orning."

"Didn't the Bank think Bradley's mills a good investment?" asked
Mainwaring quietly, when Richardson paused.

"Not with him in it; he is not a business man, you know."

"I thought he was. He seems to me an energetic man, who knows his work,
and is not afraid to look after it himself."

"That's just it. He has got absurd ideas of co-operating with his
workmen, you know, and doing everything slowly and on a limited scale.
The only thing to be done is to buy up all the land on this ridge, run
off the settlers, freeze out all the other mills, and put it into a big
San Francisco company on shares. That's the only way we would look at
it."

"But you don't consider the investment bad, even from HIS point of
view?"

"Perhaps not."

"And you only decline it because it isn't big enough for the Bank?"

"Exactly."

"Richardson," said Mainwaring, slowly rising, putting his hands in his
trousers pockets, and suddenly looking down upon the banker from the
easy level of habitual superiority, "I wish you'd attend to this thing
for me. I desire to make some return to Mr. Bradley for his kindness. I
wish to give him what help he wants--in his own way--you understand. I
wish it, and I believe my father wishes it, too. If you'd like him to
write to you to that effect--"

"By no means, it's not at all necessary," said Richardson, dropping with
equal suddenness into his old-world obsequiousness. "I shall certainly
do as you wish. It is not a bad investment, Mr. Mainwaring, and as you
suggest, a very proper return for their kindness. And, being here, it
will come quite naturally for me to take up the affair again."

"And--I say, Richardson."

"Yes, sir?"

"As these ladies are rather short-handed in their domestic service, you
know, perhaps you'd better not stay to luncheon or dinner, but go on to
the Summit House--it's only a mile or two farther--and come back here
this evening. I shan't want you until then."

"Certainly!" stammered Richardson. "I'll just take leave of the ladies!"

"It's not at all necessary," said Mainwaring, quietly; "you would only
disturb them in their household duties. I'll tell them what I've done
with you, if they ask. You'll find your stick and hat in the passage,
and you can leave the veranda by these steps. By the way, you had better
manage at the Summit to get some one to bring my traps from here to be
forwarded to Sacramento to-morrow. I'll want a conveyance, or a horse
of some kind,