"There are folks in the old country who will bless you when they know," he said. "You'll forget it, though I can't, that I was once against you."
Winston nodded to them gravely, and, when the glasses were empty, shook hands with the three.
"We have put up a good fight, and I think we shall win, but, while you will understand me better by and by, what you have offered me almost hurts," he said.
"What we have given is yours. We don't take it back," said Dane.
Winston smiled, though there was a wistfulness in his eyes as he saw the faint bewilderment in his companions' faces.
"Well," he said slowly, "you can do a little for me now. Colonel Barrington was right when he set his face against speculation, and it was only because I saw dollars were badly needed at Silverdale, and the one means of getting them, I made my deal. Still, if we are to succeed as farmers we must market our wheat as cheaply as our rivals, and we want a new bridge on the level. Now, I got a drawing of one, and estimates for British Columbia stringers, yesterday, while the birches in the ravine will give us what else we want. I'll build the bridge myself, but it will cheapen the wheat-hauling to everybody, and you might like to help me."
Dane glanced at the drawing laid before him, but Alfreton spoke first. "One hundred dollars. I'm only a small man, but I wish it was five," he said.
"I'll make it that much, and see the others do their share," said Dane, and then glanced at the broker with a curious smile.
"How does he do it--this and other things? He was never a business man!"
Graham nodded. "He can't help it. It was born in him. You and I can figure and plan, but Courthorne is different--the right thing comes to him. I knew the first night I saw him, you had got the man you wanted at Silverdale."