He was present when the company received the brief but pointed letter from Mr. Winters, in which he stated that the property shown them had not been what they were looking for, and that they had found something more satisfactory in another direction.
“Well, Blaisdell,” said Mr. Rivers, in his quick, incisive way, “I’m not in the least surprised.”
“Not surprised!” echoed Mr. Blaisdell, “Why not? I confess I’m surprised and disappointed.”
“It’s just what I expected,” again chirped Mr. Rivers, “just what I told you all along.”
“I knew you said you were rather suspicious just in the direction where I felt the surest of them.”
“Just so,” said Mr. Rivers, “I said all along, ‘those fish won’t bite worth a nickel.’”
“Well,” said Mr. Blaisdell, with a heavy sigh, “all we can do is to try again.”
“And next time, I’d advise you to have a little more bait, or else don’t tackle so big a fish.”
It was Houston’s last evening in Silver City, and he sat in the hotel lobby reading letters which had just come from his uncle and Van Dorn, under cover from the Chicago firm, as usual.
Mr. Cameron was delighted to have met Van Dorn and the Englishman, and had engaged both men to remain in New York, awaiting word from Houston, when he should be ready.