CHAPTER XXVIII
THE ENEMY CAPITULATES
Some time had elapsed since the overturning of the wagon, and I had seennothing of Lucille Haldane, when, one evening, I visited Bonaventure ather father's request. All had gone well in the interval. The last bushelof grain had been threshed and sold, and the balance of my debt to Lane,with every surcharge his ingenuity could invent, wiped out. Haldane, whoremained some time in Winnipeg with Boone, had also concluded operationssuccessfully, for, as he had foreseen, once the turning point was passedhe had no lack of allies eager to assist in plundering the vanquished,and, before these had satisfied their rapacity he had been able tounobtrusively cover most of our sales without advancing prices. Booneexplained that the new assailants considered the purchases a last efforton the part of the company's supporters. Also--because there is littlemercy for the beaten--impoverished storekeeper and plundered farmercommenced to air their grievances, and it became evident that thecompany, or those whom it financed, had occasionally exceeded the limitsof the law.
It was accordingly to a meeting of what Haldane called the Vehmgerichtthat I was summoned, and on arriving at Bonaventure I found Gordon andseveral of our neighbors already there. The day had been sunny, but ourautumn nights are sharp, with a sting of frost in the air, which madethe crackling fire in the open hearth acceptable. A shaded silver lampflung a soft light about the room, which in no way suggested that it wasto be used for a tribunal. There were decanters, cigar boxes, andBritish Columbian fruit on the table, while Haldane lounged in a velvetchair, with feet, neatly encased in patent leather, stretched outtowards the fire. All this seemed inappropriate to the occasion, eventhough I had grown used to Haldane's way.
A glance at the others, however, showed that they were in deadlyearnest. The men were lean and hard and grim, and their weather-darkenedfaces bore the stamp of the conflict. Some of them had long overworkedbrain and body, half-fed, that Lane and those who backed him might reapan iniquitous profit. Others had seen wife and daughter toiling in thedust of the harrows or riding weary leagues behind the herds, and hadnot forgotten. I noticed they accepted Haldane's offers of wine andtobacco dubiously, and I surmised it was only personal respect for himthat prevented disapproving comments on this manner of procedure.
Boone doubtless guessed their thoughts, for he said whimsically: "I seeno reason why you shouldn't have a good time, boys. There are easierways of killing a coyote than beating his head in with the butt of agun, and I can assure you that we mean solid business. For one, I findthese cigars better than the tin flag plug."
"Tin flag!" and a man with wrinkles round his eyes laughed harshly."Dried willow bark had to do for us. This kind of thing takes time toget used to after living for 'most two years on damaged flour andmolasses. Maybe you're used to luxuries, and don't know what it is tosee the wife fall sick when one couldn't raise a decent morsel to feedher."
Boone's face grew as stern as that of the speaker, and the shadow I knewcrept into his eyes. "I think I do. My wife died for want of comfortsthat Lane might twice collect his debt, and I am not likely to forget itto-night," he said.
A silence followed, and through it I heard one or two of the others drawa deep breath, while their faces hardened as they, too, rememberedgrievous injuries. For my own part I was grimly expectant, for I hadsuffered long enough, and had sufficient sense to know that it was notoften that struggling men had such an opportunity for dictating termsto a powerful adversary. We were all, I think, democratic in the word'smost liberal sense, cherishing no grievance against the rich, and quickto recognize advantages offered us by capitalists' legitimateenterprise; but, now that the balance had swung to our side, we wereequally determined to place further mischief beyond the power of the manwho, for the sake of a few dollars, would have crushed us out ofexistence. It appeared a duty to the community; but I had not studiedhuman nature sufficiently to discover exactly how far that motiveinfluenced me.
"If none of you have any further suggestions to make, I want to ask ifyou are willing to leave this affair to me," said Haldane presently."Lane in his own way is a smart man, and would be quick to seize anadvantage which anybody, speaking without consideration, might give him.I offer my services merely because, during an extensive businessexperience, I have had to deal with such men before."
"There is nobody in the Dominion better able to handle this case forus," said Boone; and the others nodded assent.
"We'll sit quieter than graven images unless he turns vicious, if you'lldraw his sting," said one. "That's no use, anyway," a comradeinterjected. "The insect would grow another one. What we want is hisblame back broken."
"I will, metaphorically speaking, try to oblige you both," said Haldane,with a smile. "He is a little weak in the spine already, or he wouldhave declined to meet us at all."
Nobody made any further comment, but the eyes of most of us were turnedexpectantly upon the clock, until at last Gordon stood up when a rattleof wheels drew nearer. "This is going to be a great night, boys," hesaid. "The pernicious insect's come."
Lane entered, and nodded to us all comprehensively when he saw thatHaldane did not hold out his hand. The man's assurance was apparentlyboundless, for he was at first sight as _debonnaire_ and almost asgenial as ever--almost, but not quite, for when he moved nearer thelamp I noticed a shiftiness in his eyes and an occasional contraction atthe corners of his mouth.
"This is a little business meeting, and we appreciate your attendance;but the former is no reason why you should not be comfortable," saidHaldane. "Sit down and help yourself to anything you take a fancy to. Ineed not introduce any of these gentlemen."
Lane was not readily taken aback, for, while we afterwards had cause tobelieve he had never discovered the movements of Boone, he looked at himsignificantly, but without surprise. "I know--all--of them. With thanks,I will," he said. "As to the visit, I am always ready to oblige myclients; but as you know time means money, it remains to be seen onwhose bill I shall charge it."
I took the last sentence as a preliminary defiance, and fancied Haldanedid so, too; but he only laughed as he said: "I should not wonder if youwere not paid that bill."
Lane nodded, as though he understood that the swords were crossed; andwhen he poured out a glass of wine the rest of us prepared to watch theduel, with the comforting assurance that our champion was armed with thebetter weapons, as well as with the justice of his quarrel. It wascharacteristic of the enemy that he smiled indulgently when, as heraised his glass to his lips, Steel and another man thrust their ownaside. The inference could not have been plainer.
"Suppose we come straight to business," said Haldane presently. "It maysave time if I recapitulate what is known of your position. If I amwrong in details you can, of course, correct me."
"You can sail ahead," and Lane, stretching out his feet, leaned back inhis chair in an attitude of contemplative attention.
"To commence with, you hold a number of mortgages on land in thisvicinity, from which, after recouping yourself for the loan, you arestill drawing what I venture to call extortionate interest. These andyour shares in the Territories Investment--which cannot be sold--Ibelieve represent your assets. Also, after taking first-class legalopinion, we find that, owing, shall I say, to indiscretions on yourpart, it may be possible to prevent your foreclosing on several of thosemortgages, while one subordinate, I believe, refuses to be turned out ofGaspard's Trail. On the other hand, you have certain tolerably extensiveliabilities I need not enumerate, and you want money badly. Law suitsare expensive, and you have a promising crop of them on hand. It waswith a view of obtaining it you suggested the issue of new Territoriesstock, and, seeing that hang fire, unobtrusively endeavored to sell yourshares. I don't think the public would look at either just now. Inshort, you have taken too big a mouthful; you can't hold on withoutmoney, and you can't obtain that because, for some reason, respectablebanks fight shy of you. It will simplify matters if you admit all this."
"I'm not going to admit anything,"
Lane said sturdily, after drinkinganother glass of wine.
Haldane smiled as he answered: "In that case we will take for grantedwhat I have said. Now, we have the money, time, and determination tofight you over every mortgage, and to rake up, as a claim for damages,every indiscretion."
One of the listeners chuckled in a manner expressive of surprise andsatisfaction when Haldane ceased, and through the brief stillness whichfollowed I could feel, if I could not see, that the others were in astate of strung-up expectancy.
"Better come to the point," Lane said. "The question is, what do youwant from me?"
"It's pretty simple," was Haldane's answer. "We want you out of thiscountry. It's unfortunate that we can't help considering you an obstaclein the way of its prosperity; but, not being highway robbers, we areopen to make you a fair offer for your property. Here is a schedule Ihave drawn up, and you will see by examination that we purpose to buythe mortgages at their face value, paying you any interest due atcurrent bank rates. We also purpose to buy back, on the sameconditions, the lands on which you have already foreclosed."
Lane was difficult to astonish, but now he actually gasped; and severalof those present, who were still within his clutches, sprang to theirfeet. "A glacier wouldn't be cooler than you!" Lane said. "You must knowthey're worth, or will be, about three times as much."
"Exactly," said Haldane; and Gordon and another chuckled silently. "Thatis just why we want to see you safely out of this country. The man whodrives that kind of bargain gives nobody else a show. Please sit down,gentlemen; I'll answer your questions later."
I think Lane, in spite of his refusal to admit anything, must have felthimself driven into a corner. Indeed, for almost the first time duringmy acquaintance with him he showed signs of temper, for his lipsstraightened and there was a gleam of malice in his eyes.
"Your hand looks a good one, but it's not good enough," he said. "I'mgoing to tell you to do your worst. Say, don't you count too much on Mr.Haldane, the rest of you. If this is fun to him, it's bread and cheeseto me, and I don't let up on my living easily. Stand out from underbefore he gets tired and the roof falls on you. You all know me."
The listeners had good reason to do so; but they had not only lost theirfear of him--the fear which makes a coward of a brave man when hebecomes a debtor--but had found his yoke so galling that they would haverisked the worst by defying him in spite of it. He must have read asmuch in the contemptuous laugh and lowering faces.
"I think we could beat you with it; but we hold still better cards,"said Haldane quietly. "For instance, you have squeezed Niven a littletoo hard, and he is prepared to risk his liberty to testify on one ortwo points against you. I refer to incidents connected with Gaspard'sTrail."
Lane brought his hand down on the table, and, for some unexplainablereason, I actually believed him as he said: "Gaspard's Trail was burntby accident."
"We won't question the statement," said Haldane. "It was, at least, anaccident that you were quick to profit by. This ace, however, takes thetrick. Just run through this account book, and--remembering that we canproduce Miss Redmond, and three men, who will swear to what her fathersaid when Ormesby's cattle, which did not get there by accident, wereburned in the fence--consider what might be done with it."
Lane seemed to shake himself together after he had read the first fewentries; while, watching him closely, I once more saw the tell-talecontraction at the corners of his mouth. This was the only sign he made,however, save that presently he moved forward a little in his chair,which was close before the fire, and held up the torn-out page as thoughhe wished the lamplight to fall on it more directly. The action, whichwas made very naturally, suggested nothing to myself or even to Haldane;but when the reader moved again, Boone rose suddenly and laid arestraining hand on his arm.
"You have had time enough to grasp the significance of what is writtenthere, and I'll take the papers back," he said. "Of course, knowing whomwe dealt with, we have a duly attested copy."
I do not know whether Lane had actually intended to destroy part atleast of the dead man's testimony or not, but he was capable ofanything, and the fire was hot. In any case, he calmly handed book andpaper back to Boone with the careless comment: "You thought of that?Must be considerably smarter than you used to be."
"Yes," said Boone dryly, "I have learned a good deal since I first metyou. We will now, with Mr. Haldane's concurrence, give you five, or, ifnecessary, ten, minutes in which to consider your decision."
Without being in the least sorry for him, I fancied I could understandLane's feelings, and his state of mind could not have been enviable. Itis true that Haldane's offer allowed him a fair return for all sumsinvested, perhaps almost as much as he would have obtained bylegitimate enterprise; but that must have been as nothing to the man whohad schemed for a fortune, while one could have fancied that he found itinexpressibly galling to discover that those whom he had considered hishelpless dupes now held him at their mercy. Yet he showed small sign ofdiscomfiture, and his voice was steady as he said: "It's robbery; butI'm open to admit you have fixed the thing tolerably neatly. Suppose itwas Dixon who gave you the pointers? This man here must have some grit,for he knows that even now I could make it hot for him. Do you know whohe is?"
"I consider the terms are liberal, and we arranged the affairourselves," said Haldane. "You could hardly expect Mr. Dixon to involvehimself in what I'm afraid is virtually the compounding of a felony. Itis also possible that some people would call our proceedings byunpleasant names, but you left us no choice of weapons. We might havesqueezed you further, but I believe it's wise to leave a back way openfor a beaten enemy. I am perfectly acquainted with Mr. Boone's history,and understand that now that his work is finished--for most of thescheme was his--he will surrender himself to the police. He does not,however, apprehend any trouble with them, because by the time hesurrenders, the prosecutor will have removed himself across thefrontier. Now, hadn't you better consider your decision?"
Lane sat still for at least five minutes, and I could see that some ofthe rest were not quite convinced that the battle was over. They hadexperienced such a taste of his quality that they probably expected somebold counter-move rather than submission. Nevertheless, the man wasbeaten, for at last he said: "It's your game. I must have the moneydown, and your solemn promise you'll make no use of what you know untilI'm across the frontier."
"If you will meet me at Gordon's at noon to-morrow we'll settle the billtogether," said Haldane quietly; and rose as if to signify that theinterview was over.
Lane no longer looked jaunty, for, although he evinced no great dismay,there was a subtle change in him as he also rose and brushed the dustoff his hat. "Everybody gets tripped up now and then, and must make thebest of it," he said. "Quaint, isn't it, that it should be a man ofOrmesby's kind who most helped to bring me up? Well, it seems I can'tstay any longer with you, boys; but no one knows what may happen, andI'll try to square the deal with you if ever I come back again."
Nobody answered him, and with a shrug of his shoulders he passed out ofthe room; and though I fancied that was the last I should see of him, Iwas mistaken.
Then Boone said reflectively: "I wonder whether we have been too easywith him, sir. I can't help feeling, by the way he yielded, that therascal has something up his sleeve."
Before our host could answer he was plied with congratulations andquestions about the money for the redemption of the mortgages, and,raising his hand for silence, stood up, smiling at the men before him.
"I'll find part of it in the meantime, and there is the profit on thecampaign fund you raised," he said. "You needn't be bashful, gentlemen.I'm a business man, and will have no objection to charging you three orfour per cent. more interest than the banks. It will, considering theprospects, be money sunk on good security. Now that we have got ourstumbling block out of the way, I see possibilities for this district,and am presently going to ask you to form a committee to considerwhether we can't put up a small flour mill or coopera
tive dairy."
He proceeded to sketch out a project with a vigor of conception and agrasp of practical details that astonished the listeners, who presentlydeparted with sincere, if not very neatly expressed, gratitude, and withhope and exultation in their weather-darkened faces. I tried to expressmy own sentiments and, I believe, failed, but Haldane smiled quaintly.
"Don't make any mistake, Ormesby. I'm not setting up as a publicbenefactor," he said. "One can't do absolutely nothing, and I don'tquite see why I shouldn't earn a few honest dollars where I can. I daresay the others will profit, and I should prefer them as friends ratherthan enemies; but this scheme is going to pay me--in fact, as you sayhere--it has just got to."