按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in terror； 〃not to…night； Ranald！〃
〃Then will you show me the study to…morrow night？〃
〃Oh； you are very mean。 Let me go！〃
〃Will you？〃 he demanded； still holding her hand。
〃Yes； yes； you ought to be ashamed of yourself。 My hand is quite
sore。 There； now； good night。 No； I won't shake hands！ Well；
then； if you must have it； good night。〃
CHAPTER XXII
FORGET THAT I LOVED YOU
〃The night for dreaming； but the morn for seeing。〃 And so Ranald
found it； for with the cold； calm light of the morning； he found
himself facing his battle with small sense of victory in his blood。
He knew he had to deal that morning with the crisis of his life。
Upon the issue his whole future would turn； but his heart without
haste or pause preserved its even beat。 The hour of indecision had
passed。 He saw his way and he meant to walk it。 What was beyond
the turn was hid from his eyes； but with that he need not concern
himself now。 Meantime he would clear away some of this accumulated
correspondence lying on his desk。 In the midst of his work Harry
came in and laid a bundle of bills before him。
〃Here you are； old chap；〃 he said； quietly。 〃That's the last of
it。〃
Ranald counted the money。
〃You are sure you can spare all this？ There is no hurry； you know。〃
〃No；〃 said Harry； 〃I can't spare it； but it's safer with you than
with me； and besides； it's yours。 And I owe you more than money。〃
He drew a deep breath to steady himself； and then went on： 〃And I
want to say； Ranald； that I have bet my last stake。〃
Ranald pushed back his chair and rose to his feet。
〃Now that's the best thing I've heard for some time；〃 he said；
offering Harry his hand； 〃and that's the last of that business。〃
He sat down； drew in his chair； and turning over his papers with a
nervousness that he rarely showed； he continued： 〃And； Harry； I
want you to do something for me。 Before you go home this afternoon；
will you come in here？ I may want to send a note to Maimie by you。〃
〃But〃 began Harry。
〃Wait a moment。 I want to prevent all possibility of mistake。
There may be a reply； and Harry； old chap； I'd rather not answer
any questions。〃
Harry gazed at him a moment in perplexity。 〃All right； Ranald；〃 he
said； quietly； 〃you can trust me。 I haven't the ghost of an idea
what's up； but I know you're square。〃
〃Thanks； old fellow；〃 said Ranald； 〃I will never give you reason to
change your opinion。 Now get out； I'm awfully busy。〃
For some minutes after Harry had left the room Ranald sat gazing
before him into space。
〃Poor chap； he's got his fight； too； but I begin to think he'll
win；〃 he said to himself； and once more returned to his work。 He
had hardly begun his writing when the inner door of his office
opened and Mr。 St。 Clair came in。 His welcome was kindly and
cordial； and Ranald's heart； which had been under strong discipline
all morning； leaped up in warm response。
〃You had a pleasant trip； I hope？〃 inquired Mr。 St。 Clair。
〃Fine most of the way。 Through May and June the flies were bad；
but not so bad as usual； they said； and one gets used to them。〃
〃Good sport？〃
〃Never saw anything like it。 What a country that is！〃 cried
Ranald； his enthusiasm carrying him away。 〃Fishing of all kinds
and superb。 In those little lonely lakes you get the finest black
and white bass； beauties and so gamy。 In the bigger waters；
maskalonge and； of course； any amount of pike and pickerel。 Then
we were always running up against deer； moose and red； and everywhere
we got the scent of bear。 Could have loaded a boat with furs in
a week。〃
〃We must go up some day；〃 replied Mr。 St。 Clair。 〃Wish I could get
away this fall； but the fact is we are in shallow water； Ranald；
and we can't take any chances。〃
Ranald knew well how serious the situation was。 〃But；〃 continued
Mr。 St。 Clair； 〃this offer of the British…American Lumber and Coal
Company is most fortunate； and will be the saving of us。 With one
hundred thousand set free we are certain to pull through this
season； and indeed； the financial stringency will rather help than
hinder our operations。 Really it is most fortunate。 Indeed；〃 he
added； with a slight laugh； 〃as my sister…in…law would say； quite
providential！〃
〃I have no doubt of that；〃 said Ranald； gravely； 〃but； Mr。 St。
Clair〃
〃Yes； no doubt； no doubt；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； hastening to recover
the tone； which by his unfortunate reference to Mrs。 Murray； he had
lost。 The thought of her was not in perfect harmony with purely
commercial considerations。 〃The fact is；〃 he continued； 〃that
before this offer came I was really beginning to despair。 I can
tell you that now。〃
Ranald felt his heart tighten。
〃One does not mind for one's self； but when family interests are
involvedbut that's all over now； thank God！〃
Ranald tried to speak； but his mind refused to suggest words。 His
silence； however； was enough for Mr。 St。 Clair； who； with nervous
haste once more changed the theme。 〃In my note to you last night
you got it； I supposeI referred to some changes in the firm。 〃
Ranald felt that he was being crowded against the ropes。 He must
get to freer fighting ground。 〃I think before you go on to that；
Mr。 St。 Clair；〃 he began； 〃I ought to〃
〃Excuse me； I was about to say；〃 interrupted Mr。 St。 Clair；
hastily； 〃Mr。 Raymond and I have felt that we must strengthen our
executive。 As you know； he has left this department almost
entirely to me； and he now realizes what I have long felt； that the
burden has grown too heavy for one to carry。 Naturally we think of
you； and I may say we are more than glad； though it is a very
unusual thing in the business world； that we can； with the fullest
confidence； offer you a partnership。〃 Mr。 St。 Clair paused to
allow the full weight of this announcement to sink into his
manager's mind。
Then Ranald pulled himself together。 He must break free or the
fight would be lost before he had struck a blow。
〃I need not say；〃 he began once more； 〃how greatly gratified I am
by this offer； and I feel sure you will believe that I am deeply
grateful。〃 Ranald's voice was low and even； but unknown to himself
there was in it a tone of stern resolve that struck Mr。 St。 Clair's
ear。 He knew his manager。 That tone meant war。 Hastily he
changed his front。
〃Yes； yes； we are quite sure of that；〃 he said； with increasing
nervousness； 〃but we are thinking of our own interests as well as
yours。 Indeed； I feel sure〃here his voice became even more
kindly and confidential〃that in advancing your position and
prospects we areI am only doing what will bring myself the
greatest satisfaction in the end； for you know； Ranald； Iwe do
not regard you as a stranger。〃 Ranald winced and grew pale。 〃We
my familyhave always felt toward you aswell； in fact； as if you
were one of us。〃
Mr。 St。 Clair had delivered his last and deadliest blow and it
found Ranald's heart； but with pain blanching his cheek Ranald
stood up determined to end the fight。 It was by no means easy for
him to strike。 Before him he saw not this man with his ingenious
and specious pleadingit would not have been a difficult matter to
hav