“I do not know what you mean, Mr. Morgan, unless you refer to the rumor that I am going to let the logging contract to the Waits.”
“You call it a rumor,” Jarred replied a little doubtfully. “It was reported to me as a fact, apparently a very widely known fact,” he added bitterly.
“I assure you that it is nothing more than a rumor and a false rumor at that. I have not spoken more than half a dozen words to a Wait since I came here.”
“That may all be true enough but did not your superior officer make the promise for you?” Jarred asked with a slight sneer.
The sneer angered Scott but he knew that it was justified under the circumstances.
“I, too, Mr. Morgan, have heard that Mr. Reynolds very rashly made some informal promises to the Waits in regard to that contract. All I can say is that he did it without conferring with me. I am entirely responsible for letting that contract and I do not feel myself in any way bound by what he may have said. I can assure you that there will be no contract let to either the Waits or the Morgans unless they will agree to forget their feud and take the contract together.”
Old Jarred looked him squarely in the eye for a minute before he replied. Then he held out his hand. “I beg your pardon,” he said with dignity. “You must charge my discourtesy to a mistake. I appreciate your frankness and I want to be equally frank. Under those conditions there will be no logging contract let here. Won’t you come in, sir?”
Scott had grasped the proffered hand eagerly. “Thank you, sir. I will not come in now because it is late and you will be busy with the little girl, but I would like to come up and talk things over with you to-morrow.”
“We’ll be glad to see you any time,” Jarred answered cordially.
“Good night, sir. I hope the little girl’s injuries are not serious.”