Before the flushed, embarrassed youth could answer, a hand dropped lightly on Tweedy’s shoulder, and a cheery, familiar voice sounded in his ear:
“Well, John, you’re certainly on the dot. Put it there, old man! I’m mighty glad to see you.”
It was Bob, clean, fresh, and well groomed. His eyes sparkled, the glow of health was in his cheeks. There was an air of vigor and physical fitness about him which made Tweedy stare in bewilderment, wondering whether his partner was made of iron.
“I’m certainly glad to see you, Bobby,” he echoed, gripping the strong, brown fingers. “I don’t know how you can stand the pace, though. I’m about all in sitting up most of the night trying to figure out our losses from the incomplete——”
“Just one second, John,” interrupted Bainbridge, and only then was his partner aware of the pleasant-faced, rather distinguished-appearing, gray-haired man who stood just behind the young lumberman. “I want you to meet Mr. Wolcott Sears, of Boston. He’s been up in the woods fishing, and we got acquainted up there.”
Tweedy acknowledged the introduction with the best grace he could summon, in view of the fact that he was burning to get Bob by himself, and find out something of where the firm stood. He knew Sears by reputation as an influential and powerful capitalist, and it was his policy always to be agreeable to moneyed men. But even that, combined with the Boston man’s undoubted charm of manner, did not prevent Tweedy from being a trifle austere. He only thawed completely when Sears presently announced that he would have to tear himself away at once, or else miss the Boston train.
“I was afraid he’d stick around for hours,” Tweedy said, as Bob returned from seeing Sears to the door. “Let’s go over here where there’s less crowd.”
“Couldn’t have a better man,” said Bob, falling into step with his partner. “He’s one of the best ever, John, and has been a good friend to me.”
“Of course, of course!” returned Tweedy, with a nervous sort of pettishness. “That’s all very well, but we don’t want anybody else around just now. Tell me about the mill. Complete loss, I suppose?”
Bainbridge nodded. “Just about. Saved a few hundred thousand feet of pine stacked at the upper end of the yard. Everything else went.”