Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AMERICANS “Mr. Girton—Mr. Hemmett! The greatest railroad system in the United States is about to be built—a new system, going into new territory, with new rails and new bridges and new rolling stock, with new methods of management and new methods of operating! “It will be, when finally worked out, the greatest single feat in the history of railroading. That is absolutely every detail that I can give you at the moment. Not another explanatory word can be spoken until you are established in New York.” He snapped his fingers quite excitedly. Girton leaned forward. “Say, what the devil are you talking about?” he asked. “TI have done talking about the thing itself,” Jones smiled. ‘‘ I have come to the point. We want two men at the head of the construction, and we have combed the world for them. I believe that I have found them. Gentlemen, I offer you each a post, with a ten-years’ contract, at a salary of one hundred thousand dollars annually!” “Hey?” Hemmett shouted. “The first year’s salary to be paid to- morrow morning, and yourselves to sail for New York on to-morrow’s steamer!” “But we can’t—”’ “But you can’t afford to do anything else!’”’ Jones said suavely. ‘“‘ Your duties, for three months at least, will be essen- tially nothing. You will find offices in the city, and those in charge will assign you to your own quarters and give you every particular that I am forbidden to give. Gentlemen—you accept?”’ Mr. Hemmett cleared his throat with some effort. “If we were the brand of gentlemen who can be carried off their feet, we’d accept,” he said. ‘‘ We’re not! We have considerable property here, and—”’ “IT am quite certain that it can be disposed of to advantage. I would almost guarantee to take care of that!” “And our home is here,” went on irritably. Hemmett ‘““'We belong in Gua- AFTER ALL. 361 nama, man, and-— Who the dickens are you, anyway?”’ “Well, my name is Jones, and I’m a plain citizen employed by big interests,”’ the gentleman said simply. ‘‘ My father was an Englishman and my mother Ger- man; I’ve got a French grandmother, and I was born in Kansas City, spent part of my boyhood in London, and gathered parts of my education and business ex- perience in Berlin and Paris. Is that answer enough?”’ | ‘“Tt’s a little confusing, but it ‘Il do,” Girton answered dryly. ‘ Now tell us the reasons for the secrecy, Jones, about the railroad.” “That .I am simply forbidden to do. Can you start to-morrow?” The late secretary of war tried to catch the eye of his old friend; Jones was between them. It was a mighty offer—a staggering offer! Yet, with its glittering gold, it twanged so strongly on the string Ricoro had set vibrating that suspicion welled up in Girton. “No, we can’t leave to-morrow!” Hemmett said sharply. ‘‘ And we can’t accept a thing about which we know ab- solutely nothing or—”’ ‘““Can you accept it at a salary of one hundred and twenty-five thousand?” “What? Why—er—no!” Hemmett stammered. “Can you accept it at a salary of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars?” asked Mr. Jones. ‘‘ The money to be paid im advance to-morrow morning. Think!” It was the very thing they were trying to do, and a difficult thing when one looked at Jones, utterly calm, utterly commonplace, talking like a lunatic, and still looking as if he meant just what he said. Covertly, Edward Hemmett gripped the arms of his chair; when he spoke, it was something like a man speaking in a dream. ‘“A—a matter of this kind can’t be closed in one minute,” he stated with conviction. “It’s so overwhelming that MICLOOOK C©