When they reached the house, a little late for dinner, they found a telegram for Halloran on the mail-rack. Margaret started at the sight of it. “What is it, John? What does it mean?”
He read it, then looked at it gloomily. “I suppose I ought to be glad,” he said.
“Is it good news? I never can wait to see what's in a telegram.”
He handed it to her. “I don't know whether you can make anything out of it. It is good news—it's what I've been hoping for for months. And now I'm sorry.”
“Price has risen” she read. “Understand that combine is broken. Crosman. What does that mean? What price? And who is Crosman?”
“I'll tell you all about it after dinner. I'm going to run up now and throw my things together. I shall have to take the evening train.”
“Oh—John!”
He could not reply; but with a quick look around the halls he took both her hands.
“Don't go, John. Why, it's———”
“I know, dear. It hurts—but I must.” And then, afraid of that unmanageable little imp within him that had a way of taking the reins now and then, he only managed to add, “I'll pack now so we can talk after dinner,” and bolted upstairs.
After a hasty dinner he found her waiting with her coat and hat on. “I'm going to the station with you,” she said. “Mother thinks it will be all right, with Baker to drive. Now come out and tell me about it.” After saying which, she herself began, as soon as they were pacing the veranda arm in arm, on an entirely different subject. “I've talked with mother, John. I—I suppose I ought to have waited—it was really your place, wasn't it? But I'm so happy I couldn't wait. And dear old mother was so surprised—I was excited, I guess, and I laughed a little, and———”
“I wanted to see her anyway, before I go.”
“You can't now, John. She's so tired and stirred up she has gone right to bed. But—I don't think you'll find her very hard to talk with when you do see her.”
“Does she think she can give you up?”
They were standing at the end of the veranda, and Margaret was leaning back with both hands on the railing. She shook her head and looked mischievously at him. “I don't know but I shall have to be a little jealous of mother. I couldn't let many people talk about you like she does.”
Halloran had never seen her in such spirits. It was slowly coming to him that this was neither of the Margarets he had known in the past. He had never seen her so well, for one thing; and now, besides, she was happy. And all the playful tenderness, the mischief, the devotion of her honest heart were his. Was it a wonder, then, that she captivated him as never before? That her fancy played about him, and led his wits such a mad, happy chase that it was she, at the last, who had to tell him that the carriage was waiting for them and that they really must go! And as they rolled along toward the village—as the first mile-post gleamed in the moonlight and slipped away behind them; as the rushing Panther Kill roared a moment in their ears and then, too, slipped behind; as they passed the quarry and came slowly in sight of the red and green lights of the railroad, Halloran's heart failed him. They were on the back seat of the mountain wagon, deep in the shadow; she was in his arms for the last time until—when? They were dropping into silence as the parting drew near.
“Margaret,” he whispered, “I've been thinking—I can't go to-night—it's no use.”
“No, John, don't go.”
“We'll turn around—we'll go to-morrow night—you and your mother can start then, too—we'll all go West together. I'll wire Crosman to begin selling. Yes, we'll drive on to the station, and I'll send the message.”
“I'm afraid, John, I couldn't get mother ready to go to-morrow. You don't quite understand—it would unsettle her dreadfully to get ready and go all in a rush like that. She has her mind made up for two weeks more—and I'm afraid I couldn't shorten it to less than one. Stay a week; it isn't much. You deserve a vacation. Mr. Crosman won't mind.”
The little imp already had his hands on the reins; but at the sound of the whistle, far up the Shandaken Valley, Halloran roused. “I don't know what I'm thinking of, Margaret. They need me there. Good-by; don't say anything—I'm afraid I'll stay. Good-by.”
“Good—good-by, John. Write to me.” She saw him on the train; she walked to the end of the platform to wave when his car passed; and then, deep in the gloom of the night, she walked slowly back to the carriage.
Halloran sent a message on ahead, and Crosman, all excitement, met him at the station.
“It's all over, Mr. Halloran,” he burst out, as they shook hands. “Mr. Corrigan's been down here to see you about advancing prices to cover losses.”
“We don't need to advance prices. We haven't lost anything.”
“Well—he only went back last night. He says he hopes you'll write him.”
“I'll see to it. Does Mr. Higginson know?”
“Only what Mamie could tell him. He wants to see you. I asked the doctor about it, and he says you can go in if you have some good news for him; if you haven't, you'd better stay away. I told him I guessed there wasn't much doubt about that.”
“I'll go over after supper.”
“All right; I'll leave word so's they'll be ready. And say, Mr. Halloran, there's another thing. I was going to talk to Mrs. Higginson to-day about—about Mamie and me, but Mamie doesn't want me to. She says her mother wouldn't listen to a word from me. And we've been talking it over, and we wondered if you'd be willing to say a word for us.” He hurried to add: “I know it's sort of a funny thing to ask, but we're just up a tree. If I could see her father I could manage it, but it's pretty tough to go on like this and feel all the while that she's down on me.” Halloran pursed his lips. “It's Mrs. Higginson that you want me to talk to?”
“Well, no—not since they're going to let you see him. Now don't you do it, Mr. Halloran, if you'd rather not. I know how———”
“If I see a good chance I'll try to put in a word. You won't mind if I go in now and wash up?”
“No. Say, it's mighty square of you———”
“Never mind that. I suppose I'll see you this evening?”
After supper Halloran walked around to the Higginson home and was met at the door by Mamie, blushing and smiling.
“Come in, Mr. Halloran,” she said. “Papa's been impatient to see you. You can go right up. Mamma asked me to excuse her to you. She isn't feeling well.”
Mr. Higginson, looking ten years older for his long sickness, was propped up in an arm chair. He smiled eagerly at the sight of his manager in the doorway, and held out his hand. “Come in, John,” he said. “I'm glad to see you. Sit down. You've been having a little vacation, haven't you?”
0303
“Yes—I've been East.”
“I'm glad of it. You deserve it. Now I want you to tell me all about things.”
Halloran hesitated, looking at the white, wrinkled face and wondering if there was yet strength behind it to go into the details of the business. “It's a good deal of a story.”
“But it's ended, isn't it? Mamie's right in what she tells me?”
“Yes, it's about over.”
“And we've won?”
“I guess we have. There isn't any combine now.”
“And Bigelow——-?”
“Bigelow's broken. It was in the paper this morning.”
“Broken,” Mr. Higginson repeated, half dazed. “I didn't think our fight could break him.”
“We didn't do it all. He's been punctured all around. I guess his Board of Trade deal hit him the hardest.”
“What's this I've been hearing about this great lot of lumber in the yards—whose is it? I feel like Rip Van Winkle.”
“It's ours. When the trust cut prices we bought in all we could get.”
“But—but where did you get the money?”
“From the National City.”
“And you're going to sell now?”
“We've begun already. It will just about cover our losses. I understand Corrigan wants to raise prices a peg or so, but I've been thinking we'll hold the advantage better if we refuse.”
“You've had a fire, I understand?”
“Yes—didn't amount to much—less than the insurance premium would have cost us.”
“Did you ever find out how it started?”
“Yes—and no. It was done by a tramp. He claims he was smoking and fell asleep. We put the screws on him, but couldn't get a word more than that. They're still holding him, but I've about decided to let him go. There may be something behind it, of course, but if he won't tell I don't know who will. I hardly think it would pay us to push it any further.”
“No, I suppose not, so long as we're well out of it. Are you keeping a close watch?”
“Yes, I've put on an extra man since the fire.” While he was answering these eager questions, Halloran had been looking for an opportunity to open the subject that was uppermost in his mind. Now, dropping his voice, he began:
“There's one thing, Mr. Higginson—-”
But his employer did not hear. “Who was this Le Duc I've been hearing about?”
“He's Captain Craig's son-in-law. Bigelow put him up as his operator in corn.” Again his voice lost its assurance. “I have something to tell—”
“Craig's son-in-law. Strange I never heard of him.”
“I didn't put it quite right—Le Duc married his granddaughter. Bigelow was Craig's son-in-law.”
“Bigelow!”
“Yes—that makes Le Duc Bigelow's son-in-law. You see, the Captain's daughter has been found in Chicago, and he's brought her back home. She was divorced from Bigelow a good while back.”
“Divorced from Bigelow!”
It dawned on Halloran that he was stirring the old gentleman's brain into a muddle, and he stopped.
“I guess we won't go into it now, John—I seem to be a little tired. It's strange—strange. More seems to have happened in these months than in all the rest of my life put together. But didn't I interrupt you a moment ago? What were you going to say?”
Halloran had no more than started, in that same altered voice, than a dress rustled behind him and Mr. Higginson broke in with: “Come in, my dear. Here is John Halloran.”
Mrs. Higginson, becomingly pale, a pink-and-white shawl drawn about her shoulders, came languidly in and took Halloran's hand. “Don't stand,” she said; “I heard your voice and thought I would come in for a moment. I am hardly able to get downstairs yet, but I try to walk about a little on this floor. Doctor Brown fairly orders me to keep very quiet, but I feel sure that a little exercise is the best thing. How are we ever to get about if we take no exercise? Don't you feel that draught, dear? John, would you mind shutting the door? I have to be a little careful about such things. I'm glad you've brought Mr. H. some good news. Doctor Brown said it was the one thing that might help him. 'Tell Mr. Halloran to come if he brings good news,' he said. 'If he doesn't, he'd better stay away.' Well, we've had a pretty serious time of it here, haven't we? I told Mr. H. he simply must get well—for what was to become of Mamie and me if he didn't. We haven't seen much of you lately, John. Of course, things have been rather broken up with my sickness, and Mr. H.'s., but I am sure Mamie would have been glad to see you any time.”
“John has been away,” said Mr. Higginson.
There was a pause, and Halloran, seeing his opportunity, girded up his courage and plunged forward. “It's been a pretty important trip to me,” he began. This was clumsy, but it was go ahead or nothing with him now, and he went ahead. “Since I went away—I went down to see Margaret Davies, of Evanston; she has been staying down there, in the mountains—and she has promised to be my wife.”
The words were out. Mr. Higginson sat up straight in his chair and stared at him. Mrs. Higginson leaned back and stared. Halloran could only turn red. Finally, Mrs. Higginson, the first to recover, repeated the name, “Margaret Davies! I've never heard any Evanston people speak of her. Has her family lived there long?”
“Yes, all her life”
“Um—it's not a wealthy family, I suppose?”
“I guess so. They have a fine old place on the Ridge.”
Again Mrs. Higginson's tongue failed her, and she rose to go. “I hope you won't mind if I tell Mamie, Mr. Halloran. She will be interested.”
“Oh, no; not at all. It's not a secret.”
“We are all very glad to hear it. It's rather a sudden affair, isn't it?”
“Oh, dear, no. It's years old.”
“Years—indeed? I hope you'll do some very careful thinking. It is asking a good deal of a woman to bring her here to Wauchung—a city woman especially, with culture and refined tastes. I hope you aren't making a mistake. It would be such a pity for her life to turn out unhappily.” She went out; and Halloran, after fidgeting a moment, began to think that the best thing he could do would be to go, too. But Mr. Higginson checked him. “Sit down, John; sit down. So you're going to be married? Well, I'm glad to hear it. Let me shake hands with you.” Halloran was nervous and he rose again.
“Wait a minute; I haven't said what I wanted to see you about yet. There's a matter that's been in my mind a good deal while I've been lying here, and I guess this is a good time to bring it up. I jotted down some memoranda this morning—there on the table, those folded papers. I wish you'd take them with you and look them over. I want your opinion on them before we do anything about it.”
Halloran took the papers, opened the first one, and ran his eye over it. At the first words he started, flushed, muttered something, and looked up, speechless with gratitude. “Why—why———”
“That's all right,” Mr. Higginson interrupted. “Never mind giving your decision now. Go home and think it over. If you see anything about it that you think could be improved, talk it over with me the next time you come around and I guess we won't make much difficulty over it. Higginson & Halloran doesn't look quite so well as Higginson & Co. A shorter name would look better. But we never did go in much for looks.”
“I don't need to think over this, Mr. Higginson.”
“Take it along; take it along. I guess I've talked enough for this afternoon. I'm a little tired.”
There was nothing to do now but to go. As he passed down the stairs he saw Crosman and Mamie standing anxiously in the parlour doorway.
“Did they say anything about our coming up?” said Crosman.
Halloran stopped short. “By Jove!” he said; and then: “Say, I'm sorry, but I clean forgot you. It comes to the same thing, anyhow; I never could have said a word. I guess it's up to you.”
He stood aside. Mamie looked at Crosman.
“Well, say, Mamie, where is she?”
“In her room, I guess.”
“You go up ahead, Mamie, and find out if I can see her.”
So with a dejected expression, Mamie piloting him, Crosman started up the stairs just as Halloran left the house.
