Armitage shrugged his shoulders and gave a little bitter laugh.
"What do I care for such jackals? I'm accustomed to that kind of thing. Well, I won't keep you, Mr. Harmon. You asked me to call. What can I do for you?"
The railroad man was taken aback. Yet he liked the man's independent spirit. Hastily he said:
"You mean what can I do for you. I sent for you because we could not allow you to go away like that. Do you suppose that I, John Harmon, would permit the man who saved my daughter to go unrewarded?"
Armitage shook his head.
"I want nothing," he said curtly.
"You want nothing?" echoed Mr. Harmon in surprise, looking his caller up and down from head to foot. "Are your circumstances such that you are in need of nothing?"
Armitage laughed bitterly.
"I need so much that I need nothing. It sounds like a paradox, but it's the truth."
Mr. Harmon looked at him in surprise.