第66章

"Why, this way: If this concern offered you enough money you might sell out to them, mightn't you? Sell all your place, I mean; you could get another one easy enough.You ain't particular about livin' by the shore.""But--you urge me to SELL!" I exclaimed."Sell the Shore Lane with the rest?""Why not? You wouldn't be sellin' to Colton.And, if this development scheme is what they say it is, there'll be roads cut through all along shore.The town could use any of 'em; at least that arrangement might be made.Think it over, Ros.If they do offer and offer enough, I'd sell, if I was you.Say! that would be a reef under His Majesty's bows, hey? Jolt him some, I cal'late."I did not answer.This was a new possibility.Of course his reason for advising my selling was plain enough, but, leaving the Coltons entirely aside, the idea was not without allurement.The town's convenience in the matter of a road might be considered, just as he said.And my scruples against selling at a profit were, after all, based upon that feature.

"You think it over," he counseled."Don't say nothin' to nobody, but just think--and wait.I'll keep my eye to wind'ard and see what I can find out.I tell you honest, Ros, I'll feel safer when I know old Imperial's game's blocked for good and all."Old Imperial himself made his appearance before closing hours.Ilooked up from my work to see him standing by the window.He had not expected to see me there--evidently his daughter had not considered Mother's news of sufficient importance to repeat--and, at first, he did not recognize me.

"Good afternoon, Mr.Colton," said I.

He nodded."Cash this for me, will you," he said, pushing a check through the opening."What? Hello! What in blazes are you doing in there?""I am employed here now," I answered.

"Humph! how long since?"

"Ten days, or such matter."

"What are you doing in a bank?"

"Banking was my business, at one time."

"Thought you hadn't any business."

"I haven't had any, for some years.Now I have.How do you wish this money? In tens and fives?""Yes.Nothing bigger.Down here it restricts the circulation if you spring a twenty dollar bill on them.So you've taken to banking? I was thinking of corraling you for a gunning trip one of these days.Now it's all off, I suppose.""It looks that way.Sorry I am to be deprived of the pleasure.""Humph!" Then, with one of his sudden changes, "How big a business does this concern do? What do your deposits amount to?"I gave him the figures, as printed in the yearly statement.He made no comment.Instead he observed, "You haven't been around to accept that offer of mine yet, Paine.""Not yet," I answered.

"Suppose I ought to raise it, now that you're a financier yourself.

However, I shan't."

"I haven't asked you to."

He smiled."No, you haven't," he said."Well, it is open--for a while.If I were you I'd accept it pretty soon.""Possibly."

"Meaning that I am not you, hey? I'm not.I haven't your high principles, Paine.Can't afford 'em.You're what they call a 'Progressive' in politics, too, aren't you?""Here is your money," I said, ignoring the question.

"I'll bet you are!" he declared, taking the bills."I never saw one of you high-principled chaps yet that wasn't--until he got rich enough to be something else.Progress is all right, maybe, but Inotice that you fellows pay for it and the rest of us get it.Just as I am going to get that land of yours.""You haven't got it yet," I said, serenely.I had made up my mind that this time he should not provoke me into losing my temper.

He seemed to divine my determination.His eye twinkled."You're improving, Paine," he observed."I'll give you a piece of advice;it has cost me a good deal to learn, but I'll give it to you:

Don't ever let the other fellow make you mad."I remembered our first interview and I could not resist the temptation to retort.

"If my recollection is correct," I said, "you forgot that the first time we met."He laughed aloud."So I did," he admitted."Maybe if I hadn't it would not cost me so much to get my own way in your case."He walked out of the building.I heard one exclamation from behind and, turning, saw Sam Wheeler, my youthful assistant, staring at me.

"My--gosh!" exclaimed Sam, his tone a mixture of wonder and admiration, "I don't see how you dast to talk back to him like that, Ros.He'll sic the--the 'System' onto you, won't he?"It was evident that Sam had been reading the magazines.

I heard no more from Captain Jed and nothing from the mysterious "Development Company" for the remainder of that week.But on Sunday, as I sat in the boat house, smoking my after dinner pipe and reading, Lute excitedly entered, followed by a well-dressed, smooth-shaven man of middle age, whom he introduced as Mr.Keene of Boston, "who's driven all the way from Ostable a-purpose to see you, Ros."Mr.Keene shook hands with me cordially and apologized for intruding upon my day of rest.He intended returning to the city in the morning, he said, and, as he had a little matter to discuss with me, had taken the liberty of calling."I shan't take more than half an hour of your time, Mr.Paine," he explained."At least I feel certain that you and I can reach an agreement in that period.If I might be alone with you--"This hint, evidently intended for Lute's benefit, was quite lost upon the last named individual, who had seated himself on the edge of the work bench and was listening with both ears.I was obliged to tell him that his presence was superfluous and request his returning to the house, which he reluctantly did, moving slowly and looking back with an expression of grieved disappointment.After he had gone I asked Mr.Keene what his "little matter" might be.