The Boss of Wind River — Edition Insights

This was Locke. He had the appearance of a prosperous farmer, and he was an exceedingly busy lawyer, with the reputation of a relentless fighter when once he took a case. He had been William Kent's friend as well as his legal adviser.

"Well, Joe," said he, "getting into harness already?"

"I can get into it easy enough," Joe replied; "but it's a lot too big for me."

Locke nodded. "You'll grow. When I started I didn't know any more about law than you do about logs. You got that letter?"

"Yes, thanks. He said I might tie to you and Crooks."

Locke looked out of the window because his eyes were filling. To disguise the fact he pretended to search his pockets for a cigar and growled:

"So you may, within limits. Got a smoke there? I'm out." He lit one of William Kent's big, black cigars, leaned back in his chair, and crossed one leg over the other. "Now, then, Joe, where shall we start?" he asked. "I'm busy, and you ought to be. What do you know of your father's affairs, anyway?"

"Almost nothing," young Kent admitted. "Say I don't know anything, and it will be about right. This letter hints at debts--mortgages and things, I suppose."

"Mortgages and things!" repeated the lawyer. "Lord, what an unsophisticated young blood you are! I should say there were. Now here it is, as your father explained it to me."

Kent tried to follow the lawyer's practised analysis, but did not altogether succeed. Three things emerged clearly. The mills, plant, and real estate were heavily mortgaged. There was an indebtedness to the Commercial Bank on notes made by William Kent and endorsed by Crooks. And there was a further indebtedness to them on Kent's notes alone, secured by a collateral mortgage on certain timber lands.

"Now, you see," Locke concluded, "setting the assets against the liabilities you are solvent to the extent of sixty or seventy thousand dollars, or perhaps more. In all probability you could get that clear if you sold out. Properly managed for you by somebody else, it would yield an income of between three and four thousand dollars per annum. On that you could live comfortably, be free from worry, and die of dry-rot and Scotch highballs at about my age."

"I'm going to run the business," said Joe. "My father wished it; and anyway I'm going to."

Locke smoked thoughtfully for some moments. "That's good talk," he said at length. "I understand your feelings. But before you come to a definite conclusion take time to look at all sides of the question. The cold fact is that you have had no experience. The business is solvent, but too involved to give you much leeway. It is an expensive one to run, and you can't afford to make many mistakes. For seven months in the year your payroll and camp supply bill will run into five figures. Your father intended to make a big cut next winter and clear off some of the debt. Suppose you try that yourself. It means a big outlay. Can you swing it? Remember, you haven't got much rope; and if you fail and smash it won't be a case of living on three or four thousand a year, but of earning five or six hundred a year to live on."

"I hadn't thought of it in just that way," said Kent. "You see it's all new to me. But I'm going into it, sink or swim. My mind's made up."

"I thought it would be," said Locke with satisfaction. "If I were you I'd take Wright into my confidence from the start. He is a good man, and thinks as much of your interests as if they were his own."

Wright, called in, listened to Locke's succinct statement without much surprise. "Of course, I knew these things already in a general way," he commented.

"I have decided to carry on the business," Joe told him. "What do you think of it?"

"The carrying or the business?"

"Well," said Wright slowly, "the business might be in worse shape--a lot worse. With your father handling it there would be no trouble. With you--I don't know."

"That's not very encouraging," said Joe, endeavouring to smile at Locke, an effort not entirely successful. Locke said nothing.

"I don't mean to be discouraging," said Wright. "It's a fact. I _don't_ know. You see, you've never had a chance; you've no experience."

"Well, I'm after it now," said Kent. "Will you stay with me while I get it?"

"Of course I will," said Wright heartily.

When Locke had gone Joe turned to his manager.