“Of course, when the road was taken into court its affairs were seen to be in such rotten shape that a receiver was appointed.”
Oakley's business instinct asserted itself. He had forgotten for the time being that his services still belonged to Cornish. Now he said: “See here, haven't you cars you intend to rebuild?”
'“We've precious few that don't need carpenter-work or paint or upholstering.”
“Then send them to me at Antioch. I'll make you a price you can't get inside of, I don't care where you go.”
Curtice meditated, then he asked: “How are you fixed to handle a big contract? It 'll be mostly for paint and upholstery or woodwork. We have been considering equipping works of our own, but I am afraid they are not going to materialize.”
“We can handle anything,” and from sheer force of habit he was all enthusiasm. He had pleasant visions of the shops running over-time, and everybody satisfied and happy. It made no difference to him that he would not be there to share in the general prosperity. With the start he had given it, the future of the Huckleberry would be assured. He decided he had better say nothing to Curtice about South America.
The upshot of this meeting was that he stuck to Curtice with a genial devotion that made him wax in his hands. They spent two days together, inspecting paintless and tattered day coaches, and on the third day Dan strolled from his friend's office buttoning his coat on a contract that would mean many thousands of dollars for Antioch. It was altogether his most brilliant achievement. He felt that there only remained for him to turn the Huckleberry over to Holloway and leave the country. He had done well by it.
Dan had been in Chicago about three weeks, when at last Holloway returned, and he proved as limp as Cornish had said he would be in a crisis. He was inclined to be critical, too, and seemed astonished that Oakley had been waiting in Chicago to see him. He experienced a convenient lapse of memory when the latter mentioned his telegram.
“I can't accept your resignation,” he said, fussing nervously among the papers on his desk. “I didn't put you at Antioch; that was General Cornish's own idea, and I don't know what he'll think.”
“It has gotten past the point where I care what he thinks,” retorted Dan, curtly. “You must send some one else there to take hold.”