“Yes, sir.”
Thanking the man, Steele turned away and walked down the Avenue to his hotel, resolved to let the Berring-tons or the Nicholsons do their worst. He would attempt no further parley with any of the gang, and—probably inspired by the accent of the servitor in plush—gave serious thought to the investing of all his money in British Consols, small as was the percentage granted by that celebrated security. He took it for granted that the Government of Britain was probably free from the influence of the Berrington crowd, and he was rapidly coming to the conclusion that no other sphere of human activity was.
Arriving at his hotel, he found a telegram waiting for him. It proved to be from Philip Manson, and it ran:
Congratulate me. Have just been appointed president of the Wheat Belt System. Important development. Great opening here that just suits you. Must see you immediately. If you cannot come here, telegraph me, and I will go to New York.
“Ye Gods!” cried Steele, bracing back his shoulders, while the chronic look of anxiety vanished like mist before the sun, “just at the point when I don’t know what to do, here comes my chance. I’ll bet a farm Manson is going to offer me the vice-presidency of the road. I’ll take it like a shot, and raise the freight rates on soap if Philip will let me.”
He seized a telegraph blank and wrote:
Heartiest congratulations. The right man in right place. You need not come to New York, as I am leaving for home to-night. I shall accept your opening, whatever it is.
Before two days were past, John Steele was closeted with Manson in the president’s room of the huge Wheat Belt building. The great, flat table in the centre was covered with broad maps taken from the civil engineer’s department, maps unknown to the general public.
“Now, John,” said his friend, “I’m in a position to offer you the absolute surety of doubling, trebling, or even quadrupling your money.”
“Thunder!” cried Steele in a tone of disappointment, “I thought you were going to present me with the vice-presidency of the road.”