The young man had nothing to say.His heart was water.He accepted Harley's words as true, for he had told himself the same thing a hundred times.Why had Ridgway rejected the overtures of this colossus of finance? It had been the sheerest folly born of madness to suppose that anybody could stand against him.
"For Ridgway, the die is cast," the iron voice went on."He is doomed beyond hope.But there is still a chance for you.What do you consider your interest in the Mesa Ore-producing Company worth, Mr.Eaton?"The sudden question caught Eaton with the force of a surprise."About three hundred thousand dollars," he heard himself say; and it seemed to him that his voice was speaking the words without his volition.
"I'm going to buy you out for twice that sum.Furthermore, I'm going to take care of your future--going to see that you have a chance to rise."The waverer's will was in flux, but the loyalty in him still protested."I can't desert my chief, Mr.Harley.""Do you call it desertion to leave a raging madman in a sinking boat after you have urged him to seek the safety of another ship?""He made me what I am."
"And I will make you ten times what you are.With Ridgway you have no chance to be anything but a subordinate.He is the Mesa Ore-producing Company, and you are merely a cipher.I offer your individuality a chance.I believe in you, and know you to be a strong man." No ironic smile touched Harley's face at this statement."You need a chance, and I offer it to you.For your own sake take it."Every grievance Eaton had ever felt against his chief came trooping to his mind.He was domineering.He did ride rough-shod over his allies' opinions and follow the course he had himself mapped out.All the glory of the victory he absorbed as his due.In the popular opinion, Eaton was as a farthing-candle to a great electric search-light in comparison with Ridgway.
"He trusts me," the tempted man urged weakly.He was slipping, and he knew it, even while he assured himself he would never betray his chief."He would sell you out to-morrow if it paid him.And what is he but arobber? Every dollar of his holdings is stolen from me.I ask only restitution of you--and I propose to buy at twice, nay at three times, the value of your stolen property.You owe that freebooter no loyalty.""I can't do it.I can't do it."
"You shall do it." Harley dominated him as bullying schoolmaster does a cringing boy under the lash.
"I can't do it," the young man repeated, all his weak will flung into the denial.
"Would you choose ruin?"
"Perhaps.I don't know," he faltered miserable.
"It's merely a business proposition, young man.The stock you have to sell is valuable to-day.Reject my offer, and a month from now it will be quoted on the market at half its present figure, and go begging at that.It will be absolutely worthless before I finish.You are not selling out Ridgway.He is a ruined man, anyway.But you--I am going to save you in spite of yourself.I am going to shake you from that robber's clutches."Eaton got to his feet, pallid and limp as a rag."Don't tempt me," he cried hoarsely."I tell you I can't do it, sir."Harley's cold eye did not release him for an instant."One million dollars and an assured future, or--absolute, utter ruin, complete and final.""He would murder me--and he ought to," groaned the writhing victim."No fear of that.I'll put you where he can't reach you.Just sign yourname to this paper, Mr.Eaton."
"I didn't agree.I didn't say I would."
"Sign here.Or, wait one moment, till I get witnesses." Harley touched a bell, and his secretary appeared in the doorway."Ask Mr.Mott and young Jarvis to step this way."Harley held out the pen toward Eaton, looking steadily at him.In a strong man the human eye is a sword among weapons.Eaton quailed.The fingers of the unhappy wretch went out mechanically for the pen.He was sweating terror and remorse, but the essential weakness of the man could not stand out unbacked against the masterful force of this man's imperious will.He wrote his name in the places directed, and flung down the pen like a child in a rage.
"Now get me out of Montana before Ridgway knows," he cried brokenly.
"You may leave to-morrow night, Mr.Eaton.You'll only have to appear in court once personally.We'll arrange it quietly for to-morrow afternoon.Ridgway won't know until it is done and you are gone."
