"Ye haven’t!" Abner stopped short, and his body became tense.
"The divils!" and Abner’s hands clenched together. "Jist wait till I git hold of them fellers. I’ll fix ’em. An’ so that’s worth nuthin’?" he asked, pointing to the paper.
"Nothing. And I question whether it would have been of any value had those men signed their own. names. They are bluffers, and have no authority to bind the Government. Oh, they are schemers, all right. I know them of old, and have had my own trouble with them."
"So the Government kin take my gravel an’ give me any old price fer it, eh?"
"I suppose so. But the Government is not going to take it."
"No. We have finally decided that the haul is too long, and we have been able to secure plenty along the line which will do for many years to come."
Abner’s face expressed his keen disappointment. He sighed, and looked over at the hill. His fond hopes were dashed to the ground in an instant. So his property was once more worthless. Rivers watched him closely and a twinkle shone in his eyes.
"I sartinly do. I was hopin’ to make somethin’ out of that gravel that ’ud put me on me feet. I’m gittin’ along in years now, an’ ain’t jist as brisk as I uster be."
"Sell! Sure, I’ll sell when the first decent chance comes along. I wouldn’t have asked so much from them grafters who came here if I hadn’t known they wanted to get the place from me fer almost nuthin’, an’ then hand it over to the Government fer a big sum. That’s why I held out."
"I am glad you did, Mr. Andrews, especially as I have now a new proposition to make. A very reliable company, The Morton & Griffin, have for some time been seeking a place to erect a big concrete plant. I have been working for them, and they have requested me to find suitable material for their purposes. Many beds of gravel have been tested, but not one has the same excellent qualities as yours. It is here in abundance, and they are greatly pleased with the samples which have been submitted to them. This was largely due to Royden, the young surveyor, whom you threatened to kill one day, so I believe. He has taken a great interest in the matter, and knowing him to be most trustworthy, I was able to vouch for his report. The company have engaged him, and he is to receive a good salary for his services. This will be news to you, I feel sure. I have not been free to make this known before until the Government had finally decided not to use the gravel for ballast."