CHAPTER XXVII
REINSTATEMENT
A year of tireless effort and some anxiety had passed since Winston had seen the first load of flour sent to the east, when he and Graham sat talking in their Winnipeg office. The products of the St. Louis mills were already in growing demand, and Graham appeared quietly contented as he turned over the letters before him. When he laid down the last one, however, he glanced at his companion somewhat anxiously.
"We have got to fix up something soon," he said. "I have booked all the St. Louis can turn out for six months ahead, and the syndicate is ready to take the business over, though I don't quite know whether it would be wise to let them. It seems to me that milling is going to pay tolerably well for another year, and if I knew what you were wanting, it would suit me better."
"I told you I wanted thirty thousand dollars," said Winston quietly.
"You've got them," said Graham. "When the next balance comes out you'll have a good many more. The question is, what you're going to do with them now they're yours?"
Winston took out a letter from Dane and passed it across to Graham.
"I'm sorry to tell you the Colonel is getting no better," it ran. "The specialist we brought in seems to think he will never be quite himself again, and, now he has let the reins go, things are falling to pieces at Silverdale. Somebody left Atterly a pile of money, and he is going back to the old country. Carshalton is going too, and, as they can't sell out to any one we don't approve of, the rest insisted on me seeing you. I purpose starting to-morrow."
"What happened to Colonel Barrington?" asked Graham.
"His sleigh turned over," said Winston, "Horse trampled on him, and it was an hour or two before his hired man could get him under shelter!"