CHAPTER XXVI.
HELD IN SUSPENSE.
George Cartwright, the retired New York capitalist, belonged to thatolder school of American financiers who, having built up large fortunesby taking advantage of the speculative opportunities of their day, looksomewhat doubtfully from the pinnacle of a successful old age upon thesame adventurous spirit when shown by the active younger generation.George Cartwright was ready to take a chance, certainly. He had takenchances all his life. But George Cartwright distrusted mightily what hecalled the "slap-dash, smash-bang" system of the modern manipulators ofcapital. Some day, he predicted, the manipulators themselves would go"smash-bang" along with their methods.
Though retired from the rush and drive of active business, the veteranstill enjoyed taking an occasional hand in the game, though more thanever he played that hand with a dignified leisure befitting the stake."A business transaction," said he, "was not something to be put throughwith a nod and wink or at most a half dozen monosyllables between asmany bites of a sandwich."
Jefferson Worth was in desperate need of quick action. He was notplaying a game of business for the mere pleasure of playing. He wasfighting for his financial life and every hour's delay increased hisperil. But Jefferson Worth did not need his railroad friend's warningthat an attempt to rush George Cartwright would be disastrous. The oldfinancier was not at all backward in making known to Jefferson Worthhis opinions of Jim Greenfield and the men associated with him in theCompany. He had had some experience with them not altogethersatisfactory to himself. But an investment in actual improvement anddevelopment enterprises, such as he understood Mr. Worth to bepromoting, was rather an attractive venture. He was going for a week'strip to San Felipe and when he returned he would take the matter up.
Barbara's father could not urge his need of immediate relief, for to doso would have been to destroy his only hope. So he was forced to awaitthe New York man's pleasure. Nor was Mr. Worth ignorant of Greenfield'sefforts as indicated by the presence of Willard Holmes in the city. Heknew also the high regard that Cartwright held for the engineer andthat he would place great value upon the Company man's opinion. Whatwould Willard Holmes do?
Abe Lee's telegram announcing the strike and the critical situation inthe Basin changed conditions instantly. Now Jefferson Worth's only hopewas to get to Cartwright without delay and to present the urgent needof immediate action. For while the chances that the old capitalistwould come to the rescue were greatly lessened, Jefferson Worth'sfinancial ruin was certain if the critical situation at home was notrelieved instantly. Sending the telegram to Abe Lee he took the firsttrain for San Felipe. It was indeed a forlorn hope.
Mr. Worth's train arrived in San Felipe about eleven o'clock in themorning. Scanning the register at the principal hotel he found theeastern man's name, but the clerk informed him that Mr. Cartwright wasout for the day sight-seeing with a party of friends from New York andwould not likely return until late in the evening.
No one observing the quiet, gray-faced man who waited in the hotellobby that evening could have said that there was more on his mind thana mild interest in the evening paper. Yet Jefferson Worth was readingan account of The King's Basin strike. Finishing the article, hedropped the paper on his knee while the slim fingers of his right handsought his chin with a nervous, caressing motion and his expressionlesseyes moved continually over the crowd in the big room. Outside, thedepot 'bus had just stopped in front of the hotel and a company ofnewly arrived guests were entering the corridor, while the bell-boyswere running forward to relieve them of their luggage and lead them tothe spick-and-span clerk behind the register.
First of the group Jefferson Worth saw the portly, well-groomedpresident of The King's Basin Land and Irrigation Company and with himhis athletic, bronzed-faced chief engineer.
Even as the two were talking with the clerk and, as Worth rightlyguessed, asking for Mr. Cartwright, the old gentleman with his party offriends entered. At a word from the man behind the desk Greenfield andHolmes turned to greet the entering capitalist and his party. They wereall New Yorkers--acquaintances and friends. Coming together with thewidth of the continent between them and their homes, their greetingswere cordial--joyful--even boisterous. And as they parted to follow thewaiting bell-boys to their rooms, the western pioneer banker heard themagreeing to meet and dine together a few minutes later.
Jefferson Worth realized that a business interview with Mr. Cartwrightthat evening was impossible. Without visible interest in anything elsehe raised his paper again and continued reading.
The next morning when the New York capitalist stepped from the elevatoron his way to breakfast he found himself face to face with the man whoso desperately needed financial assistance. "Why, how do you do, Mr.Worth. When did you land in San Felipe?" Cartwright's tone seemed tosubtly change his commonplace question into--"Why are you in SanFelipe?"
Jefferson Worth's answer was straightforward. "I arrived yesterday.Conditions have arisen that make it necessary for me to see you atonce."
The old veteran looked straight into Jefferson Worth's face with theunderstanding of one who had himself passed through many a financialcrisis when the issue depended upon time gained or lost. Sometimes thewheel of Fortune turns with dizzy speed.
"Certainly, Mr. Worth. Come to my room in half an hour," he answeredquickly and as quickly moved away.
When The King's Basin man had placed the situation fairly before himand the old financier had asked a number of pertinent questions, hesaid: "Mr. Worth, I understand that neither the value nor the safety ofmy investment is necessarily impaired because you have a situation onyour hands demanding immediate relief. I can see that the capital youask me to put into your enterprise will relieve the situation at onceand enable you to place the whole business upon a solid foundation. Ifyou fail to raise this money, or if you get it too late, you go to thewall and I lose a chance for what seems a profitable investment. As Itold you, legitimate promotion of actual development projects hasalways been attractive to me, but I want to examine into matters alittle further before I give you my final answer. Frankly I want to askthe opinion of Willard Holmes. I would not place too much confidence inMr. Greenfield's judgment, or rather, I should say, in any advice thathe would give me in this particular matter. But I have known Willardfrom babyhood. I knew his father and the whole family, and I would beguided by his opinion as an engineer of conditions in the new countryin which you are all interested. Fortunately Holmes is here in thehotel. Let me have a little talk with him and I'll give you my answerwithout delay."
Writing a brief note asking the engineer to come to his room, hesummoned a boy and directed him to deliver the message immediately. Afew minutes later Jefferson Worth, in the lobby, saw the boy approachHolmes, who was with Greenfield. The engineer took the note from theboy, glanced at it and handed it to his companion. For a moment theystood in earnest conversation; then the engineer turned and moved away.
Jefferson Worth saw him enter the elevator, saw the ornamented irondoor close and the cage glide smoothly upward.
James Greenfield, confident, self-possessed, with the air of one whoseposition and future are secure, jovially greeted one of the New Yorkparty, who came up on Holmes's departure, and the two stood laughingand chatting over their cigars.
Jefferson Worth sat alone in a secluded corner of the lobby.