AS soon as I saw Hiram I knew he was a different man. It was not
necessary for me to tell him. Details were published in every daily
paper. He had gone back to Anna Bell Morgan clean, unsullied,
unbesmirched--his conception of what a man should be, and prosperous
beyond dreams. A solid, forceful man, ambitious without limit, he was
much interested in the brief information I gave him of how I had
successfully uncovered and apprehended in Kansas City all the others
involved in the crime, who evidenced a power of organization which, if
directed in legitimate channels, would have made them rich.
He had rented and furnished offices, where I found him at work.
"Had to have headquarters, Ben--just one room, with an adjoining one for
you--let me introduce you to it," he said, putting his hand
affectionately on my shoulder, leading through a connecting door into a
big, well-lighted, expensively furnished office.
"Sit down and see how it seems to have a home of your own," he went on,
pushing me into a big leather chair and throwing up the top of a
commodious mahogany desk. Everywhere showed evidence of the feminine
touch.
"You see, Ben, I could not have done so well. This is Anna Bell's idea
and selection--I have told her so much of you she feels, in fact acts,
as though she knew you as well as I do, but you will meet her soon and
she will tell you about that herself. I never would have thought of the
carpet, but she said carpet, and there was carpet," he mused
reminiscently, as he pulled up a chair and sat down near me where he
could look out of the window.
"I've got to leave to-night again on the _Fearsome_ and there is so much
to tell you--something I want to ask you about."
I was too astonished and delighted with the enterprise and zeal of the
fellow to know what to say.
"Ben, why don't you say something--don't you like this?" he asked
solicitously, leaning toward me and scanning my face. He was the boy
again.
"Hiram, give me a little time--I was wondering how you managed so
quickly to do all this----"
"There--that's better," said he, a relieved smile creeping about the
upturned corners of his mouth. "I told you I didn't--I couldn't--have
done it alone--you see, Ben, I am making three trips a week to Gulf port
instead of two, and carrying enough general merchandise back to pay
expenses," and then turning his chair so as to look squarely at me, he
continued. "It is pouring prosperity, though we are making a willing,
patriotic sacrifice while doing it, and we must hustle like sixty until
the rain is over."
I looked at him more astonished, as I felt sure something bigger was
coming. Was there no limit?
"We are making money pretty fast now, but this won't last--I know now
the logs in the river will disappear soon after we get at them again,
and you know we have got to look ahead. I can buy a tract of timber up
there at Gulfport--cheap--enough timber to keep us sawing for years. Now
don't look so alarmed--it will take a lot of money, but we've got to do
it if it is possible. I've opened a bank account here and talked to the
president about it--but everything now is going into Liberty bonds and
you can't blame them--but it's got to be done, Ben," he repeated in a
tense undertone, bringing his hard hand down on my knee with a loud
slap.
Looking at him in wonder for a moment, I finally asked,
"How much will it take, Hiram?"
"Now don't fall over when I tell you--that's why I got a big chair with
a soft cushion, so that you could sustain a shock once in a while
without injury. Ben, it will take about a hundred thousand dollars to
get it, but it's got to come," he ended, passing his hand rapidly over
his chin as though glad it was out.
"You have not forgotten, Hiram, that you must settle with the railroad
for the engine in the _Fearsome_ and the sawmill, too?"
"I know we have, but I've got enough in the bank for that and more
besides," he replied quickly. "What do you think, is it possible?" he
asked, making me feel he was not to be resisted.
"I don't know, Hiram; you are placing a pretty big order--we'll see--I
don't believe I told you just how much I sold that barrel for, did I?"
turning to him with an affected smile of derision.
"Yes, I know you will have the laugh on me as long as you live about
that barrel; in fact, I will laugh myself every time I think of it even
if I am at a funeral, but that couldn't happen again in a million
years," he replied, getting up and pacing the room, finally halting in
the opposite corner, where he catapulted a question as though he might
be coming along with it.
"How much did you get for it, Ben?"
"It was as you say, Hiram, a thousand-to-one shot that could not have
happened and never will happen again--I don't claim any credit, except
in discovering it was not junk, by a little leakage through the chimes
which discolored my fingers."
"I know--I know--you never claim anything," he interrupted.
"You see, we had to pay something like twenty thousand to clear the
_Fearsome_."
"Yes, I know that."
"Well, I think there is a balance in the bank of something about forty
thousand more----"
"You are joking again, Ben," he interrupted, charging over toward me,
incredulous, as I took from my wallet a credit slip which he grasped and
began to cavort and cut capers on the expensive carpet, much the same as
he acted at the first signs of good luck, months before.
"Ben, you are a mascot--you have been one to me, anyhow--now in another
month--before this deal can be closed--I can pay the railroad claim for
the motor and the sawmill, and every other stiver we owe. And we'll have
at least ten thousand more to bring our balance up to fifty thousand.
Now, how can we raise fifty thousand more?" he asked, fairly excited--he
pronounced _fifty thousand_ as though he was used to dealing in those
figures all his life--as though it was no more than the price of one of
those famous beefsteaks he liked so well. He must have inherited it from
the Gold-Beater--as he did the love for new, clean lumber and the lumber
business. Hiram admitted he knew so little of his father that he was
unaware I knew he was a Lumber King.
I took out cigars, thinking hard, and offered him one.
"No, thank you, I prefer a pipe," said he producing one at once as
something he had overlooked.
"Hiram, give me a little time--you say you leave this afternoon?"
"Yes, I ought to be on the dock now," said he, blowing a cloud of smoke
and scanning me as though to learn just what I was thinking. "I will be
back day after to-morrow," he added, anticipating the question.
"I'll see"--I said, moving back a little in my big chair and
contemplating the end of my cigar--"perhaps when you get back I may have
something--maybe there is a way----"
"Don't say maybe--say you will do it," he prodded.
"Hiram, I still say _maybe_," I answered firmly, wondering whether the
Gold-Beater was still down the river shooting ducks, and if I could get
into touch with him before Hiram returned.
Early on the morning he was due back, a messenger came to say I was
wanted on the telephone by some one at Lake Borgne Locks. I knew it was
Hiram--he had probably been calling Anna Bell Morgan to tell her of his
arrival and knew he would catch me in my room.
"What news?" he asked as though tired of waiting, and more, as though
he expected it to be favorable.
"The news is all right."
"Oh, I knew it would be," he broke in, not waiting for me to finish.
"Say, I will be up to the docks at eight, and be at the office at
ten--meet me there," and he hung up abruptly.
This suited me exactly. I was through and had made reservation on a
train leaving for the North--for home and a little rest.
I had cleaned up everything except a little writing and was doing that
in the office that had been so generously provided for me, when I heard
Hiram enter his adjoining room. The door between was not tightly closed,
and I was aware at once he was not alone. He had evidently made an
engagement also with Anna Bell Morgan. I could hear his voice easily,
and as I was aroused from the preoccupation of my writing, I could hear
her voice, and as I listened closely there came a shock, a slow, leaden,
enervating, numbing shock on recognizing the voice of Miss Bascom, my
clerk. The whole thing swam slowly before me. I knew now why she had
acted her rôle with such intensity and risk. I felt an impulse to grab
my grip and bolt through the door into the hall and take my train
without meeting them together, but I didn't have time before he came
bursting through the door leading her proudly to me.
"Mr. Taylor, I introduce my wife. I forgot to tell you we were to be
married at nine." I arose, took her extended hand as she looked at me
squarely, radiantly, but with a plea. I got her message, but I think I
made a failure of the greeting and congratulations. I was afraid Hiram
noticed it. In fact, I felt sheepish that I had not discovered that she
had assumed a name and underwent the disgusting experiences with Becker
and Burrell to help him.
"Not going away, Ben?" Hiram asked, noticing my grip--he never
overlooked anything.
"Yes, Hiram, I am going to leave you now--I am through here."
"You--you don't mean--when will you be back, Ben?" he asked, glancing in
alarm first at me and then at his bride of an hour.
"I don't know when I will return, Hiram. Just now I have to answer the
call of others. I may come back to testify at the trial."
"You don't mean you are not going to stay here with me--when things are
just getting started right?" he began, coming over and placing one hand
on the back of my chair and bending forward to look in my face to see if
I was ill.
"Sit down--both of you," I interrupted, looking at Anna Bell's radiance
changing to disappointment too, as he brought chairs up near me. "I have
a confession to make, and I like to do the unpleasant things first and
have them over with."
"But say, old fellow, you can't leave me now--I need you in so many
ways--you see, we have been through so much together----" began Hiram,
leaning well forward in his chair.
"It cannot be--just now anyhow--and perhaps you will not want me to do
so when I admit to a certain sort of duplicity--but at which I hope in
the course of time you will look upon tolerantly, forgivingly--I don't
want you to think badly of me--as I have in the last few months become
deeply attached to you."
"What are you getting at, Ben--I will never believe you have
deceived----"
"Wait till I tell you why I came here--left New York with you, was paid
a definite sum and expenses for doing so for a definite purpose, and
that purpose is now accomplished, and the Government, engaged in a
gigantic war, calls me to other activities. I must----"
"I don't care what you have done or been, though I don't quite
understand," he began, his voice almost failing; "we are doing work for
the Government just as important as any--and I need you."
"You may have needed me, Hiram, but you don't now--you are nicely
started and you have better help now than I can give," I broke in,
looking at Anna Bell, who was as much affected as Hiram. "She is
courageous, a natural diplomat and wonderful at plans, and besides, you
can now stand alone and must learn to rely on yourself, and besides,
more than two in a firm often complicates matters."
"I know--I know--I can see--but you don't explain--what is this you are
hinting----?"
"Hiram, it may be better for it to come to you gradually. Now let us
talk about money for my train goes soon and I find I need some money,
and I must give you the big check necessary to pay for the timber land.
First of all, will you cash these checks for me? These are my salary
checks I have never used," I explained as I took them out, turned to the
desk and endorsed them, aware that Hiram and Anna Bell were looking at
each other and trying to understand.
"Ben, I am sure this is only a misconception--a feeling of
delicacy--that you may be interfering----"
"No, Hiram, my plans are definite; I cannot change them if I would,"
said I, handing him the checks as soberly as though not anticipating his
astonishment when he saw them.
At first he did not look at them, but laid them on his knee as a mere
matter of detail. He was too busy trying to divine what was going on in
my mind; finally glancing down at them, he became aware there was
something familiar about them, and then his excitement knew no bounds.
"How the devil"--he began, raising half out of his chair, tapping the
checks wildly--"how did you get these? Why, these are like the ones I
used to--now I understand," he said, subsiding, quite overcome. "Ben,
were you paid by my father? My God, is it possible--then he didn't kick
me out--it was just his way----"
"Just his way to teach you to work and make amends for his neglect, and
here is another one, the big one for fifty thousand signed by him,
too--you may be surprised to know he is now down in the lower reaches of
the river, duck-shooting. When I saw him yesterday, I had no difficulty;
everything seemed to be prepared for the proposition," I said; looking
quizzically at Anna Bell. Mixed with her delight was a shade of fear and
apprehension. I tried to make her understand that she must tell him
herself about her captivating the Gold-Beater, securing his approval and
further support, of the Becker episode, her assumed name--and all to
help Hiram. In fact, I did not have the courage to do it.
"I can hardly conceive my father----" Here his voice broke completely.
"And you can hardly credit that the _Fearsome_ might have been placed
conveniently in the canal----"
"Oh, heavens, and I thought we were doing it--and did he plan all that
trouble in the river--did his men, the lawyers, take her from----?"
"Yes, I guess he did, Hiram; he wanted to try you out--a last real
trial----"
"And the barrel, Ben, did he have anything----?"
"No, Hiram, that was a piece of just dumb luck that will always be with
you--send me a check for half of it when you get things straightened
out," I said, grabbing my grip and bolting. As I rounded the corner of
the hall for the elevator, I glanced back. They stood out in the hall,
their arms around each other, watching me go.
THE END
Corrections
The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.
p. 196:
an anxiliary gasoline tank
an auxiliary gasoline tank
p. 295:
before Him returned
before Hiram returned
p. 299:
and expenses for dong so
and expenses for doing so