“A _rest!_” He rose and walked up and down the room. “Lois, do you know
that, in some way, I’ve got to get that money before the thirteenth?
Those days in Chicago—at the worst time! It makes me wild to think of
the time I’ve lost. I’m looking out for a partner who will buy out
Leverich and Martin, and we’ve got a chance yet—I’ll swear we have! But
Lewiston’s note has got to be paid first; then I can take time to
breathe. Harker saw a man from Boston from whom we might have borrowed
the money, if I had only been here. If we get that we can hold over; if
we don’t we go to smash, and so does Lewiston. Lewiston _trusted_ me.
I’ve been to several places to-day to men that would be willing enough
to lend the money if they didn’t know I needed it.”
“George Sutton?” hazarded Lois.
Justin’s lips curved bitterly. “Oh, he’s a cur. He had some money
invested last year when he was sweet on Dosia, and drew it all out
afterwards! And, after all, I went to him to-day, like a fool!”
“Can’t you go to Eugene Larue?”
“No. We talked about it once, but he fought shy; he didn’t think the
security enough. If he thought so then, it would be worse than useless
now.”
“Mr. Girard?”
“There’s no use telling things to him, he hasn’t any money.” Justin
turned a dim eye on her. “I tell you, Lois, I haven’t left a stone
unturned so far, that I could get at. If we could only sell the island!
Girard’s looking it up for me; there may be a chance of that. There are
lots of chances to be thought out. I don’t even know how we keep
running, but we do. Harker’s a trump! If I can hold up my end, we’ll be
all right.”
“Then go to bed now,” said Lois, with a quick dread that gave her
courage. “And you must have something to eat first—and to drink, too.
Come, Justin! Do as I say.” Her voice had a new firmness in it which he
unconsciously obeyed. She crept to her bed at last, aching in every
limb, but with her baby pressed close to her, her one darling comfort,
the source from which she drew a new love as the child drew its life
from her. It was the first time in all her married life that she had
borne the burden of her husband’s care, a burden from which she must
seek no solace from him. Yet the thought of him was in itself
solace—her faith in him so strong that she simply knew he must succeed.
A king of men! If only he did not look so badly!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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