BEFORE THE BOARD.
At ten o’clock the following morning Nash was ushered into the big
directors’ room, where the governing board of aqueduct engineers was to
pass judgment.
The two detectives had brought him into San Fernando by automobile, and
they had been just in time to catch the last train to Los Angeles.
Despite the cloud which hung over his head, Nash had been treated with
the utmost consideration.
Very little sleep came to him in the few remaining hours of the night.
He was well aware of the serious situation, and tried to fix upon some
definite method of procedure. The examining board would expect him to
defend himself. He resolved to tell the whole truth, from the very day
he discovered the letter in the book of verse to the present. As for
proofs, one way or another, he could offer nothing better than his word.
It was a beautiful, balmy morning when he walked down Spring Street in
the custody of the two detectives, a morning such as only Los Angeles
can boast of--tempered by ocean breezes, and with the air heavy with the
perfume of orange blossoms. Nash drank deep of the sunshine; how
marvelous it seemed; doubly so now, when his liberty might be but a
question of----
Before they reached the new city hall on South Broadway a half dozen
newspaper men were trailing them; a camera or two appeared. Somehow, the
news of Nash’s arrest and the expected upheaval in Camp Forty-seven had
reached the ears of the vigilant press.
The chimes on the city-hall tower were striking eleven when Nash finally
took the seat set aside for him in the big directors’ room. The majority
of the engineers were gathered about the long table, waiting.
Nash was surprised to see at the far end the familiar face of Jim
Sigsbee. The politician had evidently decided to forego his proposed
trip to San Francisco and remain on the scene.
The preliminaries were brief and to the point.
“Our private detective in this affair, Miss Breen, has not shown up,”
the spokesman of the board announced gravely, “but we can proceed. The
prisoner is probably aware of the nature of the crime for which he has
been arrested.”
Nash admitted that he understood.
The president of the board continued: “What have you to say in your
defense, Mr. Nash?”
Nash got to his feet and calmly faced the assembly.
“Upon my arrival in this city, gentlemen, I happened upon a letter
directed to a Mr. Hooker, at that time the foreman of Camp Forty-seven.
The man to whom the note was issued did not care for the position. As
no names were mentioned, I took the letter, gave it to Mr. Hooker, and
was engaged.”
“This letter,” interrupted the president, “was written by whom?”
“By Mr. Sigsbee.”
Finding himself the center of all eyes, Sigsbee nodded.
“I remember giving a letter to a man who claimed to be an Eastern
engineer,” he explained. “He pleaded so hard for a position that I
offered him a chance on Camp Forty-seven.”
Nash was asked to continue.
“I began in the camp as a sort of clerk,” he said. “After a week,
because I proved my value, I was made a subforeman, and given charge of
the conduit construction. One day, when Mr. Hooker was--ill, I helped
the city inspector check over the pay roll. Having kept a memorandum of
my own, I found it differed from the foreman’s statement to the extent
of being just about half of the amount that----”
Sigsbee was instantly upon his feet.
“That’s a lie, gentlemen!” he cried. “You all know me better than that.
Why, it was at my instigation that this engineer was charged with----”
Nash ignored the politician’s interruption and continued his remarks
directly to the president. “When I threatened to inform the authorities
of the truth, Mr. Hooker asked me to call upon Mr. Sigsbee. I did so.
Mr. Sigsbee, instead of discharging me, as I had expected, admitted
things were not as they should be, placed the blame on his foreman’s
shoulders, and offered me the position, with the understanding that I
should be directly responsible, and that Camp Forty-seven was to be
forever above suspicion.”
The engineers were paying close attention, and appeared to be convinced
of Nash’s statements. Sigsbee was still on his feet, and when Nash had
finished he spoke again.
“Gentlemen,” he began smilingly, “you have all known me, most of you,
for the past ten years. You all know how faithfully I have worked that
this great waterway might be made an actuality. The insinuations just
now cast upon myself and upon the affairs of Camp Forty-seven are
absurd. I was attracted to Mr. Nash by his apparent knowledge of
engineering matters, his earnestness, and the fact that he was a native
of this city. Mr. Hooker was ill, and had long before asked for a
vacation. I considered it my opportunity, and made the change. There
were no hard feelings at all, I can assure you. I would like to ask Mr.
Nash, if I may, what proofs he is prepared to offer to substantiate his
claims.”
Nash realized his helplessness. Sigsbee must have known, too, otherwise
he would never have asked the question.
“I have no proofs, gentlemen,” he declared, “other than my word.”
Sigsbee smiled, and sat down. The president nodded for the engineer to
resume.
“I accepted the position as foreman of Camp Forty-seven, and since then
have worked faithfully in the discharge of my duties. The specifications
given me by Mr. Sigsbee have been followed to the letter. I had no
suspicions as to the trick being played upon me until Miss Breen
arrested me last night.”
“What trick was played upon you?” asked the president.
“Changing the specifications,” Nash answered. “False ones were given me.
I followed them. When I attempted to prove my innocence to Miss Breen I
found they had been taken and the rightful ones substituted.”
“Did those specifications come from the board, Mr. Sigsbee?” the
president inquired.
“Certainly, sir,” Sigsbee nodded. “If I am not mistaken, they are now in
Mr. Nash’s cabin, on file. Are they not, Mr. Nash?”
“They were placed there some time yesterday afternoon, by Mr. Hooker,”
Nash responded.
Sigsbee looked around at the circle of anxious faces and shook his head.
“Did you ever hear of a more absurd statement, gentlemen?” he asked
solicitously. “Why, the thing is farcical!”
By their expressions, the men about the table seemed to agree with
Sigsbee. The president spoke again, after the interval:
“I suppose, Mr. Nash, you have proofs to substantiate these claims
against Mr. Sigsbee?”
“As the false specifications are gone, I am unable to give you any,”
Nash responded. “Mr. Sigsbee and his confederate, Mr. Hooker, have
planned a shrewd game, and have left few loopholes. As the matter stands
at the present I am helpless.”
Sigsbee was upon his feet instantly, his cheeks flaming. “I won’t stand
for such insinuations!” he roared. “I won’t stand for a man of Mr.
Nash’s reputation to----”
The president of the board put up his hand. “Just a moment, Mr.
Sigsbee,” he cautioned. “I think we can straighten out this matter with
the aid of these new witnesses.”
The door had opened. Every eye in the room instantly turned. Miss Breen
and Hooker advanced into the room and were seated.
Miss Breen and Hooker! Nash felt the hot blood mount to his temples. So
she had gone over to the other side! He knew she must do so, yet, deep
in his heart, he hoped----
Miss Trask, or Miss Breen, as she was known to all the men in the room,
save one, did not look in Nash’s direction. She appeared unusually pale
and concerned.
“We have been waiting for you, Miss Breen,” the president announced.
“Our evidence appears to be somewhat confused. Will you kindly state
your knowledge of the affair to the board?”
Miss Trask arose, facing the president. Her voice was low and evenly
pitched, and never once did she falter.
“I became acquainted with Mr. Nash through an accident, and in his
company, later, I was taken around the camp. One day he allowed me to
inspect the steel sections on the Soledad Siphon. Unknown to him, I
measured the steel, and later on compared the measurements with the
specifications. It was then I learned the truth; that the steel he had
been using was a quarter of an inch too thin. I then reported the
facts.”
Nash listened eagerly. Miss Trask’s declaration explained her actions
and questions that day when he had willingly guided her about the camp.
“Have you any answer to make, Mr. Nash?” the president asked.
“None whatever,” Nash answered quietly. “Miss Breen has told you the
whole truth. I have not denied that my steel was a quarter of an inch
too thin.”
For the smallest part of a minute Miss Trask allowed her eyes to rest
upon him. Nash’s heart responded. Was it possible that he could read
within those depths a message of----
Hooker was called upon. The president handed him a copy of the true
specifications.
“These are similar to the ones you delivered to Mr. Nash?”
Hooker nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Mr. Nash claims you changed the copies yesterday afternoon,” the
president declared. “That you took the false ones and substituted
these.”
“Such an idea never entered my head,” replied Hooker.
“Where were you yesterday afternoon?”
“I was in Camp Forty-seven for about an hour.”
“To see whom?”
“Mr. Nash. He was out. I waited around a short time and finally left in
Mr. Sigsbee’s machine.”
Sigsbee was plainly nervous. His fingers were drumming upon his chair
arm, and he shifted about uncomfortably.
“Where did you go from Camp Forty-seven?” the president asked.
“Up the usual road.”
“But you only arrived in Los Angeles this morning, I understand.”
“Yes, sir. About two miles below the camp my gasoline tank sprang a
leak, and I was forced to spend the night at the Elkhorn Ranch.”
“That is where Miss Breen is staying, is it not?”
“Yes, sir. She came in with me this morning.”
Sigsbee was ready to interrupt once more. He seemed particularly anxious
to have Hooker silent.
“Gentlemen of the board,” he began impressively, “it seems to me that
all the necessary arguments have been heard. Miss Breen has testified,
and also Mr. Hooker. Both parties are known to you, and you must be
forced to admit that the claims suggested by Mr. Nash are not alone
preposterous, but impossible as well.”
The president nodded, and many of the others did the same.
“Then I move that we hold Mr. Nash guilty of the charges brought against
him, and turn him over for trial before the proper authorities,” Sigsbee
resumed.
The president of the board hesitated a moment. “There are a number of
points which do not seem quite clear to me as they stand, but which will
probably come to light during the trial. However, to me, at least, Mr.
Nash appears to be prompt with his answers, and, to all appearances,
telling a straightforward story. Of course, his word, against----”
Sigsbee interrupted. “One moment, if I may. It seems that Mr. Nash is
unable to give us any proofs as to the existence of these so-called
frauds, and perhaps, if we are to weigh his words with any consideration
at all, we might ask him why he left a responsible position in New York
and came here to Los Angeles, willing to accept a minor one.”
Nash’s fingers clenched themselves. He had been fearing that question,
not so much because of himself as because of Miss Trask.
“When we are to consider a man’s word, and weigh it conscientiously,”
Sigsbee went on to say, “we ought to convince ourselves that his past is
one to warrant it.”
He turned directly to Nash.
“Perhaps you will tell us why you left the New York Aqueduct so
abruptly, Mr. Nash?”
“That has nothing to do with the charge you are bringing against me,”
Nash answered hotly.
“Oh, hasn’t it?” Sigsbee sneered. “Well, perhaps the gentlemen of this
board will think differently. Perhaps you do not relish the idea of
telling them that you are a murderer! That you left New York to escape
paying the penalty.”