“His wife is the proper person to look after him,” Kerr interposed. “Then I have a young fellow in the rail gang who could help; found him useful once or twice when the boys got hurt. In fact, I suspect he's had some medical training, though I didn't ask why he quit.”
Norton smiled. It is not unusual to find men whose professional career has been cut short working on a Western track.
“That simplifies matters. If you had wanted a lawyer or an accountant, I could have sent a man. However, there's another thing—”
“There is; it's important,” Kerr agreed. “Who's going to carry on the contract?”
Charnock leaned forward eagerly. “I'll try. Give me a chance. I think I know my job.”
There was silence for a few moments and Norton looked at Kerr, who slowly filled his pipe.
“I'd like to consent,” he said, “but I'm the Company's servant and there's a risk.” He paused and turned to Norton. “However, it's really your business. If things go wrong, the trouble's coming to you first.”
“Sure. I'm willing to take the risk. I don't expect Charnock will fool the job, but if he does you can get after me. I'll stand for it.”
“Very well! We'll let it go at that.”
Charnock got up, with some color in his bandaged face, because he knew what Norton's confidence meant. He was, so to speak, an unknown man and the contract had been given to Festing, who was an engineer. If he failed, the men who trusted him would be held accountable.