“Are you behind this deal?”
“I am. Your Mr. Brinkerhoff failed, but my boy didn’t. I have nearly all the rest of the stock. When I get a hundred more, I’ll trouble you for three millions.”
Silence.
“Don’t think I’m out to bleed you, Asher. In ten years you’ll make that land worth ten millions, and I have a couple of little presents to help you do it. You’ll be wanting explosives, and I’m going to hand you fifty thousand pounds of the best. You’ll be wanting a coaling station, and I’ve got one for you. You may be wanting rock for your electric furnaces, and I was going to give you this island, but I can’t get it.”
A moccasined step at the door of the tent.
“Supper is ready.”
“Miss Rich, this is Mr. Asher Ferry.”
“Mr. Ferry, I’m glad to see you. But I heard what Mr. Mahan said to you just now about this island. That was a whopper.”
“Asher, you can’t have it. She refused ten thousand for it.”
“Well, Chase, I’m glad there’s somebody you can’t twist round your finger.”