Swirling Waters

rew off his gloves and fur-lined coat and adjusted the lights before he answered that his visitor could be shown in

inance. One might have looked for costly furnishings and an atmosphere redolent of big money. Yet here was a simp

avian immigrants to the States, factory-workers, he had run away to sea at the age of fourteen, with the call of the ocean ringing in his ears from the Viking inheritance that was his. But on this was superposed the fierce desire for

send them hither and thither. He soon gave up the seafaring life and entered a shipbroker's office. He starved himself in order to sav

confidence in himself and his judgment and his powers. He would allow

inscrutable eyes and mouth set grim

. The financier was a self-made master, but the shipowner was a born master of men-perhaps one's insti

usually waste time in railway trains myself when I have men I can pay to d

ssary journey," returned Matheson. "I had inten

ou miss

ply this: I want to

it for you?"

in it for

ighing up how far this declaration might be a genuine expression

longer,

r of Hudson Bay. "Here is Fanning trading station, the terminus of your five-hundred-mile railway. The land you run it over is mostly lakes, rivers, and frozen

waste argument over minor points when

means the creating of a modern port at Fanning. It means the lighting of a whole coast-line"-his finger travel

en if the Canadian Government won't. I'll

will be tr

pence a bushel on wheat over my rout

an Government are not with you on this scheme, they'll be against you. There are a dozen ways in which y

d Lars Larssen with a grim tightening of jaw. "Leave

lish and Cana

ural

Yankee propositions.' You yourself couldn't float it in England. On the other ha

rd "public," which carried a world of hidden meaning. Matheson had been ass

rd "capital." He continued. "With myself and Sir Francis Letchmere and a few titled dummies on th

ree

200,000 in Deferred Shares of the nominal value of one shilling each, which are to be allotted to yourself as ven

fteen per cent. dividend is paid on the Ordinary Shares. That's t

u hold

sh through to commercial success-if the limitless wheat-lands of Canada were to pour their mighty torrent of life into Europe through the channel of Hudson Bay-it would be Lars Larssen who would hold the key of the sluice-gate. Directly, he would be

trol on any proposition I touc

that," answ

control fo

N

is it you

tesman and empire-builder whose integrity was beyond all suspicion. "I want him to

an. There was a dangerous gleam in his eye as he said: "Now see here. All the points you've

associated with your scheme unless you agree to half the Deferred Shares being held by Lord -- as trustee. These reasons of mine have only arisen during the last few weeks. Circumstances are d

owner flicked thumb a

"I'll make you a more than fair offe

he preliminaries of the scheme on the und

kno

ney for you-enou

kno

he reason for this sudd

ut of them and the tired look of the platform of the Gare de Lyon too

t's

n't think there's anything more to be said." Matheson rose and walked to the window, pulling up the blind a

cruples where his own interests were concerned. Honesty with him was a mere matter of policy. To a man with the average sense of honour, such an attitude of mind is scarcely realisable, but Lars Larssen was n

. He aimed to be controlling owner of the world's carrying trade; to hold decision on peace and war betw

e, at school in the States. Olaf was to hold the s

arssen's l

stance-he was to be used. There must be something underlying Matheson's sudden access of scruples-what was it? A case of cherc

son's face was set, and the answer to the riddle was such as Lars Larssen could never have

and it now filled his mind with a blaze o

motive for the sudden change of plan. He did not dream for a moment of relinquishing

two. My scheme might be modified on the financial side. I'm prepared to make concessions to

eson. So his answer came with deliber

hing to-night? I hear that Polaire is on at the Folies B

powner; his idea was to keep Matheson under obse

d Matheson with his tired droop of the shoulders. "I h

I'll say good-by

lounge, and gave a few curt directions. "Drive round to the Rue Laffitte-a hurry case. On the second floor of No. 8 is the office of Clifford Matheson. He may be still there-you'll