CHAPTER IV
COLONEL HOWELL DISCOVERS AN OLD FRIEND IN JACK ZEPT
Although it was well after seven o'clock, it was wholly light, for inCalgary in July dusk does not come until after ten o'clock. While Normanlooked at his watch to confirm the delay, Colonel Howell remarked:
"It seems good to get back to long hours again. When we get up to FortMcMurray," and he chuckled, "you boys can read your newspapers, if youcan find any, out of doors after eleven o'clock."
"Fort McMurray?" broke in young Zept. "Where's that?"
"Way up in the wilderness," responded Norman, laughing. "Looks as ifwe're going to beat you into the northland."
Instantly the young Count caught Norman by the arm and stopped him.
"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his face a study in acuteinterest and surprise.
"Tell you later," answered Norman. "Your father's waiting."
Far from satisfied, the exuberant young Austrian followed the others toMr. Zept's waiting car. He was not in error as to his father's annoyance.The old ranchman, a heavy cigar buried in the corner of his mouth,watched the approach of the party with a scowl. The moment he saw ColonelHowell, however, this expression politely changed. The ranchman did notat once recognize his old shooting friend but without waiting for anintroduction he sprang with agility from his handsome motor.
It required but a word, however, for him to place the stranger and thenthe delay was forgotten. The joviality of the veteran horse raiser tookthe place of his petulance and, ignoring the young men, the old friendsstood arm in arm for ten minutes recounting the past. The result wasinevitable. After Colonel Howell had been catechised as to his presentlocation and plans, he could not refuse an invitation to pass theremainder of his short stay in Calgary at the Zept home.
When the two men at last took the rear seat in the car, Norman and Roy infront of them, and Paul seated alongside the chauffeur, orders were givento drive to the King George.
Avoiding the traffic streets and trolley lines, the big car was turnedsouth through the suburban hills. In the meantime, Paul had lost noopportunity to probe into the mystery of Norman's remark. In return,Norman had rapidly sketched an outline of Colonel Howell's propositionand of the present situation. Norman's rapid words seemed at first tohave rather a depressing effect on young Zept, and then, when the wholeidea had been put before him, his usual animation rose to what was almostexcitement.
No sooner had the motor found its way into the broad suburban streets,than Paul almost sprang over the seat back and in a moment had locatedhimself between his father and Colonel Howell on the rear seat.
"Father," he began impulsively, interrupting some old-time talk, "do youknow that Mr. Grant and Mr. Moulton are going to Fort McMurray withColonel Howell?"
These business details had not reached Mr. Zept, as he and his guest hadnot yet exhausted their old-time hunting experiences. The result was thatColonel Howell at once related what had taken place that afternoon, toall of which Mr. Zept gave earnest attention. Colonel Howell concluded bytelling how he was to see the fathers of the boys that evening in aneffort to consummate his deal.
"What do you think about it?" asked Colonel Howell with his usual smile,and looking at Mr. Zept.
The latter paused, as if in grave doubt.
"That's a hard question to answer," he said at last. "These young fellowsought to answer it best themselves. Their airship has given a pretty goodaccount of itself. I did not understand that it was more than theordinary flying machine, but if it is and they feel sure that it can dowhat they say it will, it seems to me that the whole thing is pretty mucha business proposition. You've made a fine proposition to the young men,financially. If it wasn't for that, if you want me to speak frankly, Iwouldn't approve their going into that part of the world simply asprospectors."
"It'd be great!" broke in his son.
"From your point of view, yes," answered his father, affectionatelydropping his hand upon Paul's knee, "but you know, my boy, that you havea lot of impractical ideas about this corner of the world."
"I want to go too," persisted the young man, who in his eagerness seemedto have given little heed to his father's words. "Can't I go with you?"he went on, turning to Colonel Howell.
The latter looked somewhat perturbed. He had no answer ready just thenand he needed none.
"You're taking men with you," went on Paul as he slid to the edge of theseat. "I'll go and work for you for nothing. You've got to have men onthe river and I know I'm as good as any Indian, except Moosetooth ofcourse." Everyone smiled except Mr. Zept. "And I know there are a lot ofthings that I could do in camp. I wouldn't be any good about the airship,I know, but I can shoot and I know I can stand anything that anyone elsecan. I--"
"Young man," broke in Mr. Zept at last, "these gentlemen are going northon business. Colonel Howell is not heading a pleasure excursion and Idoubt if he has any intention of making an asylum for amateur woodsmen.Let me tell you something: you've got to get on in the world and you onlydo that, as far as I've noticed, by having a purpose that has some rewardat the end of it. Colonel Howell and these young men have a purpose andthey'll probably profit by it. Playing Indian or wandering around on theBarren Lands shooting moose may be romantic enough and may be all youwant in life, but it doesn't bring success as I count it."
"Your father's right, young man," suggested Colonel Howell; "success inlife to-day is measured by money. If you want to succeed that way, staywhere the money is to be found. I can prove it," he said, forcing alaugh. "Look at me. What little money I have, I'm dumping into thenorthern rivers. Then look at your father. He knew the same wildernessyou're trying to break into, but he only goes there for pleasure. He hadan idea and he came here and put it over. I don't know what it broughthim, and maybe you don't. But I reckon you can easily find out by goingthrough a list of bank directors in this town."
"He's a millionaire anyway," Roy exclaimed with some lack of diplomacy.
Mr. Zept did not seem conscious of this remark, for he sat very stern andhard of face.
"When the time comes, my boy, I will take you into this region that youare so full of. Just now, I have other plans for you. We'll talk theseover later." Then, as if dismissing the entire matter, Mr. Zept began topoint out to Colonel Howell the improvements of the city while the bigmachine sped toward the hotel.
Paul, with a sullen look on his face, settled back among the cushions,and Norman and Roy, awed by the decisive tones of the rich man, made noattempt at conversation.
Reaching the hotel, Colonel Howell alighted to prepare his luggage andsee to telegrams and mail. Mr. Zept stopped with him while Paul took theyoung aviators to their homes. A short time later the motor picked up Mr.Zept and his guest and carried them to the Zept home.
Despite his general knowledge of his old friend's wealth, Colonel Howellwas surprised at the sight of his host's home. This, less than a half adozen squares from the hotel, occupied a city block and was a mansionresembling a French chateau, built of the yellow stone of the country. Inaddition to an attractive fence of stone and iron, the extensive yard wassurrounded on all sides by a wind-break hedge of tall and uniform swampcedars.
When the car dashed up the asphalt drive, Colonel Howell only turnedtoward his host and smiled. But while his elders alighted, under theporte cochere, Paul did not smile. Waiting for his father and their guestto disappear into the magnificent home, he sprang into the motor againand said to the chauffeur: "Drive to the King George Hotel."
At dinner that evening there was a message from young Paul, excusinghimself on the ground of an engagement. When Mr. Zept heard this, heexcused himself to telephone to the garage. When he rejoined his guest,his face was again stern and hard, for he knew what his son's engagementmeant.
Dinner over, the ranchman and Colonel Howell made their excuses to Mrs.Zept and to Paul's young sister and retired to the library. Here Mr. Zeptused no ceremony and at once confided to his old friend the greatesttrouble of his life. He told how
he had brought his son home from Parisbecause of his wayward ways and how he had found these even morepronounced than he feared.
"He isn't a bad boy," explained his father, "and the only trouble he hasI think I can correct by home influence." He even explained where his sonwas at that moment and did not attempt to conceal his mortification. "Itisn't in the blood," he went on, "but it's Paris and the opportunity hehad there."
Colonel Howell had been deeply moved by his friend's talk, and when thelatter used the word "opportunity," his sober face suddenly lit up.
"That's it," he exclaimed, "you've hit it. I think I can read the boylike a book. 'Opportunity' to go wrong is what did it. I've an idea. Cutout this 'opportunity' and I think you've solved the question."
"That's what I want to do," replied Mr. Zept, with a sigh, "and I've beentrying to make his home take the place of the saloons, but," and he shookhis head, "you see where he is now."
"All right," exclaimed Colonel Howell. "That doesn't need to discourageyou. I think we'll have to send him where there isn't any Paris and wherethere aren't any cafes."
"What do you mean?" broke in the disturbed father.
"I mean up to Fort McMurray, where they'll put a man in jail if they finda drink of whisky on his person."
Mr. Zept sat upright and darted a look at his old friend.
"That's right," went on Colonel Howell. "When you leave AthabascaLanding, the fellow who tells you good-bye is a mounted policeman, and hedoesn't shake hands with you either. If you've got a drop of whisky withyou, you've got to have it inside of you. If you try to take whisky intothat country, you've got to be smarter than the smartest policemen in theworld. The 'opportunity' is gone. And there's another thing," went on thearoused colonel. "If your boy thinks he's been robbed of something, whenhe finds he hasn't anything to drink, you can see yourself that he'llhave plenty of other things to interest him."
The agitated ranchman sprang to his feet and took a quick turn around theroom.
"Howell!" he exclaimed at last, as he returned and placed a hand on hisfriend's shoulder, "this upsets every plan I have."
"Maybe they ought to be upset," rejoined the oil man.
"You're right," answered his friend thickly. "It's all pretty sudden andit's all a kind of a blow to me, but you're right. What can I do?"
"Easy enough," responded the other as he relit his cigar; "he wants to gowith me. Let him have his way. I've never been called upon to attemptanything in the reform line and I don't think I will be now. Let your sonjoin us and I think that'll be the end of what is causing you a good dealof misery. It isn't a case of curing him of the whisky habit. I believehe'll simply forget it."
"Will you take him?" suddenly asked Mr. Zept, his face a little white.
"Sure!" exclaimed Colonel Howell. "Call it settled and get this terriblefear off your mind. Paul's all right and I'll bet when you see him againhe'll give an account of himself that'll make you proud."
But the boy's father was not so easily assured. "Howell," he said in anervous tone, "you've done something for me this evening that I don'tthink I'll ever forget. I don't often talk about money, but I'm a richman. From what you've told me, I can see you're yet working pretty hard.You may have plenty of money but no matter as to that. I know it takes alot of money to do what you're doing. I'm not doing this to show myappreciation of what you're willing to do for me, but it looks as ifyou're the only real friend I have in the world. Let me put some moneyinto this venture with you--I don't care how much--but I've an interestin your project now--"
The Kentuckian was on his feet in a moment. "Jack," he began without anyshow of resentment, "I've got all the money I'll ever need in this world.It's fine of you to say what you have, but now I'm going to make you anew proposition. I'm willing to take your boy and treat him as my own sonbut I'll have to put one condition on it."
The ranchman only looked his surprise. A wave of his hand indicated thatany condition would be met.
"I want him to go with me but I'll only take him as my guest."
"Hill," said Mr. Zept, after looking his friend directly in the eye, "Iknew from the moment we first made camp together up on the Peace, thatyou were the real stuff. I haven't any way to thank you."
"Let's compromise on another of those cigars," laughed Colonel Howell,"and then, if it is agreeable to you, and I can have the use of your carfor a short time, I have some business of my own."
After a few moments with his hostess, Colonel Howell departed in themotor. As soon as he was out of his host's hearing, he ordered the driverto take him to the King George Hotel. Still puffing his new cigar, theoil man entered the hotel and made a quick examination of the bar room.The person he was looking for was apparently not in sight. Nodding hishead to an occasional acquaintance, Colonel Howell made his waydownstairs to the fashionable cafe.
He did not obtrude himself, but called the head waiter and after aquestion, took out his card and scribbled a line on it. A few momentslater, in the lobby of the hotel, he was joined by young Count Zept, whoexplained that he had been dining with a few friends. Colonel Howellmotioned him to a seat and gave no sign of noticing the boy's flushedface and somewhat thick speech.
He had spoken hardly a dozen words to the excited young man, when thelatter seemed to throw off his condition as if it had been a cloak. Heeven discarded the cigarette he was smoking. Then the colonel resumed histalk with the young man and for several minutes spoke very earnestly inlow tones.
As he concluded, the young man sat sober and tense.
"Colonel Howell," he said, "I'll do it. I understand everything. You havegiven me the greatest chance of my life."
"Then," came the cheery and quick rejoinder of the Kentuckian, relightinghis cigar, as he appeared to be always doing under any stress, "we'llbegin right away. This is a business proposition and we're all businesspeople. We haven't any time to lose. I want you to go home and begin topack your kit. The machine is outside. I think your father would like totalk to you."
"I'm ready now," came the quick response. A moment later the Zept motorwas on its way home.