Gretzinger’s anger surged up anew.

“You never saw half a million in your life,” he sneered.

“I could buy out all three of them with what I have in one trust company in Chicago alone,” was the unperturbed reply.  “It’s cheap sports like you that make a real man sick.  How much for the bonds?  You want to unload.  Speak up; how much?”

Despite his anger, the other’s brain perceived that the contractor was in earnest.

“The amount of the face of both bonds and stock, with interest on the former to date,” he answered quickly.

“I buy only bargains,” was Carrigan’s dry statement.

“One hundred thousand then.”

“You’re still sailing way up in the clouds.  The stock was a bonus, Gretzinger; it cost your parties nothing.  So it’s only the bonds that count.  And the project is rotten, it may not be finished on time, be a dead loss; your men want to get out from under; they’ll jump at the chance to sell, you say.  All right.  They can unload on me.  Wire them to deposit the bonds and stock in any New York bank and draw on McDonnell for forty thousand dollars.  That’s what I’ll give.”

Gretzinger walked to the wall, where he reached down his overcoat and put it on.

“The ditch will go to weeds first,” he said.

“The offer’s open until to-morrow night,” said Pat.

“You bloodsuckers can’t put anything over on me,” was the Easterner’s departing declaration, as he opened the door.  “I’m on to you, Carrigan.  You’re backing Bryant and will finish the ditch.  We’ll just sit tight on our bonds and stock.”

Pat watched him go.

“I hate to make money for men like them,” he remarked to the engineer, “but I guess I can’t help it, because I’ll not let you down, Lee, for a matter of cash payment.  I’ll advance what’s necessary and take a company note.  Maybe you’re wondering why I let you sweat all this time?  Because you needed the experience.  You laid down too easy.  All the time that you were thinking the game was up, I was waiting for you to grab my leg and begin to pull.  But you never did.”

“You had done too much for me already, Pat; and though I supposed you were well-fixed I had no idea you were wealthy.  The thought you might risk twenty thousand dollars——­”

“Why not?  I know this project better than any banker; it’s sound, it’s about completed,” the old man interrupted.  “All that’s necessary is to take a long breath and push hard for three weeks more.  Sometimes I think you have the making of a fair engineer, Lee, but you discourage me dreadfully when I try to picture you as a financier.  I’m afraid you’ll wind up like one of these bondholders of Gretzingers, just piffling.”

Lee went to stand at the window, so that Carrigan could not see his face.  Emotion had unmanned him.  He would not have even Pat know how strongly he was moved by this act of magnanimity.

“Well, I better be getting back to the ditch,” said the contractor, presently.