“This, you see, has resulted not only in bringing the animosity of these men against me but in aggravating 204 their hostility to the company,” he concluded. “I’ve never been a quitter. It would go sorely against the grain with me to quit now while under fire. But my own feelings or fortunes should have no weight; the company’s interests alone are to be considered. I shall turn over the management to Meyers and retire if you desire; I count my contract not binding upon your board under the circumstances.”
Pollock arose and began to pace the office, gently beating the air with his eye-glasses and thoughtfully regarding the floor.
“I should not do your remarkable story proper justice if I did not give it the serious attention it deserves,” he said, after a time. “Certain aspects of the case would appear to favor our accepting your resignation, but on analysis, Weir, they turn out to be aspects only, not real arguments. Assuming the facts are as you relate, which I personally don’t doubt, these men, if they will stop at nothing to injure you, will be no more reluctant to injure us. In fact, if you withdrew they would feel that they had gained a distinct triumph, forced us to yield to their will, and would be inspired to further and greater opposition. Personal hatred for you on their part is no ground for their fixing their enmity on the company. But that enmity, apparently, already existed before you came. Therefore if they hate you likewise, you and our company have a common bond. And that assures us of one thing, or several things: your vigilance, care of company property, and loyalty. Last, and aside from that, you are, I am confident, possessed of the exact qualities essential to the successful solution of present difficulties. We prefer as manager an energetic, determined, fighting man, however much disliked by envious neighbors, to some fellow less firm and more inclined 205 to conciliation. The latter never gained anything with out-and-out foes, from what I’ve seen. So you perceive, Weir, that when my associates and I get into a row we’re not quitters either. We shall therefore just dismiss all talk of your resignation.”
“Very good; I wanted you to know the facts.”
Pollock paced to and fro for a time longer.
“What really interests me is your own fight,” he remarked at length. “If the paper you spoke of should be found, I would be pleased to have it translated for you. I should also like to consult with this man Martinez; he seems a clever fellow. You expect to settle with this quartet who defrauded your father, of course.”
“Certainly. But the money isn’t the main thing. For no amount of money would ever pay for the wrong done my father. I want to make these men suffer, suffer as he suffered. Call it a simple desire for revenge if you will; that’s what it really is. They robbed him of his future as well as of his ranch and cattle. They took away hope and implanted in his breast terror and remorse wholly undeserved. But for them he might have been a happy, prosperous, well-thought of man in this state. Yes, revenge is what I want, not money. Revenge that will be for them an equivalent of hell.”
“But they should pay the legal penalties of their crime as well,” the lawyer spoke. “Recovery of the original amounts gained by fraud from both your father and this man Dent, and accumulated interest as well as damages, should be had. In all it should make a large amount.”
“I suppose so. Probably enough to clean the four men out. But though of course I should enjoy getting the property or money that was rightfully my father’s and now mine, still I’d let that go if I could secure the 206 satisfaction of making the four men pay in the coin I want.”
“Don’t be a fool, Weir. Don’t overlook any bets, as the saying is. Taking their property away from them will but add to their pain and to your pleasure. Now we must see if Dent’s heirs can be found. I suggest that you employ some good attorney to start a hunt along that line, for an action by Dent’s relatives will indirectly strengthen your own case. I’m doubtful about one thing, however–––”