"I waited here for a week for you or
Orcutt to show up, and then I decided to hunt you. I followed you to
Winnipeg, and from there to Ottawa, and back again to the head of the
tote-road. Orcutt had left for the States the day before I got there,
but they said you were down at the mill site. I rode down on a truck
only to find that you had come over here for your outfit."
"Well, now you've found me, what's on your mind?" grinned Wentworth.
"I have a memorandum here in my pocket signed by Orcutt in which he
authorized you to transact any and all business regarding the pulp-wood
lands."
"That's correct," admitted Wentworth. "I am a stockholder, an officer
in the company, and its sole representative in the field. Fire away.
What's this business that's so all-fired important as to send you
chasing all over Canada to reach me?"
"My business," replied Cameron gravely, "is to return to you as
representative of the Eureka Paper Company, three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, which amount was paid over to me by Mr. Orcutt, and
which represents the initial payment of ten percent of the purchase
price of certain pulp-wood lands described in the accompanying contract
of sale."
"Return the money!" cried Wentworth. "What do you mean?"
"Simply, that the deal is off. Or, rather, no valid transaction was
ever consummated."
Every particle of color faded from the engineer's face at the words.
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