Carmen Ariza Part 111

"But," went on Ketchim, "have you seen the morning papers? They are full of the revolution in Colombia. The country is torn wide open, and reports say nothing can be done down there until peace is restored--and that may take a year or two. But, meantime, we will go ahead and organize the new company and take over Molino and prepare to begin work just as soon as you fellows can get into that country.

Everybody has simply got to wait until then. And so this," going to Carmen and taking her hand, "is the wonderful little girl! Well!

well!"

The entrance of Mrs. Ketchim and her troop of children at this juncture interrupted the conversation. "All enthusiastic Simiti stockholders," said Ketchim, waving his hand toward them, after the introductions. "And all going to get rich out of it, too--as well as yourselves, boys. It simply shows how Providence works--one with G.o.d is a majority, always."

Carmen glanced up at him wonderingly.

Dinner over, the men were left alone. Carmen had been taken upstairs by the children to the nursery.

"I've got myself slated for the presidency of the new company," said Ketchim, plunging again into the subject nearest his heart; "and I think we'd better put brother James in as vice-president. Perfectly safe," looking at Harris and winking. "He's got to be recognized, you know, since the Ketchim Realty Company act as fiscal agents. Now for directors I've put down Judge Harris, your father--that's to a.s.sure you boys that there'll be some one to look after your interests. Then we'll say Reverend Jurges for another. He's got a big congregation and will be able to place a lot of stock. You just ought to see the letter he wrote me about selling stock to his people! You'd never believe he was a good, spiritually-minded clergyman, with an eye single to heavenly riches! Then one of you fellows, say Reed, had better go on the directorate, since Harris will be in Colombia in charge of operations. And--well, Ca.s.s, too. He's young and immature, but absolutely square. He'll do all the legal work for his stock interest.

We save money that way, see?"

"But what do I do while we are waiting?" asked Harris in some perplexity. "Reed goes to California right away, you know."

"That's all right, old man," Ketchim genially a.s.sured him. "The new company will be organized at once--this week, if possible. You go on salary from the moment of its incorporation, and you open your office right here in this building. I'll see that the rent is paid until you go back to Colombia. Everything's arranged, and you turn right in and help Ca.s.s with the new company. There'll be plenty to do. You've got to prepare circulars; write boosting letters to stockholders and prospects; follow up leads; and--oh, you'll be busy! But here comes Reverend Coles," looking out of the window as a man came up the steps.

"He's interested in some projects I've been exploiting. Just excuse me for a few moments."

He hastened out to greet the visitor and conducted him into a back room. Reed and Harris were left to the contemplation of their own mixed thoughts. Presently Harris, whose eyes had been dilating for some moments, broke out in a hoa.r.s.e whisper: "Listen! G.o.d a'mighty!--he's praying!"

He got up softly and approached the door of the room into which Ketchim had taken his caller. In a few minutes he returned to his chair. "By Jove!" he exclaimed. "I could see Ketchim through the keyhole, on his knees by the bed, praying with that fellow! Now what the d--!"

Reed held up a warning finger. Through the silence that fell upon them s.n.a.t.c.hes of the prayer being offered in the adjoining room floated to their ears--"O, blessed Saviour, vouchsafe prosperity to our venture, we beseech thee! The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof--we ask thy blessing on these efforts of ours to wrest from the ground the wealth which the Father of lights has deposited there for the benefit of His children--"

Harris snickered aloud. "What's the game?" he whispered.

Reed shook his head in warning. "It may not be a game," he replied.

"But if it is, it's an old one, hiding behind the mask of religion.

But I'm inclined to believe the man sincere."

"And I'm not!" retorted Harris. "I'd rather deal with his brother. I know James to be an out-and-out rascal--he openly flies the black flag. But this pious fellow--well, he's got me guessing!"

The caller soon departed, and Ketchim again joined the young men.

"He's our a.s.sistant pastor," he said musingly, as he watched the man go down the walk. "Nice young fellow, waiting for a church. He and some of his friends are interested in a zinc mine we've been floating, down in the Joplin district."

"Got t.i.tles?" queried the cynical Harris, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, yes," Ketchim smiled affably.

"Mine producing?"

"Well, no--not yet. Lots of development work to be done, you know.

Always is. And there's a lot of water in this mine."

"And in the stock, too, eh?" pursued the cruel Harris. "Got any ore?"

"We haven't struck the deposit yet, although we expect to soon. But,"

glancing up at the clock on the mantel, "we'll have to be going over to Sunday school now. And I want that little girl to go with Marjorie.

Fellows," the man's face became deeply serious, "I have no doubt you are both church members?"

Reed fidgeted uneasily under Ketchim's searching glance; but Harris frankly met the question. "Nope," he a.s.serted, "we're both rank heathen. And I'm a dyed-in-the-wool atheist."

"Gracious!" cried Ketchim, "how can you say that, when you see the goodness of the Lord on every hand?"

"Reed, I believe," continued the imperturbable Harris, waving a hand toward his friend, "has philosophical leanings--New Thought, Subliminal Consciousness, Power in Silence, and all that. But I've got to be shown."

"But surely you believe in the divinity of the Christ?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, I never gave it much thought," said Harris. "Been pretty busy, you know. Lots of time for that later."

"Ah, that's what so many say," replied Ketchim sadly; "and then comes the awful voice of the Lord, 'This night thy soul shall be required of thee!' Fellows, I want to pray for you; and I want you both to promise me that you will take up seriously the consideration of your souls'

welfare. It's too grave a subject for jest," addressing himself solemnly to the grinning Harris.

"All right, old man," laughed Harris. "But don't dig up any Presbyterian tracts for me. I've got a living witness to--well, to something out of the ordinary, in that girl, Carmen, and I'm inclined to believe she's dug nearer to bottom facts than any of you. So when I'm ready to discuss my soul's welfare I'll just consult her, see?"

"That reminds me," said Ketchim, turning abruptly to Reed, "what do you intend to do with the girl?"

"_Quien sabe?_" Reed answered abstractedly. "Send her to a boarding school, I guess. At least, that's what I told the old man I'd do."

"So you said before," Ketchim returned. "But where?"

"Don't know yet."

"Well, let me make a suggestion. My daughter Marjorie leaves Tuesday for Conway-on-the-Hudson, where she has been attending Madam Elwin's Select School for Girls. Suppose you go with her--I'm too busy, myself--and take Carmen. It's only a few hours' ride by boat down the river. And the school is without equal. This is Marjorie's third year there, and she's simply in love with it."

Reed began to show signs of interest; and Ketchim, noting the effect of his words, went on briskly:

"Now look here, Molino owes its salvation, and the new company its existence, to that girl. Why shouldn't they do something to show their grat.i.tude? I say, it is no more than right that the new company should support her while she is in school."

"By Jove! not a half-bad idea," commented Harris.

"Certainly not," continued Ketchim earnestly. "Now fix up everything with her as regards the transfer of the mine to the new company, and then let her go with Marjorie to the Elwin school. We can, if you like, make some agreement with her to the effect that when the company is on its feet and she is receiving dividends, she shall return what it may advance for her schooling, eh?"

"You'd better accept the suggestion, Reed," put in Harris. "I'll be here, you know, to keep an eye on the girl; and I'll take her and Marjorie down to Conway myself, and attend to getting her located right."

Reed continued to reflect. He was hardly in a position to refuse such an offer. Besides, he was really leaving her in charge of Harris.

"Well," he said at length, "in that case I could leave for California to-morrow night. That matter is pressing hard--all right, I accept the company's offer. It's no more than is due the girl, anyway."

"Good!" replied Ketchim. "I'll make the necessary arrangements at once. And now let's go over to church."

Thus it was that two days later Carmen, still wondering if she was dreaming, was enrolled in the Elwin Select School for Girls, with Marjorie Ketchim for roommate; while Reed, on the Overland Limited, hurrying to the far West, was musing dubiously at frequent intervals on Ketchim's rather conflicting statements, which, until left to this enforced leisure, he had not had time to try to reconcile. At the same time, while Harris was loudly declaiming to the gracious Madam Elwin on the astonis.h.i.+ng mental prowess of the girl, Ketchim and Ca.s.s sat deeply immersed in the tentative plans for the newly-projected Simiti Development Company.

"Now listen," said Ketchim, who for some minutes had been quietly scanning his youthful lawyer, "Ames knows nothing about the formation of this company, but Harris and Reed are not to know that; and we're going to keep Ames in ignorance of all our plans. With the first sales of stock--and they've already begun--we'll return him his Molino investment. Nezlett wired me this morning that he's sure to sell a big block to the Leveridges, that they're mightily interested, and want to meet Carmen. We'll use the girl for just such purposes. That's one reason why I wanted her handy, so's we could reach her at any time.

She makes a star impression; and with her as an advertis.e.m.e.nt we'll sell a million dollars' worth of stock, and no trouble at all! She's got that honest look that's convincing. And she can tell a story that beats the Arabian Nights! Ames has given me a week to explain, or make good his investment. By that time we'll have the Leveridges sold for twice his investment, and we'll just pay him off and remove him.

Meantime, you go over to the bank in the morning and put up the best line of talk you're capable of. I've got sixteen hundred dollars to give 'em on that note; and that'll secure more time, until the sales of stock are enough to pay it all up. Perhaps Uncle Ted will advance me enough to take up the note when he hears about La Libertad. And, say, you see brother James, and shake the club over him until he disgorges that check he got from Miss Leveridge. You can hand him a scare that he won't get over. By George, old man! things have taken a great turn, eh? Why, I can just see Simiti stock sales humping these next few months. Oh, Miss Honeywell," calling to his cas.h.i.+er, "bring me five dollars, please, and charge it to Molino--I mean, to Simiti.

Make a new account for that now." Then, again addressing Ca.s.s: "Come with me to the football game this afternoon. We can discuss plans there as well as here. Gee whiz, but I feel great!"