The Dominant Dollar Part 44

"I should like to have been with you." The tone was non-committal.

"Strange to say I like to see people in that frame of mind. It makes for optimism. Will his new effort, you think, stand on its own legs?"

"Yes; always providing nothing interferes. I've seen the first half. It's more than good. It's excellent. You're in it, distinct as life, by the way."

Roberts lit a cigar and smoked for a minute in silence.

"I'm sorry, sincerely, that I'm there," he said then. He gazed at his companion steadily, and with a significance Randall never forgot. "I used to fancy I wasn't afraid of anything. I'm not afraid of most things,--dynamite or nitro-glycerine or murderous fanatics or physical pain; but in the last year I've learned there's one thing on earth, one person, I'm afraid of--deathly afraid. You know who?"

"Yes."

"I predicted once he would make good. I believed it then. Since I've been alone a good deal and had much time to think, and question. That's why I am afraid." Roberts paused to smoke, seemingly impa.s.sive. "I'd give every cent I have in the world and start anew to-morrow without breakfast if I could only know, only know to a certainty that he would keep his grip.

But will he?... I'm afraid!"

Scarcely knowing what he did, Randall lit a cigar in turn and smoked like a furnace. His tongue attempted to form an a.s.surance, but try as he might he could not give it voice. Once he had promised not to lie to that man opposite, ever; and in the depths of his own soul he knew that he, too, was afraid. At last, in self-confessed rout, he voiced the commonplace.

"It's my turn to ask questions now, I think," he said. "Are you back to stay?"

Roberts looked up, only half comprehending; he roused himself.

"No. I intend to close out everything. I doubt if I ever stay anywhere permanently again. I'll keep the house here, though."

"You've decided not to sell it--even to me?"

Roberts paused.

"Yes," he said at last; but he offered no explanation.

Randall waited, hoping for a lead whereby light might come. But none opened, and the subject dropped.

"I judge the mine's making good," he commented, with the trace of awkwardness he always felt when approaching the other's personal affairs.

"Will you return soon?"

"Probably not soon." The voice was almost listless. "I put everything in shape for an indefinite absence before I came away. To answer your question: It's a wonder, bigger than I ever hoped. It'll still be a great mine a generation from now."

Randall caught his breath. The big game was yet new to him, and the volume of wealth suggested was c.u.mulatively overpowering.

"Bigger than you expected!" he echoed. "Then that means--millions!"

Roberts glanced at his companion curiously. Slowly he smiled.

"Yes," he said, "it means millions. I haven't even an idea how many eventually." The smile left his face, every trace of expression as well.

"I could sell for ten to-day if I wished; but I have no intention of selling."

Randall sat looking at the other as if hypnotized. He forgot to ask questions, forgot almost to breathe. To read of gigantic fortunes, the property of absolute strangers living a thousand or thousands of miles away, is one thing: to have one personally known, an actual acquaintance in possession--it held him speechless, staring. The other's familiar, tolerant laugh aroused him.

"Don't, please," said Roberts. "They've been doing that to me wherever I show myself and write my name; that is, when they haven't been proving relations.h.i.+p." He laughed again shortly. "It's wonderful how many relatives I've discovered of late and friends I've made. Don't do it, please."

Randall could still color and his face went red.

"I beg your pardon," he apologized, "I--"

"Nor that either," swiftly, almost curtly. "Just be yourself, natural. I like you that way." He looked at the other openly, with frank intentness that heralded the unexpected.

"It's possible," he digressed evenly, "that I'll be here some time, but the chances are I'll only stay a day or so. After to-night we'll probably not see much of each other, maybe nothing at all, ever. We're rather different types and our roads lead differently." He smiled to dissipate the mystification he saw gathering on the other's face. "This is a preface. What I'm aiming at directly is to say a thing or two that have been on my mind for some time--in case I don't have the opportunity again." Once more the smile,--the same smile that had won the confidence of the other against heavy odds in the beginning of their acquaintance.

"Do you mind if I'm a bit--fatherly to you?"

"No." Swift as thought, as panoramic memory, Harry Randall had remembered everything; and, without shame, his eyes were moist. "I'd like you to be so. I understand."

Roberts looked away at the red and green wall opposite.

"It's just this, then; and if you wish me to stop say the word; I get reports of various things in various ways. It's part of my philosophy to know of events in advance if I can. I've heard that you are speculating a bit. Is it true?"

Randall started involuntarily; but the other was not looking.

"How in the world did you know?" he questioned.

"Never mind how I know. I'd tell you if it would do any good; but it wouldn't. It's true, isn't it?"

"Yes," Randall moistened his lips; "a little."

"Things coming a trifle slow for you, are they? Hard to meet expenses--"

"No; it's not that; but--"

"I understand perfectly." Roberts was still inspecting the pattern of the paper with minute attention. "As perhaps your best friend, though, don't do it. If at any time you need money, really need it, remember I am your friend, and don't hesitate to tell me. But outside of that--" He halted significantly, waiting; then, sufficient time having elapsed, he looked at the other again directly.

"Now for the fatherly admonition," he digressed evenly, "or whatever you please to call it. You're doing well here, and will do better as time goes by. You're on your own feet, solid. Don't gamble with things as they are, ever. It's contagious, I know, when a man gets a little surplus, and looking over the rise of the horizon sees such an infinite field beyond; but steer clear. Some men can gamble and lose, and forget it and come up smiling again. Others are fas.h.i.+oned by nature differently. Once down they stay down; and regret as long as they live. It's a fundamental difference no power can change. I hope I haven't hurt you unforgivably, Randall?"

Harry Randall glanced up, and his eyes held steady.

"No; and I'll not forget. I promise you that." Involuntarily he started to rise, his hand half extended, his eyes bright; but he sat down again.

"If I could only thank you right, Roberts," he voiced tensely, "could only show you in some way that I appreciate--" He halted, the sentence so consciously inadequate, incomplete,--"If I only could," he repeated helplessly.

A moment they sat there so, looking at each other, merely looking. Then at last, with an obvious weariness Randall had never seen him exhibit before, Roberts slowly arose. Still another moment he stood there, looking down.

"'Roberts,'" he echoed in a low tone, "'Roberts,' always 'Roberts'! Not 'Darley,' even then." He turned abruptly toward his own rooms, his great shoulders all but blocking the doorway as he pa.s.sed out. "Good-night," he said.

CHAPTER X

DECISION

The light on the porch was dim, and as Elice Gleason, answering the ring, opened the outer door she stared as one who sees unbelievable things. For a moment she did not utter a sound, merely stood there gazing at the visitor with a look that was only partially credulous; in sudden weakness, oddly unlike her normal composure, she covered her face with her hands.

"Elice!" Unbidden, the man came wholly within. "A thousand pardons for startling you. I should have let you know--'phoned at least. I--pardon me, please."