"
"And you would like that best?"
"Yes. What amuses you?"
The doctor smiled often, but as Mrs. Crocker said, when he did laugh it
was as good as a Fourth of July celebration and the house shook. As the
Squire watched him, the smile broadened out in circles from the mouth
like the ripples cast by a stone on still water; then the eyes grew
merrily busy and the big frame shook with laughter.
"Well, now, Squire! To give up making guns and go in for using
them--well--well!"
"Don't chaff me, McGregor; I mean to be in it, cost what it may. I am to
meet my partners--good-bye."
The doctor wondered what Ann Penhallow would do or say. It was past
guessing but he saw clearly that Penhallow was glad of any excuse to get
into the field.
"Glad to see you, Ainseley," said Penhallow. "Good morning, Sibley. You
will find things moving. Many casting moulds will be ready by this day
week."
"Last night," said Sibley, the richer member of the firm, "I had a
telegram from Austin, the iron-man. He asks what we would take to
transfer our contract. I replied that we did not deal that way with
Government contracts. To-day I got this other--read it."
"On what terms will you take me in? My ore, as you know, is not hematite
and is better than yours."
Penhallow sat still reading the telegram again and again.
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