“Pryor Gaines’d better stayed right here. It’s what’s likely to happen to a man who goes missionarying too far, and we could ’a used him here.”
It was an unusual concession for Darley Champers to make regarding the church, and Asher looked keenly at him.
“Say, Aydelot,” Champers said suddenly, “you have more influence with John Jacobs ’n anybody else, I know. 336 If you see the Jew, pass it on to him that Wyker’s at his old cut-ups again over in Wykerton, and he’s danged bitter against Jacobs. I can help him on the side like I did before, but the Jew’s got hold of enough over there now to run things, with ownin’ land all round and holdin’ mortgages on town property just to keep joints out of ’em. I do no end of business for Jacobs now. Never had dealin’s with a straighter man. But he’d better look out for Wyker. The Dutchman’s insides is all green with poison, he’s hated Jacobs so many years.”
“I guess John will make it hard on him if they come to blows again. The jail sentence and fine Jacobs fastened on him let Wyker down easy. John Jacobs is one of the state’s big men,” Asher responded.
“We lost another big man when we let Doc Carey go,” Champers went on. “I used to set up nights and rest myself hatin’ him. He done the biggest missionary work in me the two weeks I stayed at his house ever was done for a benighted heathen. I hated to see him go.” The sadness of the tone was genuine. “But I mustn’t be hangin’ round here all the mornin’; I’ve got other things to do. Hope your boy’ll keep a-goin’ till his term’s out. Goodday!” And Champers was gone.
“Till his term’s out!” Asher repeated with a smile. “Wouldn’t that six-footer of a soldier boy, whose patriotism burns like a furnace, see the joke to that! Till he gets his stripes off and forgets the lock-step! My Thaine, who is giving a young man’s strength of body and inspiration of soul to his country’s service! But Carey did do a missionary work in Champers. The fellow was crooked enough ’inside the law always,’ as he said, but no more out 337 of line than scores of reputable business men are today. And the fact that he’s Jacobs’ agent now measures the degree of trustworthiness Carey has helped to waken in him.”
Darley Champers’ business took him down the river to the Cloverdale Ranch, where he found Leigh Shirley training the young vines up the trellis by the west porch.
“You got a mighty pretty place here; just looks like Jim Shirley,” Champers declared as he greeted the young gardener.
“Yes, Uncle Jim is never so happy as when he is puttering about the lawn and garden,” Leigh answered.
“How’s your alfalfa doin’?” Champers asked as he turned toward the level stretch of rich green alfalfa fields. “Danged money-maker for you,” he added jovially.