THE ENEMY CAPITULATES
Some time had elapsed since the overturning of the wagon, and I had seen
nothing of Lucille Haldane, when, one evening, I visited Bonaventure at
her father's request. All had gone well in the interval. The last bushel
of grain had been threshed and sold, and the balance of my debt to Lane,
with every surcharge his ingenuity could invent, wiped out. Haldane, who
remained some time in Winnipeg with Boone, had also concluded operations
successfully, for, as he had foreseen, once the turning point was passed
he had no lack of allies eager to assist in plundering the vanquished,
and, before these had satisfied their rapacity he had been able to
unobtrusively cover most of our sales without advancing prices. Boone
explained that the new assailants considered the purchases a last effort
on the part of the company's supporters. Also--because there is little
mercy for the beaten--impoverished storekeeper and plundered farmer
commenced to air their grievances, and it became evident that the
company, or those whom it financed, had occasionally exceeded the limits
of the law.
It was accordingly to a meeting of what Haldane called the Vehmgericht
that I was summoned, and on arriving at Bonaventure I found Gordon and
several of our neighbors already there. The day had been sunny, but our
autumn nights are sharp, with a sting of frost in the air, which made
the crackling fire in the open hearth acceptable. A shaded silver lamp
flung a soft light about the room, which in no way suggested that it was
to be used for a tribunal. There were decanters, cigar boxes, and
British Columbian fruit on the table, while Haldane lounged in a velvet
chair, with feet, neatly encased in patent leather, stretched out
towards the fire. All this seemed inappropriate to the occasion, even
though I had grown used to Haldane's way.
A glance at the others, however, showed that they were in deadly
earnest. The men were lean and hard and grim, and their weather-darkened
faces bore the stamp of the conflict. Some of them had long overworked
brain and body, half-fed, that Lane and those who backed him might reap
an iniquitous profit. Others had seen wife and daughter toiling in the
dust of the harrows or riding weary leagues behind the herds, and had
not forgotten. I noticed they accepted Haldane's offers of wine and
tobacco dubiously, and I surmised it was only personal respect for him
that prevented disapproving comments on this manner of procedure.
Boone doubtless guessed their thoughts, for he said whimsically: "I see
no reason why you shouldn't have a good time, boys. There are easier
ways of killing a coyote than beating his head in with the butt of a
gun, and I can assure you that we mean solid business. For one, I find
these cigars better than the tin flag plug."
"Tin flag!" and a man with wrinkles round his eyes laughed harshly.
"Dried willow bark had to do for us. This kind of thing takes time to
get used to after living for 'most two years on damaged flour and
molasses. Maybe you're used to luxuries, and don't know what it is to
see the wife fall sick when one couldn't raise a decent morsel to feed
her."
Boone's face grew as stern as that of the speaker, and the shadow I knew
crept into his eyes. "I think I do. My wife died for want of comforts
that Lane might twice collect his debt, and I am not likely to forget it
to-night," he said.
A silence followed, and through it I heard one or two of the others draw
a deep breath, while their faces hardened as they, too, remembered
grievous injuries. For my own part I was grimly expectant, for I had
suffered long enough, and had sufficient sense to know that it was not
often that struggling men had such an opportunity for dictating terms
to a powerful adversary. We were all, I think, democratic in the word's
most liberal sense, cherishing no grievance against the rich, and quick
to recognize advantages offered us by capitalists' legitimate
enterprise; but, now that the balance had swung to our side, we were
equally determined to place further mischief beyond the power of the man
who, for the sake of a few dollars, would have crushed us out of
existence. It appeared a duty to the community; but I had not studied
human nature sufficiently to discover exactly how far that motive
influenced me.
"If none of you have any further suggestions to make, I want to ask if
you are willing to leave this affair to me," said Haldane presently.
"Lane in his own way is a smart man, and would be quick to seize an
advantage which anybody, speaking without consideration, might give him.
I offer my services merely because, during an extensive business
experience, I have had to deal with such men before."
"There is nobody in the Dominion better able to handle this case for
us," said Boone; and the others nodded assent.
"We'll sit quieter than graven images unless he turns vicious, if you'll
draw his sting," said one. "That's no use, anyway," a comrade
interjected. "The insect would grow another one. What we want is his
blame back broken."
"I will, metaphorically speaking, try to oblige you both," said Haldane,
with a smile. "He is a little weak in the spine already, or he would
have declined to meet us at all."
Nobody made any further comment, but the eyes of most of us were turned
expectantly upon the clock, until at last Gordon stood up when a rattle
of wheels drew nearer. "This is going to be a great night, boys," he
said. "The pernicious insect's come."
Lane entered, and nodded to us all comprehensively when he saw that
Haldane did not hold out his hand. The man's assurance was apparently
boundless, for he was at first sight as _debonnaire_ and almost as
genial as ever--almost, but not quite, for when he moved nearer the
lamp I noticed a shiftiness in his eyes and an occasional contraction at
the corners of his mouth.
"This is a little business meeting, and we appreciate your attendance;
but the former is no reason why you should not be comfortable," said
Haldane. "Sit down and help yourself to anything you take a fancy to. I
need not introduce any of these gentlemen."
Lane was not readily taken aback, for, while we afterwards had cause to
believe he had never discovered the movements of Boone, he looked at him
significantly, but without surprise. "I know--all--of them. With thanks,
I will," he said. "As to the visit, I am always ready to oblige my
clients; but as you know time means money, it remains to be seen on
whose bill I shall charge it."
I took the last sentence as a preliminary defiance, and fancied Haldane
did so, too; but he only laughed as he said: "I should not wonder if you
were not paid that bill."
Lane nodded, as though he understood that the swords were crossed; and
when he poured out a glass of wine the rest of us prepared to watch the
duel, with the comforting assurance that our champion was armed with the
better weapons, as well as with the justice of his quarrel. It was
characteristic of the enemy that he smiled indulgently when, as he
raised his glass to his lips, Steel and another man thrust their own
aside. The inference could not have been plainer.
"Suppose we come straight to business," said Haldane presently. "It may
save time if I recapitulate what is known of your position. If I am
wrong in details you can, of course, correct me."
"You can sail ahead," and Lane, stretching out his feet, leaned back in
his chair in an attitude of contemplative attention.
"To commence with, you hold a number of mortgages on land in this
vicinity, from which, after recouping yourself for the loan, you are
still drawing what I venture to call extortionate interest. These and
your shares in the Territories Investment--which cannot be sold--I
believe represent your assets. Also, after taking first-class legal
opinion, we find that, owing, shall I say, to indiscretions on your
part, it may be possible to prevent your foreclosing on several of those
mortgages, while one subordinate, I believe, refuses to be turned out of
Gaspard's Trail. On the other hand, you have certain tolerably extensive
liabilities I need not enumerate, and you want money badly. Law suits
are expensive, and you have a promising crop of them on hand. It was
with a view of obtaining it you suggested the issue of new Territories
stock, and, seeing that hang fire, unobtrusively endeavored to sell your
shares. I don't think the public would look at either just now. In
short, you have taken too big a mouthful; you can't hold on without
money, and you can't obtain that because, for some reason, respectable
banks fight shy of you. It will simplify matters if you admit all this."
"I'm not going to admit anything," Lane said sturdily, after drinking
another glass of wine.
Haldane smiled as he answered: "In that case we will take for granted
what I have said. Now, we have the money, time, and determination to
fight you over every mortgage, and to rake up, as a claim for damages,
every indiscretion."
One of the listeners chuckled in a manner expressive of surprise and
satisfaction when Haldane ceased, and through the brief stillness which
followed I could feel, if I could not see, that the others were in a
state of strung-up expectancy.
"Better come to the point," Lane said. "The question is, what do you
want from me?"
"It's pretty simple," was Haldane's answer. "We want you out of this
country. It's unfortunate that we can't help considering you an obstacle
in the way of its prosperity; but, not being highway robbers, we are
open to make you a fair offer for your property. Here is a schedule I
have drawn up, and you will see by examination that we purpose to buy
the mortgages at their face value, paying you any interest due at
current bank rates. We also purpose to buy back, on the same
conditions, the lands on which you have already foreclosed."
Lane was difficult to astonish, but now he actually gasped; and several
of those present, who were still within his clutches, sprang to their
feet. "A glacier wouldn't be cooler than you!" Lane said. "You must know
they're worth, or will be, about three times as much."
"Exactly," said Haldane; and Gordon and another chuckled silently. "That
is just why we want to see you safely out of this country. The man who
drives that kind of bargain gives nobody else a show. Please sit down,
gentlemen; I'll answer your questions later."
I think Lane, in spite of his refusal to admit anything, must have felt
himself driven into a corner. Indeed, for almost the first time during
my acquaintance with him he showed signs of temper, for his lips
straightened and there was a gleam of malice in his eyes.
"Your hand looks a good one, but it's not good enough," he said. "I'm
going to tell you to do your worst. Say, don't you count too much on Mr.
Haldane, the rest of you. If this is fun to him, it's bread and cheese
to me, and I don't let up on my living easily. Stand out from under
before he gets tired and the roof falls on you. You all know me."
The listeners had good reason to do so; but they had not only lost their
fear of him--the fear which makes a coward of a brave man when he
becomes a debtor--but had found his yoke so galling that they would have
risked the worst by defying him in spite of it. He must have read as
much in the contemptuous laugh and lowering faces.
"I think we could beat you with it; but we hold still better cards,"
said Haldane quietly. "For instance, you have squeezed Niven a little
too hard, and he is prepared to risk his liberty to testify on one or
two points against you. I refer to incidents connected with Gaspard's
Trail."
Lane brought his hand down on the table, and, for some unexplainable
reason, I actually believed him as he said: "Gaspard's Trail was burnt
by accident."
"We won't question the statement," said Haldane. "It was, at least, an
accident that you were quick to profit by. This ace, however, takes the
trick. Just run through this account book, and--remembering that we can
produce Miss Redmond, and three men, who will swear to what her father
said when Ormesby's cattle, which did not get there by accident, were
burned in the fence--consider what might be done with it."
Lane seemed to shake himself together after he had read the first few
entries; while, watching him closely, I once more saw the tell-tale
contraction at the corners of his mouth. This was the only sign he made,
however, save that presently he moved forward a little in his chair,
which was close before the fire, and held up the torn-out page as though
he wished the lamplight to fall on it more directly. The action, which
was made very naturally, suggested nothing to myself or even to Haldane;
but when the reader moved again, Boone rose suddenly and laid a
restraining hand on his arm.
"You have had time enough to grasp the significance of what is written
there, and I'll take the papers back," he said. "Of course, knowing whom
we dealt with, we have a duly attested copy."
I do not know whether Lane had actually intended to destroy part at
least of the dead man's testimony or not, but he was capable of
anything, and the fire was hot. In any case, he calmly handed book and
paper back to Boone with the careless comment: "You thought of that?
Must be considerably smarter than you used to be."
"Yes," said Boone dryly, "I have learned a good deal since I first met
you. We will now, with Mr. Haldane's concurrence, give you five, or, if
necessary, ten, minutes in which to consider your decision."
Without being in the least sorry for him, I fancied I could understand
Lane's feelings, and his state of mind could not have been enviable. It
is true that Haldane's offer allowed him a fair return for all sums
invested, perhaps almost as much as he would have obtained by
legitimate enterprise; but that must have been as nothing to the man who
had schemed for a fortune, while one could have fancied that he found it
inexpressibly galling to discover that those whom he had considered his
helpless dupes now held him at their mercy. Yet he showed small sign of
discomfiture, and his voice was steady as he said: "It's robbery; but
I'm open to admit you have fixed the thing tolerably neatly. Suppose it
was Dixon who gave you the pointers? This man here must have some grit,
for he knows that even now I could make it hot for him. Do you know who
he is?"
"I consider the terms are liberal, and we arranged the affair
ourselves," said Haldane. "You could hardly expect Mr. Dixon to involve
himself in what I'm afraid is virtually the compounding of a felony. It
is also possible that some people would call our proceedings by
unpleasant names, but you left us no choice of weapons. We might have
squeezed you further, but I believe it's wise to leave a back way open
for a beaten enemy. I am perfectly acquainted with Mr. Boone's history,
and understand that now that his work is finished--for most of the
scheme was his--he will surrender himself to the police. He does not,
however, apprehend any trouble with them, because by the time he
surrenders, the prosecutor will have removed himself across the
frontier. Now, hadn't you better consider your decision?"
Lane sat still for at least five minutes, and I could see that some of
the rest were not quite convinced that the battle was over. They had
experienced such a taste of his quality that they probably expected some
bold counter-move rather than submission. Nevertheless, the man was
beaten, for at last he said: "It's your game. I must have the money
down, and your solemn promise you'll make no use of what you know until
I'm across the frontier."
"If you will meet me at Gordon's at noon to-morrow we'll settle the bill
together," said Haldane quietly; and rose as if to signify that the
interview was over.
Lane no longer looked jaunty, for, although he evinced no great dismay,
there was a subtle change in him as he also rose and brushed the dust
off his hat. "Everybody gets tripped up now and then, and must make the
best of it," he said. "Quaint, isn't it, that it should be a man of
Ormesby's kind who most helped to bring me up? Well, it seems I can't
stay any longer with you, boys; but no one knows what may happen, and
I'll try to square the deal with you if ever I come back again."
Nobody answered him, and with a shrug of his shoulders he passed out of
the room; and though I fancied that was the last I should see of him, I
was mistaken.
Then Boone said reflectively: "I wonder whether we have been too easy
with him, sir. I can't help feeling, by the way he yielded, that the
rascal has something up his sleeve."
Before our host could answer he was plied with congratulations and
questions about the money for the redemption of the mortgages, and,
raising his hand for silence, stood up, smiling at the men before him.
"I'll find part of it in the meantime, and there is the profit on the
campaign fund you raised," he said. "You needn't be bashful, gentlemen.
I'm a business man, and will have no objection to charging you three or
four per cent. more interest than the banks. It will, considering the
prospects, be money sunk on good security. Now that we have got our
stumbling block out of the way, I see possibilities for this district,
and am presently going to ask you to form a committee to consider
whether we can't put up a small flour mill or cooperative dairy."
He proceeded to sketch out a project with a vigor of conception and a
grasp of practical details that astonished the listeners, who presently
departed with sincere, if not very neatly expressed, gratitude, and with
hope and exultation in their weather-darkened faces. I tried to express
my own sentiments and, I believe, failed, but Haldane smiled quaintly.
"Don't make any mistake, Ormesby. I'm not setting up as a public
benefactor," he said. "One can't do absolutely nothing, and I don't
quite see why I shouldn't earn a few honest dollars where I can. I dare
say the others will profit, and I should prefer them as friends rather
than enemies; but this scheme is going to pay me--in fact, as you say
here--it has just got to."