the major- 第50部分

〃How　long　will　it　take？〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham。

〃I　expect　to　finish　to…night　some　time。　　I　have　already　had　a　couple　of　hours　with　Dimock　to…day。　　He　has　left　me　the　data。〃

〃Well；　I　am　very　sorry；　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham。　　〃It　is　a　great　pity　you　cannot　come　with　us；　and　you　look　rather　fagged。　　Dimock　could　not　delay；　eh？〃

〃He　says　he　has　an　appointment　at　Kansas　City　which　he　must　keep。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　perfect　rubbish；〃　exclaimed　Rowena　impatiently；　〃and　we　have　a　party　on　to…night。　　Your　friend；　Mr。　Hugh　Raeder；　is　to　be　out；　and　Professor　Schaefer　and　a　friend　of　his；　and　some　perfectly　charming　girls。〃

〃But　why　tell　me　these　things　now；　Miss　Wakeham；〃　said　Larry；　〃when　you　know　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　come？〃

〃You　won't　come？〃

〃I　can't　come。〃

〃Come　along　then；　father；〃　she　said；　and　with　a　stiff　little　bow　she　left　Larry　at　his　desk。

Before　the　car　moved　off　Larry　came　hurrying　out。

〃Here　is　Elfie's　letter；〃　he　said。　　〃Perhaps　Mrs。　Wakeham　would　like　to　see　it。〃　　Miss　Wakeham　was　busy　at　the　wheel　and　gave　no　sign　of　having　heard　or　seen。　　So　her　father　reached　over　and　took　the　letter　from　him。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Larry　gravely；　〃I　do　not　think　it　is　quite　so　hot　as　it　was。　　I　almost　fancy　I　feel　a　chill。〃

〃A　chill？〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham　anxiously。　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

Miss　Wakeham　bit　her　lip；　broke　into　a　smile　and　then　into　a　laugh。　〃Oh；　he's　a　clever　thing；　he　is；〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　you　may　have　a　real　good　roast　this　afternoon。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　call　next　Saturday；〃　said　Larry　earnestly。　　〃It　is　sure　to　be　hot。〃

〃You　don't　deserve　it　or　anything　else　that　is　good。〃

〃Except　your　pity。　　Think　what　I　am　missing。〃

〃Get　in　out　of　the　heat；〃　she　cried　as　the　car　slipped　away。

For　some　blocks　Miss　Wakeham　was　busy　getting　her　car　through　the　crush　of　the　traffic；　but　as　she　swung　into　the　Park　Road　she　remarked；　〃That　young　man　takes　himself　too　seriously。　　You　would　think　the　business　belonged　to　him。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　had　more　men　in　my　office；〃　said　her　father；　〃who　thought　the　same　thing。　　Do　you　know；　young　lady；　why　it　is　that　so　many　greyheads　are　holding　clerk's　jobs？　　Because　clerks　do　not　feel　that　the　business　is　their　own。　　The　careless　among　them　are　working　for　five　o'clock；　and　the　keen　among　them　are　out　for　number　one。　　Do　you　know　if　that　boy　keeps　on　thinking　that　the　business　is　his　he　will　own　a　big　slice　of　it　or　something　better　before　he　quits。　　I　confess　I　was　greatly　pleased　that　you　failed　to　move　him。〃

〃All　the　same；　he　is　awfully　stubborn；〃　said　his　daughter。

〃You　can't　bully　him　as　you　do　your　old　dad；　eh？〃

〃I　had　counted　on　him　for　our　dinner　party　to…night。　　I　particularly　want　to　have　him　meet　Professor　Schaefer；　and　now　we　will　have　a　girl　too　many。　　It　just　throws　things　out。〃

They　rolled　on　in　silence　for　some　time　through　the　park　when　suddenly　her　father　said；　〃He　may　be　finished　by　six　o'clock；　and　Michael　could　run　in　for　him。〃

At　six　o'clock　Miss　Wakeham　called　Larry　on　the　'phone。　　〃Are　you　still　at　it？〃　she　enquired。　　〃And　when　will　you　be　finished？〃

〃An　hour；　I　think；　will　see　me　through；〃　he　replied。

〃Then；〃　said　Miss　Wakeham；　〃a　little　before　seven　o'clock　the　car　will　be　waiting　at　your　office　door。〃

〃Hooray！〃　cried　Larry。　　〃You　are　an　angel。　　I　will　be　through。〃

At　a　quarter　of　seven　Larry　was　standing　on　the　pavement；　which　was　still　radiating　heat；　and　so　absorbed　in　watching　for　the　Wakehams'　big　car　that　he　failed　to　notice　a　little　Mercer　approaching　till　it　drew　up　at　his　side。

〃What；　you；　Miss　Rowena？〃　he　cried。　　〃Your　own　self？　　How　very　lovely　of　you；　and　through　all　this　heat！〃

〃Me；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃only　me。　　I　thought　it　might　still　be　hot　and　a　little　cool　breeze　would　be　acceptable。　　But　jump　in。〃

〃Cool　breeze；　I　should　say　so！〃　exclaimed　Larry。　　〃A　lovely；　cool；　sweet　spring　breeze　over　crocuses　and　violets！　　But；　I　say；　I　must　go　to　my　room　for　my　clothes。〃

〃No　evening　clothes　to…night；〃　exclaimed　Rowena。

〃Ah；　but　I　have　a　new；　lovely；　cool　suit　that　I　have　been　hoping　to　display　at　Birchwood。　　These　old　things　would　hardly　do　at　your　dinner　table。〃

〃We'll　go　around　for　it。　　Do　get　in。　　Do　you　know；　I　left　my　party　to　come　for　you；　partly　because　I　was　rather　nasty　this　afternoon？〃

〃You　were　indeed；〃　said　Larry。　　〃You　almost　broke　my　heart；　but　this　wipes　all　out；　my　heart　is　singing　again。　　That　awfully　jolly　letter　of　Elfie's　this　week　made　me　quite　homesick　for　the　open　and　for　the　breezes　of　the　Alberta　foothills。〃

〃Tell　me　what　she　said；〃　said　Rowena；　not　because　she　wanted　so　much　to　hear　Elfie's　news　but　because　she　loved　to　hear　him　talk；　and　upon　no　subject　could　Larry　wax　so　eloquent　as　upon　the　foothill　country　of　Alberta。　　Long　after　they　had　secured　Larry's　new　suit　and　gone　on　their　way　through　park　and　boulevard；　Larry　continued　to　expatiate　upon　the　glories　of　Alberta　hills　and　valleys；　upon　its　cool　breezes；　its　flowing　rivers　and　limpid　lakes；　and　always　the　western　rampart　of　the　eternal　snow…clad　peaks。

〃And　how　is　the　mine　doing？〃　inquired　Rowena；　for　Larry　had　fallen　silent。

〃The　mine？　　Oh；　there's　trouble　there；　I　am　afraid。　　Switzeryou　have　heard　of　Switzer？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　all　about　him　and　his　tragic　disappointment。　　He's　the　manager；　isn't　he？〃

〃The　manager？　　No；　he's　the　secretary；　but　in　this　case　it　means　the　same　thing；　for　he　runs　the　mine。　　Well；　Switzer　wants　to　sell　his　stock。　　He　and　his　father　hold　about　twenty…five　thousand　dollars　between　them。　　He　means　to　resign。　　And　to　make　matters　worse；　the　manager　left　last　week。　　They　are　both　pulling　out；　and　it　makes　it　all　the　worse；　for　they　had　just　gone　in　for　rather　important　extensions。　　I　am　anxious　a　bit。　　You　see　they　are　rather　hard　up　for　money；　and　father　raised　all　he　could　on　his　ranch　and　on　his　mining　stock。〃

〃How　much　is　involved？〃　inquired　Rowena。

〃Oh；　not　so　much　money　as　you　people　count　it；　but　for　us　it　is　all　we　have。　　He　raised　some　fifty　thousand　dollars。　　While　the　mine　goes　on　and　pays　it　is　safe　enough；　but　if　the　mine　quits　then　it　is　all　up　with　us。　　There　is　no　reason　for　anxiety　at　present　as　far　as　the　mine　is　concerned；　however。　　It　is　doing　splendidly　and　promises　better　every　day。　　But　Switzer's　going　will　embarrass　them　terribly。　　He　was　a　perfect　marvel　for　work　and　he　could　handle　the　miners　as　no　one　else　could。　　Most　of　them；　you　know；　are　his　own　people。〃

〃I　see　you　are　worrying；〃　said　Rowena；　glancing　at　his　face；　which　she　thought　unusually　pale。

〃Not　a　bit。　　At　least；　not　very　much。　　Jack　is　a　levelheaded　chap　Jack　Romayne；　I　meanmy　brother…in…law。　　By　the　way；　I　had　a　wire　to　say　that　young　Jack　had　safely　arrived。〃

〃Young　Jack？　　Oh；　I　understand。　　Then　you　are　Uncle　Larry。〃

〃I　am。　　How　ancient　I　feel！　　And　what　a　lot　of　responsibility　it　lays　upon　me！〃

〃I　hope　your　sister　is　quite　well。〃

〃Everything　fine；　so　I　am　informed。　　But　what　was　I　saying？　　Oh；　yes；　Jack　is　a　level…headed　chap　and　his　brother…in…law；　Waring…　Gaunt；　who　is　treasurer　of　the　company；　is　very　solid。　　So　I　think　there's　no　doubt　but　that　they　will　be　able　to　make　all　necessary　arrangements。〃

〃Well；　don't　worry　to…night；〃　said　Rowena。　　〃I　want　you　to　have　a　good　time。　　I　am　particularly　anxious　that　you　should　meet　and　like　Professor　Schaefer。〃

〃A　German；　eh？〃　said　Larry。

〃Yesthat　is；　a　German…American。　　He　is　a　metallurgist；　quite　wonderful；　I　believe。　　He　does　a　lot　of　work　for　father；　and　you　will　doubtless　have　a　good　deal　to　do　with　him　yourself。　　And　he　spoke　so　highly　of　Canada　and　of　Canadians　that　I　felt　sure　you　would　be　glad　to　meet　him。　　He　is　really　a　very　charming　man；　musical　and　all　that；　but　chiefly　he　is　a　man　of　high　intelligence　and　quite　at　the　top　of　his　profession。　　He　asked　to　bring　a　friend　of　his　with　him；　a　Mr。　Meyer；　whom　I　do　not　know　at　all；　but　he　is　sure　to　be　interesting　if　he　is　a　friend　of　Professor　Schaefer's。　We　have　some　nice　girls；　too；　so　we　hope　to　have　an　interesting　evening。〃

The　company　was　sufficiently　varied　to　forbid　monotony；　and　sufficiently　intellectual　to　be　stimulating；　and　there　was　always　the　background　of　Big　Business。　　Larry　was　conscious　that　he　was　moving　amid　large　ideas　and　far…reaching　interests；　and　that　though　he　himself　was　a　small　element；　he　was　playing　a　part　not　altogether　insignificant；　with　a　promise　of　bigger　things　in　the　future。　Professor　Schaefer　became　easily　the　centre　of　interest　in　the　party。　　He　turned　out　to　be　a　man　of　the　world。　　He　knew　great　cities　and　great　men。　　He　was　a　connoisseur　in　art　and　something　more　than　an　amateur　in　music。　　His　piano　playing；　indeed；　was　far　beyond　that　of　the　amateur。　　But　above　everything　he　was　a　man　of　his　work。　　He　knew　metals　and　their　qualities　as　perhaps　few　men　in　America；　and　he　was　enthusiastic　in　his　devotion　to　his　profession。　After　dinner；　with　apologies　to　the　ladies；　he　discoursed　from　full　and　accurate　knowledge　of　the　problems　to　be　met　within　his　daily　work　and　their　solutions。　　He　was　frequently　highly　technical；　but　to　everything　he　touched　he　lent　a　charm　that　captivated　his　audience。　　To　Larry　he　was　especially　gracious。　　He　was　interested　in　Canada。　　He　apparently　had　a　minute　knowledge　of　its　mineral　history；　its　great　deposits　in　metals；　in　coal；　and　oil；　which　he　declared　to　be　among　the　richest　in　the　world。　　The　mining　operations；　however；　carried　out　in　Canada；　he　dismissed　as　being　unworthy　of　consideration。　　He　deplored　the　lack　of　scientific　knowledge　and　the　absence　of　organisation。

〃We　should　do　that　better　in　our　country。　　Ah；　if　only　our　Government　would　take　hold　of　these　deposits；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　whole　world　should　hear　of　them。〃　　The　nickel　mining　industry　alone　in　the　Sudbury　district　he　considered　worthy　of　respect。　　Here　he　became　enthusiastic。　　〃If　only　my　country　had　such　a　magnificent　bit　of　ore！〃　he　cried。　　〃But　such　bungling；　such　childish　trifling　with　one　of　the　greatest；　if　not　the　very　greatest；　mining　industries　in　the　world！　　To　think　that　the　Government　of　Canada　actually　allows　the　refining　of　that　ore　to　be　done　outside　of　its　own　country！　　Folly；　folly；　criminal　folly！　　But　it　is　all　the　same　in　this　country；　too。　　The　mining　work　in　America　is　unscienti