“No, how should I?” said Conacher. “Coming from the mountains.”
“True, this is your first season. I’ve been in the country three summers, and I’ve picked up all the gossip. It’s one of the stock stories of the country how Blackburn and Gault have been fighting each other for twenty years, and Blackburn has beaten out Gault at every turn. Gault had to obtain financial assistance outside. But here’s a new piece of information that came to me pretty straight. Nothing can be hidden in this country. It seems that Ogilvie, Gault’s backer, told Gault on his last visit to Fort Good Hope that the Company would fire him if he didn’t succeed in putting Blackburn out of business.”
Conacher’s face darkened with anxiety. “I wish I had known that!” he muttered. “How did you hear of Blackburn’s death?”
“Yesterday, before the boss pulled out, we got mail from Good Hope by the half-breed Modest Capeau. When he left the fort the news of Blackburn’s death had come; and Gault had gone over there. . . .” Jordan hesitated, with an embarrassed glance at his friend.
“Well, out with it!” said Conacher sharply.
Jordan shrugged. “According to the gossip at Fort Good Hope, Gault said that he was going to marry the girl.”
Conacher jumped up. “Oh, my God!” he cried agitatedly. “That old man! What the devil will I do!”
Jordan followed him. “How about the girl?” he asked.
“She loves me, Alec,” said Conacher simply.
Jordan gripped his shoulder. “Old fellow . . . you deserve to be happy!” he said warmly.