CHAPTER XXII.
SEVEN PER CENT. BONDS.
“Wolf, I have decided that I will have nothing to do with the consolidation of the two lines,” said Colonel Wimpleton, as he seated himself in the state-room.
“I am sorry for that, sir,” I replied, my heart sinking under the declaration, for I had permitted my hopes to run very high.
“I cannot do anything which looks like receding from my position.”
“Though I am greatly disappointed, sir, of course I have no right to complain.”
“You shall have no reason to complain. I purpose to leave the whole matter in the hands of the Steamboat Company,” he added, with a smile on his face which seemed to be struggling with a frown for the mastery of his expression.
“To the students?” I inquired, unable to believe that I heard him right; for leaving the matter to the Steamboat Company was precisely the same thing as yielding the point.
“Yes, to the students,” he answered, pursing up his lips, as though he were afraid I should see that what he was doing afforded him pleasure.
“Will you do me the favor to withdraw the order you sent to Captain Van Wolter?” I asked, delighted with the prospect, and almost giddy under the sudden change of the colonel.
“Certainly I will, if you desire it. Send for him.”
I called Van Wolter from the wheel-house, and he gave up the note he had received.
“That means that you are still captain of the boat,” said the colonel to Van Wolter.
“I was quite satisfied to give up the place, sir; for I want to say that I shall never dare to take the boat through the Horse Shoe Channel again,” replied the captain.
“For the present I will act as your pilot,” I interposed.
Van Wolter withdrew, and I was curious to know whether the colonel intended to give the Steamboat Company definite instructions in regard to the consolidation of the two lines, or leave it to the members.
“Do you go up to Hitaca in the boat to-night, Wolf?”
“No, sir. I shall only act as pilot for the Horse Shoe Channel until the Steamboat Company makes its arrangement.”
“Then I wish to see you in my library when you return from Ucayga. I have a little business to transact with you.”
“I will be there, sir. But do you not intend to indicate your wishes in regard to the union or consolidation of the two lines?”
“I do not, though I would like to hear what the arrangement is before it is proposed to the other side.”
“You shall be informed, sir.”
He went on the wharf, and I saw him drive off in his buggy. I was never so happy in my life. The young peacemakers had a fine prospect of success, and I was very impatient to see Waddie, and inform him of what had taken place.
“What’s going on, Captain Penniman?” asked Van Wolter, as I passed him on my way to the shore.
“There may be some change in the running of the boat,” I replied.
“But who is to be captain of the Ucayga?”
“I don’t know yet; but, as you have been faithful to me, I do not intend to desert you.”
“Thank you, Wolf. You are a Christian,” added he, with a grateful smile.
“I will go down the lake with you this afternoon,” I continued, as I stepped upon the wharf.
I hastened to the Institute, and considered myself justified in asking to see Waddie before the session was closed; and we took a seat in the playground.
“What’s the matter now, Wolf?” asked my friend, satisfied from my coming at such a time that I had something important to communicate.
“Nothing is the matter.”
“You went up to Hitaca with my father night before last.”
“I did; but that has nothing to do with my present business,” I replied, evasively. “Finding your father in pretty good humor, after what Major Toppleton had done, I opened the matter of uniting the two lines again.”
“Good!” exclaimed Waddie. “By the great horn spoon, I wish it could be done.”
“It can be.”
“You don’t mean so.”
“I think it can; though your father will not have anything to do with it himself.”
“How can it be done, then?”
“He says he will leave it to the Steamboat Company, and they may do as they think best.”
“Then it is done!” shouted Waddie, jumping up, and capering about like a crazy man.
“Call a meeting at once.”
“I’ll do it.”
“At the close of the session this forenoon?”
“Yes; but what shall we do?”
“Simply appoint a committee of three, with full powers to make any arrangement they think proper.”
“Will you attend the meeting, Wolf?” asked Waddie, anxiously.
“No; I cannot. I have to pilot the boat down to Ucayga; but I will meet the committee, at half past six, wherever you say,” I replied.
“All right. This is first rate, Wolf--isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is; ever so much better than I expected. But I can stay no longer, for I have only time to go over and see Tommy, and get him to call a meeting of the Railroad Company.”
“You are captain of the steamer again, Wolf,” said Waddie, laughing.
“No; Van Wolter was displaced, though I was not appointed; but your father has recalled the order. I’m ambitious, Waddie, and I am looking for a better place than that of captain.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to be general agent of the two lines when they are united. I think I can do more good in that capacity than in any other.”
“You shall have the place if you want it.”
“I do,” I replied, as I left him.
Crossing the lake, I found Tommy Toppleton at his studies. I stated the case to him, and he promised to call a meeting of the stockholders if his father consented. It did not occur to me that Major Toppleton would offer any opposition to the plan, and I returned to Centreport, satisfied that my hopes would soon be realized. After making the trip down the lake, I called upon Colonel Wimpleton, as I had agreed to do.
“Well, Wolf, what have you done about consolidation?” he asked, with a smile.
“Both companies were to call meetings, and by this time I suppose each has chosen a committee of conference.”
“Very well; I don’t intend to meddle with the matter. I wished to see you upon other business. Have you heard anything more from Nick Van Wolter?”
“No, sir; not a word.”
“Doesn’t his father say anything?”
“Of course not. Probably he thinks his son is in some hotel in Hitaca.”
“But he would be likely to inquire about him, then, for he spends the night at the upper end of the lake.”
“He has not mentioned him to me. I don’t think Nick will come back till his money is spent.”
“We are well rid of him. I suppose, Wolf, that ten thousand dollars in cash would be rather embarrassing to you; and instead of it, I have made up the amount in good paying bonds, yielding seven per cent.”
“Bonds?” I inquired, bewildered by his speech.
“If you prefer cash, you shall have it,” added he.
“I don’t prefer either. I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Didn’t Nick rob you of your check?”
“I didn’t regard it as my check. I burned mine.”
“Come, Wolf, we will not be at loggerheads on this matter. When I gave you that check I _gave_ it to you; and, if my pride would permit me to withhold the gift now, my sense of duty would not. You must take either the money or the bonds.”
“I have no right to either, sir,” I pleaded. “I don’t know but so much money would spoil me.”
“I think nothing will spoil you, Wolf.”
“I will not deny that it would be very pleasant to me to have the money; but the manner of getting it does not suit me so well. If it is to purchase my silence--”
“Nonsense!” interrupted he, impatiently. “You have put more than double this amount into my pocket by your management of the steamer. You have saved my life, and saved me from shame and disgrace. I insist that you take it. Shall it be in cash or bonds?”
“In bonds, sir,” I replied, yielding the point; and for the first time in my life I felt that I was a rich man.
He handed me a package containing the securities.
“I am all the richer, Wolf, for giving you this.”
“I don’t know, sir, but that it will bother me to conceal from my father and mother the reason for my having so much wealth.”
“Tell your father and mother as much as you please, then; but don’t let me be talked about in the streets, if you can help it.”
“I will be very prudent, sir, and my father will also.”
“When does the committee of the Steamboat Company meet, Wolf?”
“At half past six this afternoon.”
“Will you tell Waddie I wish to see him before they meet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I do not intend to meddle with the business, only to make a suggestion to him.”
I left him, with the securities in my pocket, hardly able to believe that I was Wolf Penniman. When I saw Waddie, I sent him to his father; but he appeared promptly at the place appointed for the meeting of the Steamboat committee. The members were Waddie, who had again been elected president, Ben Pinkerton, and Dick Bayard.
“I believe the world is coming to an end,” said Ben, after he had cordially greeted me.
“No; only the war between the two sides of the lake,” I replied.
“Well, Wolf, we are fully authorized to act for our Company,” interposed Waddie, who was impatient to proceed with the business. “We can do anything we like with the Company, even if we sink it.”
“You talk about consolidation and union,” said Dick Bayard. “I don’t think these words mean the same thing.”
“I know they don’t,” I replied.
“Consolidation means union, but union don’t mean consolidation,” added Ben Pinkerton. “By the former, the two Companies would be fused into one; by the latter, they would only run their respective lines in connection with each other.”
“I suppose we are to determine whether we unite or consolidate,” said Waddie.
“I shall be satisfied with either,” I replied.
The committee discussed the question for some time, and finally agreed to make a proposition to the Railroad Company, first, to consolidate, and then, if this plan failed, to unite. All the terms of both plans were settled, and this committee were prepared to meet the other.
“There is one more point,” said Ben Pinkerton. “Whether we consolidate or unite, it is necessary to have a general agent, and I move that this committee, on its part, appoint Captain Wolf Penniman.”
The motion was carried, after it had been seconded by Dick Bayard.
“I move that his salary, to be paid by the consolidated Company, or by both Companies, in the ratios of the fares, be fifteen hundred dollars a year,” added Dick.
“I beg you will not mention this subject yet,” I interposed. “It is rather premature.”
“Not at all,” replied Waddie. “This must be part of the bargain.”
The motion was instantly carried; and I learned that this was the matter upon which the colonel had wished to see his son. The business was done, and I went home. The next evening the two committees met in conference.