Stormont started, Scott smiled, and George looked surprised. The others
waited anxiously.
"Mr. Thirlwell holds a quantity of our stock."
"How much?" Stormont asked, and when the secretary told him, struggled
to preserve his calm.
"The reserved block is sold," Thirlwell resumed. "I bought the shares
half an hour since for myself and a friend of mine." He paused and put a
stamped document on the table. "Here's my authority to use the proxy
votes."
He sat down and Scott remarked: "I think Mr. Stormont will admit that
the majority has, so to speak, changed sides!"
Stormont examined the register, and then stood by his chair with his
fist clenched. He said nothing, his supporters looked embarrassed, and
Agatha saw that Thirlwell had saved the situation. Her heart beat with
confused emotion; she had known he would not fail her.
"Well," said George, rather dryly, "do you still demand a meeting?"
"Certainly not," said Gardner with frank relief, and the others murmured
agreement. Then he turned to Agatha: "I'd like you to understand that we
took the line we did because it seemed the only plan. Now, however,
there's no necessity for making the combine."
Stormont gave him a savage look. "This means that you and the others
turn me down?"
"It means that we want to save our money," Gardner replied, and
Stormont, who said nothing, walked out of the room.
His friends seemed relieved when he left and began to talk to Agatha and
George in apologetic tones. One or two, however, looked thoughtful, and
presently Gardner said: "Mr. Thirlwell has removed the obstacle that
bothered us most and I mean to keep my stock, although I expect it will
be some time before I get a dividend."
"Not as long as you think!" Thirlwell remarked.
"Then you have something to tell us?" said another.
"Not yet; I'll make a full report at the shareholders' meeting. In the
meantime, do you think Stormont will sell out?"
"It's possible," said Gardner. "He wanted control. We knew that, but
backed him because it seemed the safest plan. I guess he knows he's
beaten."
"Then if he offers you his stock, you had better buy," said Thirlwell,
smiling.
Gardner looked hard at him, and nodded. "I can take a hint. What you say
goes."
* * * * *
After this the party broke up and Scott gently pushed George out when he
saw that Agatha was waiting while Thirlwell picked up some papers he had
got from the secretary. When the others had gone, she gave him her hand
and her face flushed.
"I wonder whether you know how much you have helped?"
Thirlwell kept her hand. "I got some satisfaction from beating your
antagonist."
"But you wanted to help me?"
"I did," said Thirlwell, with a steady look. "I was anxious to do
something that would make you happy."
Agatha turned her head. "Yet you once refused; the morning after we
found the lode--"
"Ah," said Thirlwell, "I fought a pretty hard battle then! But, you see,
I was a poor engineer, and you--"
She looked up with a smile and blushed. "Do you think I didn't _know_?
But you were foolish; ridiculously stupid!"
Thirlwell took her other hand. "Perhaps I was, but I thought I was
right. Things, however, are different now--"
He drew her to him, but she resisted. "Wait! If things had not been
different, would your resolution have held out?"
"No," said Thirlwell, "I'm afraid not; I'm not as strong as I imagined."
"Oh!" she said, "perhaps that's the nicest thing I have heard you say!
But you really didn't often try to be very nice."
"I was afraid I might say too much if I began."
"No!" she protested, as his grasp got firmer. "There's something else!
How long have you really--"
"How long have I wanted you? Well, I think I began to feel the need a
day or two after I met you at the summer hotel."
Agatha blushed, but smiled with shining eyes.
"Then if the need hasn't gone, you can take me."
Thirlwell said nothing, but took her in his arms.