SEVEN PER CENT. BONDS.
“Wolf, I have decided that I will have nothing to do with the
consolidation of the two lines,” said Colonel Wimpleton, as he seated
himself in the state-room.
“I am sorry for that, sir,” I replied, my heart sinking under the
declaration, for I had permitted my hopes to run very high.
“I cannot do anything which looks like receding from my position.”
“Though I am greatly disappointed, sir, of course I have no right to
complain.”
“You shall have no reason to complain. I purpose to leave the whole
matter in the hands of the Steamboat Company,” he added, with a smile
on his face which seemed to be struggling with a frown for the mastery
of his expression.
“To the students?” I inquired, unable to believe that I heard him
right; for leaving the matter to the Steamboat Company was precisely
the same thing as yielding the point.
“Yes, to the students,” he answered, pursing up his lips, as though he
were afraid I should see that what he was doing afforded him pleasure.
“Will you do me the favor to withdraw the order you sent to Captain Van
Wolter?” I asked, delighted with the prospect, and almost giddy under
the sudden change of the colonel.
“Certainly I will, if you desire it. Send for him.”
I called Van Wolter from the wheel-house, and he gave up the note he
had received.
“That means that you are still captain of the boat,” said the colonel
to Van Wolter.
“I was quite satisfied to give up the place, sir; for I want to say
that I shall never dare to take the boat through the Horse Shoe Channel
again,” replied the captain.
“For the present I will act as your pilot,” I interposed.
Van Wolter withdrew, and I was curious to know whether the colonel
intended to give the Steamboat Company definite instructions in regard
to the consolidation of the two lines, or leave it to the members.
“Do you go up to Hitaca in the boat to-night, Wolf?”
“No, sir. I shall only act as pilot for the Horse Shoe Channel until
the Steamboat Company makes its arrangement.”
“Then I wish to see you in my library when you return from Ucayga. I
have a little business to transact with you.”
“I will be there, sir. But do you not intend to indicate your wishes in
regard to the union or consolidation of the two lines?”
“I do not, though I would like to hear what the arrangement is before
it is proposed to the other side.”
“You shall be informed, sir.”
He went on the wharf, and I saw him drive off in his buggy. I was never
so happy in my life. The young peacemakers had a fine prospect of
success, and I was very impatient to see Waddie, and inform him of what
had taken place.
“What’s going on, Captain Penniman?” asked Van Wolter, as I passed him
on my way to the shore.
“There may be some change in the running of the boat,” I replied.
“But who is to be captain of the Ucayga?”
“I don’t know yet; but, as you have been faithful to me, I do not
intend to desert you.”
“Thank you, Wolf. You are a Christian,” added he, with a grateful smile.
“I will go down the lake with you this afternoon,” I continued, as I
stepped upon the wharf.
I hastened to the Institute, and considered myself justified in asking
to see Waddie before the session was closed; and we took a seat in the
playground.
“What’s the matter now, Wolf?” asked my friend, satisfied from my
coming at such a time that I had something important to communicate.
“Nothing is the matter.”
“You went up to Hitaca with my father night before last.”
“I did; but that has nothing to do with my present business,” I
replied, evasively. “Finding your father in pretty good humor, after
what Major Toppleton had done, I opened the matter of uniting the two
lines again.”
“Good!” exclaimed Waddie. “By the great horn spoon, I wish it could be
done.”
“It can be.”
“You don’t mean so.”
“I think it can; though your father will not have anything to do with
it himself.”
“How can it be done, then?”
“He says he will leave it to the Steamboat Company, and they may do as
they think best.”
“Then it is done!” shouted Waddie, jumping up, and capering about like
a crazy man.
“Call a meeting at once.”
“I’ll do it.”
“At the close of the session this forenoon?”
“Yes; but what shall we do?”
“Simply appoint a committee of three, with full powers to make any
arrangement they think proper.”
“Will you attend the meeting, Wolf?” asked Waddie, anxiously.
“No; I cannot. I have to pilot the boat down to Ucayga; but I will meet
the committee, at half past six, wherever you say,” I replied.
“All right. This is first rate, Wolf--isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is; ever so much better than I expected. But I can stay no
longer, for I have only time to go over and see Tommy, and get him to
call a meeting of the Railroad Company.”
“You are captain of the steamer again, Wolf,” said Waddie, laughing.
“No; Van Wolter was displaced, though I was not appointed; but your
father has recalled the order. I’m ambitious, Waddie, and I am looking
for a better place than that of captain.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to be general agent of the two lines when they are united. I
think I can do more good in that capacity than in any other.”
“You shall have the place if you want it.”
“I do,” I replied, as I left him.
Crossing the lake, I found Tommy Toppleton at his studies. I stated
the case to him, and he promised to call a meeting of the stockholders
if his father consented. It did not occur to me that Major Toppleton
would offer any opposition to the plan, and I returned to Centreport,
satisfied that my hopes would soon be realized. After making the trip
down the lake, I called upon Colonel Wimpleton, as I had agreed to do.
“Well, Wolf, what have you done about consolidation?” he asked, with a
smile.
“Both companies were to call meetings, and by this time I suppose each
has chosen a committee of conference.”
“Very well; I don’t intend to meddle with the matter. I wished to see
you upon other business. Have you heard anything more from Nick Van
Wolter?”
“No, sir; not a word.”
“Doesn’t his father say anything?”
“Of course not. Probably he thinks his son is in some hotel in Hitaca.”
“But he would be likely to inquire about him, then, for he spends the
night at the upper end of the lake.”
“He has not mentioned him to me. I don’t think Nick will come back till
his money is spent.”
“We are well rid of him. I suppose, Wolf, that ten thousand dollars in
cash would be rather embarrassing to you; and instead of it, I have
made up the amount in good paying bonds, yielding seven per cent.”
“Bonds?” I inquired, bewildered by his speech.
“If you prefer cash, you shall have it,” added he.
“I don’t prefer either. I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Didn’t Nick rob you of your check?”
“I didn’t regard it as my check. I burned mine.”
“Come, Wolf, we will not be at loggerheads on this matter. When I gave
you that check I _gave_ it to you; and, if my pride would permit me to
withhold the gift now, my sense of duty would not. You must take either
the money or the bonds.”
“I have no right to either, sir,” I pleaded. “I don’t know but so much
money would spoil me.”
“I think nothing will spoil you, Wolf.”
“I will not deny that it would be very pleasant to me to have the
money; but the manner of getting it does not suit me so well. If it is
to purchase my silence--”
“Nonsense!” interrupted he, impatiently. “You have put more than double
this amount into my pocket by your management of the steamer. You have
saved my life, and saved me from shame and disgrace. I insist that you
take it. Shall it be in cash or bonds?”
“In bonds, sir,” I replied, yielding the point; and for the first time
in my life I felt that I was a rich man.
He handed me a package containing the securities.
“I am all the richer, Wolf, for giving you this.”
“I don’t know, sir, but that it will bother me to conceal from my
father and mother the reason for my having so much wealth.”
“Tell your father and mother as much as you please, then; but don’t let
me be talked about in the streets, if you can help it.”
“I will be very prudent, sir, and my father will also.”
“When does the committee of the Steamboat Company meet, Wolf?”
“At half past six this afternoon.”
“Will you tell Waddie I wish to see him before they meet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I do not intend to meddle with the business, only to make a suggestion
to him.”
I left him, with the securities in my pocket, hardly able to believe
that I was Wolf Penniman. When I saw Waddie, I sent him to his father;
but he appeared promptly at the place appointed for the meeting of
the Steamboat committee. The members were Waddie, who had again been
elected president, Ben Pinkerton, and Dick Bayard.
“I believe the world is coming to an end,” said Ben, after he had
cordially greeted me.
“No; only the war between the two sides of the lake,” I replied.
“Well, Wolf, we are fully authorized to act for our Company,”
interposed Waddie, who was impatient to proceed with the business. “We
can do anything we like with the Company, even if we sink it.”
“You talk about consolidation and union,” said Dick Bayard. “I don’t
think these words mean the same thing.”
“I know they don’t,” I replied.
“Consolidation means union, but union don’t mean consolidation,” added
Ben Pinkerton. “By the former, the two Companies would be fused into
one; by the latter, they would only run their respective lines in
connection with each other.”
“I suppose we are to determine whether we unite or consolidate,” said
Waddie.
“I shall be satisfied with either,” I replied.
The committee discussed the question for some time, and finally agreed
to make a proposition to the Railroad Company, first, to consolidate,
and then, if this plan failed, to unite. All the terms of both plans
were settled, and this committee were prepared to meet the other.
“There is one more point,” said Ben Pinkerton. “Whether we consolidate
or unite, it is necessary to have a general agent, and I move that this
committee, on its part, appoint Captain Wolf Penniman.”
The motion was carried, after it had been seconded by Dick Bayard.
“I move that his salary, to be paid by the consolidated Company, or by
both Companies, in the ratios of the fares, be fifteen hundred dollars
a year,” added Dick.
“I beg you will not mention this subject yet,” I interposed. “It is
rather premature.”
“Not at all,” replied Waddie. “This must be part of the bargain.”
The motion was instantly carried; and I learned that this was the
matter upon which the colonel had wished to see his son. The business
was done, and I went home. The next evening the two committees met in
conference.