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〃I have a rough draught here in which the bases for camps are
indicated；〃 said Ranald； ignoring the imploring and angry looks of
his chief。
〃Let's have a look at 'em；〃 said the colonel。
〃Oh； you haven't shown me this；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； taking the
draught from Ranald。
〃No； sir； you have not seen my final report。〃
〃No； not yet； of course。 We have hardly had time yet； Colonel； but
Mr。 Macdonald will make a copy of this for you and send it in a day
or two；〃 replied Mr。 St。 Clair； folding up the sketch； nervously；
and placing it on his desk。 The colonel quietly picked up the
sketch and opened it out。
〃You have got that last report of yours； I suppose；〃 he said； with
a swift glance at Mr。 St。 Clair。 That gentleman's face was pallid
and damp； his whole fortune hung on Ranald's reply。 It was to him
a moment of agony。
Ranald glanced at his face； and paused。 Then drawing his lips a
little tighter； he said： 〃Colonel Thorp； my final report has not
yet been handed in。 Mr。 St。 Clair has not seen it。 In my
judgment〃 here Mr。 St。 Clair leaned his hand hard upon his desk
〃you are getting full value for your money； but I would suggest
that you go yourself or send your inspector to explore the limits
carefully before you complete the deal。〃
Colonel Thorp； who had been carefully scanning the sketch in his
hand； suddenly turned and looked Ranald steadily in the eye。
〃These marks on the west side mean camps？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃There are very few on the east side？〃
〃There are very few； the east side is inferior to the west。〃
〃Much？〃
〃Yes； much inferior。〃
〃But in your opinion the limit is worth the figure？〃
〃I would undertake to make money out of it； it is good value。〃
The colonel chewed hard for a minute； then turning to Mr。 St。
Clair； he said： 〃Wall； Mr。 St。 Clair； I'll give you one hundred
thousand for your limit； but by the great Sam； I'd give twice the
sum for your manager； if he's for sale！ He's a man！〃 The emphasis
on the he was ever so slight； but it was enough。 Mr。 St。 Clair
bowed； and sinking down into his chair； busied himself with his
papers。
〃Wall；〃 said the colonel； 〃that's settled； and that reminds me；〃 he
added； pulling out his flask； 〃good luck to the Bass River Limits！〃
He handed the flask to Mr。 St。 Clair； who eagerly seized it and
took a long drink。
〃Goes good sometimes；〃 said the colonel； innocently。 〃Wall； here's
lookin' at you；〃 he continued； bowing toward Ranald； 〃and by the
great Sam； you suit me well！ If you ever feel like a change of
air； indicate the same to Colonel Thorp。〃
〃Ah； Colonel；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； who had recovered his easy；
pleasant manner； 〃we can sell limits but not men。〃
〃No； by the great Sammy；〃 replied the colonel； using the more
emphatic form of his oath； 〃ner buy 'em！ Wall；〃 he added； 〃when
you have the papers ready； let me know。 Good day！〃
〃Very good； Colonel； good by； good by！〃
The colonel did not notice Mr。 St。 Clair's offered hand； but
nodding to Ranald； sauntered out of the office； leaving the two men
alone。 For a few moments Mr。 St。 Clair turned over his papers in
silence。 His face was flushed and smiling。
〃Well； that is a most happy deliverance； Ranald；〃 he said； rubbing
his hands。 〃But what is the matter？ You are not well。〃
White to the lips； Ranald stood looking at his chief with a
resolved face。
〃Mr。 St。 Clair； I wish to offer you my resignation as manager。〃
〃Nonsense； Ranald； we will say no more about that。 I was a little
hasty。 I hope the change I spoke of will go into immediate effect。〃
〃I must beg to decline。〃 The words came slowly； sternly from
Ranald's white lips。
〃And why； pray？〃
〃I have little doubt you can discover the reason； Mr。 St。 Clair。
A few moments ago； for honorable dealing； you would have dismissed
me。 It is impossible that I should remain in your employ。〃
〃Mr。 Macdonald； are you serious in this？ Do you know what you are
doing？ Do you know what you are saying？〃 Mr。 St。 Clair rose and
faced his manager。
〃Only too well；〃 said Ranald； with lips that began to quiver； 〃and
all the more because of what I must say further。 Mr。 St。 Clair； I
love your daughter。 I have loved her for seven years。 It is my
one desire in life to gain her for my wife。〃
Mr。 St。 Clair gazed at him in utter astonishment。
〃And in the same breath；〃 he said at length； 〃you insult me and ask
my permission。〃
〃It is vain to ask your permission； I fear； but it is right that
you should know my desire and my purpose。〃
〃Your purpose？〃
〃My unalterable purpose。〃
〃You take my daughter out of my house inin spite of my teeth？〃
Mr。 St。 Clair could hardly find words。
〃She will come with me；〃 said Ranald； a little proudly。
〃And may I ask how you know？ Have you spoken to my daughter？〃
〃I have not spoken to her openly。〃 The blood rose in his dark
face。 〃But I believe she loves me。〃
〃Well； Mr。 Macdonald； your confidence is only paralleled by your
prodigious insolence。〃
〃I hope not；〃 said Ranald； lowering his head from its proud pose。
〃I have no desire to be insolent。〃
Once more Mr。 St。 Clair looked at him in silence。 Then slowly and
with quiet emphasis； he said： 〃Mr。 Macdonald； you are a determined
man； but as God lives； this purpose of yours you will never carry
out。 I know my daughter； I think； better than you know her； and I
tell you；〃 here a slight smile of confidence played for a moment on
his face； 〃she will never be your wife。〃
Ranald bowed his head。
〃It shall be as she wills；〃 he said； in a grave； almost sad； voice。
〃She shall decide；〃 and he passed into his office。
All day long Ranald toiled at his desk； leaving himself no time for
thought。 In the late afternoon Harry came in on his way home。
〃Thanks； old chap；〃 said Ranald； looking up from his work； 〃sha'n't
be able to come to…night； I am sorry to say。〃
〃Not come？〃 cried Harry。
〃No； it is impossible。〃
〃What rot； and Maimie has waited ten days for you。 Come along！〃
〃It is quite impossible； Harry；〃 said Ranald； 〃and I want you to
take this note to Maimie。 The note will explain to her。〃
〃But； Ranald； this is〃
〃And； Harry； I want to tell you that this is my last day here。〃
Harry gazed at him speechless。
〃Mr。 St。 Clair and I have had a difference that can never be made
right； and to…night I leave the office for good。〃
〃Leave the office for good？ Going to leave us？ What the deuce can
the office do without you？ And what does it all mean？ Come；
Ranald； don't be such a confounded sphynx！ Why do you talk such
rubbish？〃
〃It is true；〃 said Ranald； 〃though I can hardly realize it myself；
it is absolutely and finally settled； and I say； old man； don't
make it harder for me。 You don't know what it means to me to leave
this place； andyou； andall！〃 In spite of his splendid nerve
Ranald's voice shook a little。 Harry gazed at him in amazement。
〃I will give your note to Maimie；〃 he said； 〃but you will be back
here if I know myself。 I'll see father about this。〃
〃Now； Harry；〃 said Ranald； rising and putting his hand on his
shoulder； 〃you are not going to mix up in this at all； and for my
sake； old chap； don't