But I had to take a chance--to avoid taking a chance."
Cameron laughed. "Let us hope for your sake that only one of the
parties arrives, and for my sake, that it is the rival, for the
additional two dollars an acre will mean an additional million for my
company."
XVIII
Along toward the middle of the following afternoon Orcutt appeared at
the post, accompanied by two guides and two operatives of a detective
agency, who were ostensibly merely members of a party of three, but who
in reality were the guardians of a certain thick packet of large bills
that reposed in the very bottom of a waterproof rucksack.
Into the trading room he stamped, cursing the black flies and
mosquitoes whose combined and persistent attack had left his face and
neck red and swollen. Hedin was behind the counter, and without a hint
of recognition Orcutt inquired the whereabouts of Wentworth. Upon
being informed that he was probably in his cabin, he turned on his heel
and stamped from the room.
"This is a hell of a country!" he said in greeting, as Wentworth opened
his door to admit him. "The damned flies and mosquitoes just naturally
eat a man alive!"
"It isn't so bad when you get used to it," laughed Wentworth, and
turned toward the man who had risen from his chair. "Mr. Orcutt, this
is Mr. Cameron, representative of the Canadian Wild Lands Company."
"Wild lands is right," grinned Orcutt as he acknowledged the other's
greeting.
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