LISLE COMES TO THE RESCUE
A few days after his interview with Bella, Lisle overtook Millicent as
she was walking up a wooded dale. She looked around with a smile when he
joined her and they fell into friendly talk. There were points on which
they differed, but a sense of mutual appreciation was steadily growing
stronger between them. Presently Lisle happened to mention the Marples,
and Millicent glanced at him thoughtfully. She knew that he met Bella at
their house.
"You have seen a good deal of these people, one way or another," she
remarked.
"These people? Aren't you a little prejudiced against them?"
"I suppose I am," Millicent confessed.
"Then won't you give me the reason? Your point of view isn't always clear
to an outsider."
"I'll try to be lucid. I don't so much object to Marple as I do to what
he stands for; I mean to modern tendency."
"That's as involved as ever."
The girl showed a little good-humored impatience. She did not care to
supply the explanation--it was against her instincts--and she was
inclined to wonder why she should do so merely because the man had asked
for it.
"Well," she said, "the feudal system isn't dead, and I believe that what
is best in it need never disappear altogether. Of course, it had its
drawbacks, but I think it was better than the commercialism that is
replacing it. It recognized obligations on both sides, and there is a
danger of forgetting them; the new people often fail to realize them at
all. Marple--I'm using him as an example--bought the land for what he
could get out of it."
"About three per cent., he told me. It isn't a great inducement."
Millicent made a half-disdainful gesture.
"He gets a great deal more--sport, a status, friends and standing, and a
means of suitably entertaining them. That, I suppose, is one reason why
the return in money from purely agricultural land is so small."
"Then is it wrong for a business man to buy these things, if he can pay
for them?"
"Oh, no! But he must take up the duties attached to his purchase. When
you buy land, human lives go with it. They're still largely in the
landlord's hands. Of course, we have legislation which has curtailed the
land-owner's former powers, but it's a soulless, mechanical thing that
can never really take the place of direct personal interest."
She stopped and glanced back down the winding dale. Here and there smooth
pastures climbed the slopes that shut it in, but over part of them ranged
mighty oaks, still almost green. Beyond these, beeches tinted with brown
and crimson glowed against the dusky foliage of spruces and silver-firs.
"One needs wisdom, love of the soil and all that lives on it, and perhaps
patience most of all," she resumed. "These woods are an example. They are
not natural like your forests--every tree has been carefully planted and
as it grew the young sheltering wood about it carefully thinned out. Then
as the trunks gained in size it was necessary to choose with care and
cut. With the oaks it's a work of generations, planting for one's
great-grandchildren, and the point that is suggested most clearly is the
continuity of interest that should exist between the men who use the
spade and ax and the men who own and plan. It is not a little thing that
the third and fourth generations should complete the task, when a mutual
toleration and dependence is handed down."
Lisle was conscious of a curious stirring of his feelings as he listened
to her. She was tall and finely proportioned, endowed with a calm and
gracious dignity which was nevertheless, he thought, in keeping with a
sanguine and virile nature. This girl was one of the fairest and most
precious products of the soil she loved.
"It's a pity in many ways that the Gladwyne property didn't come to you,"
he observed.
Her expression changed and he spread out one hand deprecatingly.
"That's another blunder of mine. I haven't acquired your people's
unfailing caution yet, but I only meant--"
"Perhaps it would be better if you didn't tell me what you did mean."
Lisle nodded. He felt that he had deserved the rebuke, as the truth of
his assertion could not be admitted without disparaging Gladwyne. She
would allow nothing to the latter's discredit to be said by a stranger,
but it was unpleasant to think that she regarded him as one. He changed
the subject.
"You mentioned that landlord and laborer had a joint interest in the
soil, and that's undoubtedly right," he said. "The point where trouble
arises is, of course, over the division of the yield. The former's share
is obvious, but nowadays plowman and forester want more than their
fathers seem to have been satisfied with. I don't think you can blame
them--in Canada they get more."
"I'll give you an instance to show why one can't treat them very
liberally. When my brother got possession he spent a great deal of
money--it was left him by his mother and didn't come out of the land--in
draining, improvements, and rebuilding homesteads and cottages, besides
freely giving his time and care. For a number of years he got no return
at all, and part of the expenditure will always be unproductive. It isn't
a solitary case."
They went on together through the shadowy, crimson-tinted dale until
Millicent stopped at the gate of a field-road.
"I am going to one of the cottages yonder," she explained. "I expect
Nasmyth on Wednesday evening. Are you coming with him?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to Marple's. You see, I promised."
"Promised Marple?"
He was learning to understand her, for though she showed no marked sign
of displeasure he knew that she was not gratified.
"No," he answered; "Miss Crestwick."
She did not speak, but there was something in her manner that hinted at
disdainful amusement.
"I think you're hardly fair to her," he said.
"It's possible," Millicent replied carelessly. "Does it matter?"
"Well," he broke out with some warmth, "the girl hasn't such an easy time
among you; and one can only respect her for the way she stands by her
brother."
"Have you anything to say in his favor?"
"It would be pretty difficult," admitted Lisle. "But you can't blame his
sister for that."
"I don't think I've shown any desire to do so," she retorted.
Lisle knit his brows.
"You people are rather curious in your ideas. Now, here's a lonely girl
who's pluckily trying to look after that senseless lad, and not a one of
you can spare her a word of sympathy, because she doesn't run on the same
stereotyped lines as you do. Can you help only the people who will
conform?"
Millicent let this pass, and after an indifferent word or two she turned
away. Before she reached home, however, she met Nasmyth.
"Why don't you keep Mr. Lisle out of those Marples' hands?" she asked
him.
"In the first place, I'm not sure that I could do so; in the second, I
don't see why I should try," Nasmyth replied. "On the whole, considering
that he's a Western miner, I don't think he's running a serious risk.
Perhaps I might hint that Bella Crestwick's hardly likely to consider him
as big enough game."
"Don't be coarse!" Millicent paused. "But he spoke hotly in her defense."
"After all," responded Nasmyth, "I shouldn't wonder if she deserves it;
but it has no significance. You see, he's a rather chivalrous person."
Millicent flashed a quick glance at him, but his face was expressionless.
"What did he say?" he asked.
"I don't remember exactly: he hinted that we were narrow-minded and
uncharitable."
Nasmyth laughed.
"I almost think there's some truth in it. I've seen you a little severe
on those outside the fold."
"A man's charity is apt to be influenced by a pretty face," Millicent
retorted.
"I'll admit it," replied Nasmyth dryly. "But I can't undertake to
determine how far that fact has any bearing on this particular instance."
Millicent talked about something else, but she was annoyed with herself
when the question Nasmyth had raised once more obtruded itself on her
attention during the evening.
On Wednesday Lisle walked over to Marple's house, because he had promised
to go, though he would much rather have spent an hour or two with Nasmyth
and Millicent in the latter's drawing-room. He had no opportunity for any
private speech with Bella, but she flung him a grateful glance as he came
in. He waited patiently and followed her brother here and there, but he
could not secure a word with him alone.
Some time had passed when, escaping from a group engaged in what struck
him as particularly stupid badinage, he sauntered toward the
billiard-room, struggling with a feeling of irritation. He was generally
good-humored and tolerant rather than hypercritical, but the somewhat
senseless hilarity of Marple's guests was beginning to jar on him. A
burst of laughter which he thought had been provoked by one of Bella's
sallies followed him down the corridor, but when he quietly opened the
door the billiard-room was empty except for a group of three in one
corner. He stopped just inside the threshold, glancing at them, and it
was evident that they had not heard his approach.
Wreaths of cigar smoke drifted about the room; the light of the shaded
lamps fell upon the men seated on a lounge, and their expressions and
attitudes were significant. Gladwyne leaned back languidly graceful;
Batley, a burlier figure, was talking, his eyes fixed on Crestwick; and
the lad sat upright, looking eager. Batley appeared to be discussing the
principles of operating on the stock exchange.
"It's obvious," he said, "that there's very little to be made by waiting
until any particular stock becomes a popular favorite--the premium
equalizes the profit and sometimes does away with it. The essential thing
is to take hold at the beginning, when the shares are more or less in
disfavor and can be picked up cheap."
Lisle stood still--he was in the shadow--watching the lad, who now showed
signs of uncertainty.
"I dropped a good deal of money the last time I tried it," he protested.
"The trouble is that if you come in when the company's starting, you
can't form an accurate idea of how it ought to go."
"Exactly," replied Batley. "You can rarely be quite sure. What you need
is sound judgment, the sense to recognize a good thing when you see it,
pluck, and the sporting instinct--you must be ready to back your opinion
and take a risk. It's only the necessity for that kind of thing which
makes it a fine game."
He broke off, looking up, and as Lisle strolled forward with a glance at
Crestwick, he saw Batley's genial expression change. It was evident that
the idea of being credited with the qualities mentioned appealed to the
lad, and Lisle realized that Batley was wishing him far away. He had,
however, no intention of withdrawing, and taking out a cigar he chose a
cue and awkwardly proceeded to practise a shot.
"This," he said nonchalantly, "is an amusement I never had time to learn,
and I really came along for a quiet smoke. Don't let me disturb you."
He saw Crestwick's look and understood what was in the lad's mind. It was
incomprehensible to the latter that a man should boldly confess his
ignorance of a game of high repute. Batley, however, seeing that the
intruder intended to remain, returned to the attack, and though he spoke
in a lower voice Lisle caught part of his remarks and decided that he was
cleverly playing upon Crestwick's raw belief in himself. This roused the
Canadian to indignation, though it was directed against Gladwyne rather
than his companion. Batley, he thought, was to some extent an adventurer,
one engaged in a hazardous business at which he could not always win, and
he had some desirable qualities--good-humor, liberality, coolness and
daring. The well-bred gentleman who served as his decoy, however,
possessed none of these redeeming characteristics. His part was merely
despicable; there was only meanness beneath his polished exterior.
"It certainly looks promising," Lisle heard Crestwick say; "you have
pretty well convinced me that it can't go wrong."
"I can't see any serious risk," declared Batley. "That, in the case of
mining stock, is as far as I'd care to go. On the other hand, there's
every prospect of a surprising change in the value of the shares as soon
as the results of the first reduction of ore come out. I can only add
that I'm a holder and I got you the offer of the shares as a favor from a
friend who's behind the scenes. Don't take them unless you feel
inclined."
This was a slip, as Lisle recognized. It is not in human nature to
dispose of a commodity that will shortly increase in value. Crestwick,
however, obviously failed to notice this; Lisle thought the idea of
getting on to the inside track appealed to his vanity.
"It's a curious name they've given the mine," commented the lad,
repeating it. "What does it mean?"
Lisle started, for he recognized the name, and it offered him a lead.
Strolling toward the group, he leaned against the table.
"I can tell you that," he said. "It's an Indian word for a river gorge. I
went up it not long ago."
"Then," exclaimed Crestwick, "I suppose you know the mine?"
Lisle glanced at the others. Their eyes were fixed upon him, Batley's
steadily, Gladwyne's with a hint of uneasiness. It was, he felt, a
remarkable piece of good fortune that had given him control of the
situation.
"Yes," he answered carelessly, "I know the mine."
"I'm thinking of taking shares in it," Crestwick informed him.
"Well," said Lisle, "that wouldn't be wise."
Gladwyne leaned farther back in his seat, as if to disassociate himself
from the discussion, which was what the Canadian had expected from him;
but Batley, who was of more resolute fiber, showed fight. His appearance
became aggressive, his face hardened, and there was a snap in his eyes.
"You have made a serious allegation in a rather startling way, Mr. Lisle.
As I've an interest in the company in question, I must ask you to
explain."
"Then I'd advise you to get rid of your interest as soon as possible;
that is, so long as you don't sell out to Crestwick, who's a friend of
mine."
Batley's face began to redden, and Lisle, looking around at the sound of
a footstep, saw Marple standing a pace or two away. He was a fussy,
bustling man, and he raised his hand in expostulation.
"Was that last called for, or quite the thing, Lisle?" he asked.
Batley turned to Gladwyne, as if for support, and the latter assumed his
finest air.
"I think there can be only one opinion on that point," he declared.
Lisle's eyes gleamed with an amusement that was stronger than his
indignation. That Gladwyne should expect this gravely delivered decision
to have any marked effect tickled him.
"Well," he replied, "I'm ready to stand by what I said, and I'll add that
if I had any shares I'd give them away to anybody who would register as
their owner before the next call is made."
"I understood there wouldn't be a call for a long while," Crestwick broke
in.
"Then whoever told you so must have been misinformed," Lisle rejoined.
"Are you casting any doubt upon my honor?" Batley demanded in a bellicose
voice.
"I don't think so; anyway, so long as you don't rule out my suggestion.
Still, I'm willing to leave Gladwyne to decide the point. He seems to
understand these delicate matters."
Marple, looking distressed and irresolute, broke in before Gladwyne had a
chance to reply.
"Do you know much about mining, Lisle?"
Lisle laughed.
"I've had opportunities for learning something, as prospector, locator of
alluvial claims and holder of an interest in one or two comparatively
prosperous companies."
He leaned forward and touched Crestwick's shoulder.
"Come along, Jim, and I'll give you one or two particulars that should
decide you."
Somewhat to his astonishment, the lad rose and rather sheepishly followed
him. There was an awkward silence for a few moments after they left the
room; then Marple turned to his guests.
"I can't undertake to say whether Lisle was justified or not," he began.
"I'm sorry, however, that anything of this nature should have happened in
my house."
"So am I," said Gladwyne with gracious condescension. "There is, of
course, one obvious remedy."
Marple raised his hands in expostulation. He liked Lisle, and Gladwyne
was a distinguished guest. Batley seemed to find his confusion amusing.
"I think the only thing we can do is to let the matter drop," he
suggested. "These fellows from the wilds are primitive--one can't expect
too much. The correct feeling or delicacy of expression we'd look for
among ourselves is hardly in their line."
Marple was mollified, and he fell in with Batley's suggestion that they
should try a game.
In the meanwhile, Crestwick looked around at his companion as they went
down the corridor.
"I believe I owe you some thanks," he admitted. "I like the way you
headed off Batley--I think he meant to turn savage at first--and I
wouldn't have been willing to draw in Gladwyne, as you did. He has a way
of crushing you with a look."
"It's merely a sign that you deserve it," Lisle laughed. "You take too
many things for granted in this country. Test another man's assumption of
superiority before you agree with it, and you'll sometimes be astonished
to find out what it's really founded on. And now we'd better join those
people who're singing."