“I do not think your father should take it to heart so; indeed, I do not.”
“He does not care for himself, and neither do I care for myself, Mr. Gilder, but we do care for you.” Vance started and the blood mounted to his face “You have been so kind to my father and placed such unbounded confidence in his judgment, and now it seems as if it were impossible for him ever to repay you, unless—,” she hesitated.
“Unless what?” asked Vance, impatiently.
“Unless you would be willing to join father in giving a half interest in Gray Rocks to Mr. Grim, and let him go on and develop the mine.”
“What does your father advise? What does he say?”
“He wants to go on to the 500 foot level, Mr. Gilder, and says he will give his own half interest in Gray Rocks to Mr. Grim rather than let the work stop at the 400 foot level. Father believes that at the 500 foot level they will strike ore as rich as any that has been discovered on the Peacock, and it looks as if Mr. Grim thought the same way, else he would not be so willing to advance the money.”
“Have you confidence in Mr. Grim?” asked Vance.
“We have always distrusted him,” replied Louise, “but perhaps he is not so bad and mean as we have thought.”
“And do you think,” asked Vance, “that ore will be discovered at the 500 foot level?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, “but I hope so.”