For the Allinson Honor

illed with the smell of pine boarding. A stove, glowing a dull red, stood at one end, and a kerosene lamp hanging from a beam threw a bright light on the faces of the men. They were eager

le, he sat for a few momen

here was something wrong. Watson displayed no enthusiasm about the Company's prospects, and Carnally let fall disturbing hints. Andrew, however, steadily occupied himself with his task, which gained a stronger hold on him,

, but he read on through several sheets while his face hardened; an

Watson, in

ew what to expect. When he in turn took the report from Watson, there was an oppressive silence in t

d, when Carnally had finished reading the papers. "We can't keep the

e a sign o

the truth, though I guess it will cost me my jo

this some

usiness. I was sent here to get out as

ny suggesti

your transport work yourselves, you might keep going. The

urned to

od from the beginning. I see n

ldn't speak plain

fortunate people who found the money were the only ones deceived." He turned to the manager sharply. "What did you mea

oney backing him; but that's no concern of mine. I'm sorry for you, Mr. Al

. Let them go on as usual,

uare," Watson replied with an air of relief. "No

ad had a shock, but he had borne it well. Instead of unnerving, it had braced him to grapple with a

only half the trouble-the rest will hardly bear thinking of. My firm put its stamp on this venture, backed it with its name;

on't quite understand the matter yet. It's clear that Mappin has the support of Mr. Hathersage; he finds hi

w sta

his mind leaped to a wider conclusion. "I dare say th

foundation for that,"

ew moments; and then Andrew

rst came. You thought I was in the ring-one of the people who,

think somethi

me you, Jake. You believed I was what you call a sucker, s

looked em

hunting and fishing, without taking much interest in the mine. Then, if trouble came, they'd le

l, it's possible they to

didn't look for. In my opinion they picked the wrong man for the pa

o try. If I can get his consent, I

lly s

t plan! Will

'd be helples

you couldn't be expected to know; but I've taught you all I can, and you take your rig

We'll start for the Landing

ny sat at a desk in his office at the mill and listened attentively while Andrew explained the object of his visit. He was an elderly man with a keen b

cigar,"

; and a cloud of steam from a neighboring stack obscured the light that entered the windows. A

ed out all you expected?"

t," Andrew

o something to protect the i

added with a direct glan

into his com

d he has served us well, but I've now and then felt sorry for him. It's possible he hasn't found it easy to spend the best par

idn't break loose

venture; but Graham could never put by money enough to make the plunge. He had his children to bring up and

ome embarrassment, and th

for is the maximum output. Still, you see, our isolated position gives us a monopoly, and we're small enough to take a personal interest in our older han

romised; "he sh

. As it happens, things are slack just now; and to make this journey will se

on his coming ba

man looked

you, but if Graham finds tha

for a week or two. Graham was away on business down the line and would not return until the next day, and Andrew, being in a restless mood, felt that a t

its white covering offered good foothold. It was dark and bitterly cold; Andrew's hands grew stiff in his thick mittens and he shivered as he faced the stronger gusts, guiding himself by the loom of the roc

train, and her father had driven across to the Landing for his mail, but would be back soon. She led Andrew into a room which looked de

t saw you, and you don't look so cheerful,

explainable," Andrew re

imagine his grappling with unaccustomed difficulties, clumsily, perhaps, but resolutely. Though several years his junior, she knew that she had the keener i

ave had some tro

experience that has rudely shaken me. After all, it's possible that one n

ether that's

thout much trouble, and now, when I've no experience to fall back on, I'm landed i

ut, though it might not be the easiest one. "As you came over to Canada

en that it might be more bracing to do something usefu

drew that she was very pretty as sh

ou might have hinted at a longing for

often get a good deal more than yo

ed that in

nd other things. For example, I learned how

money w

lies. So far, I've been

y doesn't end there? But if you wished to

d at it, I was quietly discouraged. I suppose it wasn't expec

estioning the accuracy of their views about him. He had, however, obviously broken loose from his tutelage, and now stood firm, ignorant perhaps of much that

ry entertaining," he a

iously. "One doesn't always expect to be amused. But you hav

high opini

ies out. You feel that he can be relied on; that he would do the square thin

"The trouble often is to see how

hall, and Frobisher came in

l have to stay all night," he said. "It's snowing so hard