Charnock looked thoughtful. "Yes; that's where the pinch comes. You can't work economically unless you have capital. Sadie's a good business woman, and she often said that if you want to save dollars, you must spend some."
"Just so," said Charnock, smiling. "Betting against marked cards doesn't pay, but I've stopped that kind of thing. However, I think I could get you the money you need."
Festing looked hard at him. "You have none."
"Sadie has a pile. She'd give me enough with pleasure if she thought it would help towards my reform. But if you take the dollars, you've got to take me."
"Ah!" said Festing. "But why do you want to join?"
"To begin with, I'm getting avaricious and want to go home with my wallet full. Then I'm tired of my job. I suppose it's a foreman's privilege to insult his gang, but the brute we've got is about the limit. He's truculent but not very big, and some day, if I stop on, I'll pitch the hog into the river. Then I'll certainly get fired, and there'll be an end to my dreams of wealth."
Festing was silent for a few moments. He understood Charnock better now, and knew that when he was serious he often used a careless tone. Bob wanted to help him as much as he wanted to help himself, and he saw no reason to reject his plan. He must, however, be warned.
"If you join me, you run some risk of losing your money."
"Of course. It's obvious that you don't think the risk very big, and I'm willing to take a fighting chance."
"I don't know how big it is. That depends on the weather and accidents."
"Exactly," said Charnock. "If I join you with some money and teams, will it lessen, or add to, the risk?"
"Will it reduce, or increase, your working costs?"
"Then it looks as if you'd be foolish to turn my offer down."
Festing got up and walked about irresolutely for a moment or two. Then he stopped with some color in his face.
"I called you a shirker, Bob, and ordered Helen to leave you alone. Now I see you're the better man and I'm a confounded, fault-finding prig. But you're not vindictive, and we'll let that go. The trouble is, I'm obstinate and sure of what I can do--at least, I was, though my confidence has got shaken recently. Well, I think I can finish this contract, but don't know. I've lost a good deal of money, and would hate to feel I might lose yours."