"I owe you something of an apology for what I said yesterday. I shall have some more work for you, perhaps."
The agent, when he went back to the North, was as good as his word. He told his people that there was one man in Gumbolt who would do their work promptly.
"And he's straight," he said. "He says he is from the South; but he is a new issue."
He further reported that old Rawson, the countryman who owned the land in the Gap, either owned or controlled the cream of the coal-beds there. "He either knows or has been well advised by somebody who knows the value of all the lands about there. And he has about blocked the game. I think it's that young Keith, and I advise you to get hold of Keith."
"Who is Keith? What Keith? What is his name?" asked Mr. Wickersham.
"Gordon Keith."
Mr. Wickersham's face brightened. "Oh, that is all right; we can get him. We might give him a place?"
Mr. Halbrook nodded.
Mr. Wickersham sat down and wrote a letter to Keith, saying that he wished to see him in New York on a matter of business which might possibly turn out to his advantage. He also wrote a letter to General Keith, suggesting that he might possibly be able to give his son employment, and intimating that it was on account of his high regard for the General.