“Well, I’ve known old Henry pretty near all my life, and I guess he’ll listen to me,” said Craig. “I know for a fact that there ain’t any oil wells at Pascagoula. I’ll just ring them up and see if Henry’s there.”
He went to the telephone, and got the Power house after the usual long delay. Lockwood listened to the passing of a few words.
“The men are all out,” said Craig, turning aside. “Nobody there but Miss Louise. She says——”
“What? Here, let me speak to her. She knows more about it than anybody!” Lockwood exclaimed, and seized the receiver from Craig’s rather reluctant hand. He hesitated; he hardly knew what to say; he could hear his tone forced and artificial.
“That you, Miss Power? This is Lockwood, just got back. I’m at the camp. I’ve found out things. I hope nothing has been done yet about the oil stock?”
“Not yet.” Her voice sounded startled and tremulous. “But I thought you had gone away—left Alabama.”
“Did Hanna say that? Has he been saying things about me?”
“Yes.”
“I expected it. Would it be safe for me to come to see you?”
“I—I don’t know. I’m afraid not.”