XIV
DERMOTT DISCOVERS A NEW SIDE TO FRANK'S CHARACTER
The next morning news came to McDermott that his land on the Silver Forkwas no longer desired by the newly formed company. It was nearly afortnight, however, before he learned the railroad was to be built onthe Ravenel side of the river.
The information came with abruptness from John Marix, a gaminlikebroker, who encountered McDermott in the elevator to their mutualoffices.
"Say, McDermott," he cried, with a cheerful laugh, "Ravenel didn't do athing to you, did he? _He didn't do a thing to you!_" he repeated, witha lively chuckle.
McDermott's eyes were bland on the instant. He did not understand thelittle man's meaning. What he did understand, always understood,however, was that he must never be taken off guard in the game of life.
"I am the football of the Street," he said, with a kind of cheerfuldespondency. "Everybody does me!"
"Yes they do!" the other responded, derisively. "It's because you'vedone everybody that we're glad somebody's got even for a minute!But"--dropping the bantering tone--"this Ravenel is something of awonder. I was at the meeting of the new company to-day. He's full of thescheme, knows every foot of the land, and is willing to put a wholebunch of money into it. We've elected him president of the concern."
By the same afternoon the facts of the case were in McDermott'spossession, and the following morning, upon seeing Frank about to enterthe De Peyster offices, he advanced toward him, hand outstretched. Hewas entirely unprepared for the manner in which he was received. Franknodded to him slightingly, with the scant courtesy he might haveaccorded a domestic whom he disliked, and said, with directness, lookinghim squarely in the eyes, "I don't care to shake hands with you,McDermott."
Dermott regarded him steadily in return, the gray gleam in his eyes abit brighter, the lines of his mouth harder. Whatever the grave faultsof these two men may have been, there was not a whit of cowardicebetween them as they stood facing each other.
"So!" said Dermott. "So!" And yet a third time he repeated "so!"--histone one of grave consideration. "Had another done what ye have justdone, Mr. Ravenel," he said, at length, "this little episode might nothave ended so gayly. But for you I have so slight a respect that there'snothing you could do to me that would make me call ye to account forit." And, raising his hat high and jauntily, he said, with a laugh:"Good-morning, Ravenel!"
Frank turned white at the words, but the Irishman had disappeared in anelevator, and any immediate action seemed impossible and theatric. Inthe short time he had spent in New York he had learned many things, andthe narrow, tiled halls of an office building twenty-three stories high,in Wall Street, did not seem the fitting background for a personalencounter to which the hills of North Carolina might have lentthemselves with picturesqueness.
He sat thinking the matter over in the club that night with two thingsfixed in his mind. First, that he would go to see Katrine in Parisimmediately; of the outcome of such a meeting he took no thoughtwhatever. Second, that he would put this railroad scheme through;already the feeling of power, of the consciousness of unsystematizedability, was stirring within him.
The affair with McDermott rankled, however, and it was with drawn browsand tightened lips that he answered a telephone call--a call whichchanged both of the plans which he had so carefully arranged.
His mother's doctor at Bar Harbor had rung him up to say Mrs. Ravenelwas seriously ill and wanted him to come to her at once. He started atmidnight, to find his mother in a high fever, unconscious of hisarrival, and facing an operation, as the only chance to save her life.
He had been to her always, as she herself put it, "a perfect son," andfor the next three months, which made the time well into December, heproved the words true, living by her bedside, and allowing himself scantsleep from the watching and service. It was when she was far toward therecovery of her health and her old-time beauty that he spoke to her ofhis newly formed intentions with characteristic unwordiness.
"I am going into business, mother," he said, "with Philip de Peyster."
She was knitting at the time, counting stitches on large needles, andshe went placidly on with the counting until the set was finished, whenshe looked up pleasantly. "You think it will amuse you?" she asked, withthe kind interest which she might have shown concerning a polo game inwhich he was to play.
"I am beginning to think a man should have some fixed duties in life,"Frank explained.
"Yes, certainly," Mrs. Ravenel answered. "The Bible says something likethat, I believe. What are you thinking of doing?"
"Buying and selling things, like railroads and mines," he answered,smiling at her indifference.
"I'm glad it's Phil de Peyster you are going to buy and sell thingswith," Mrs. Ravenel said. "His mother was maid of honor at my wedding,and a charming girl, Patty Beauregarde, of Charleston. And I amdelighted at anything you do to make you happy, Frank. I have thoughtyou have not been very gay of late. There is, perhaps, a trouble--"
"What an idea!" he answered.
"Will you have offices and things?" Mrs. Ravenel inquired, vaguely. "Ihave always had ideas for office furnishings, you know."
"If you could see Phil's office, mother, I think you would weep. It'svery dirty, and he likes it. It's the dust of his great-grandfathers."
"Well, dearest," Mrs. Ravenel said, "if it amuses you, I'm glad youthought of doing it," and she folded up her work and put it into herbag. "Life's a rather dreary affair at best," she concluded, "andanything that interests one is a positive boon."