Perhaps it
is not too late yet."
He flung her a grateful look. "You're true blue, Virginia. Come! I'll leave
you at the store as we pass."
The defection of Eaton bit his chief to the quick. The force of the blow
itself was heavy--how heavy he could not tell till he could take stock of
the situation. He could see that he would be thrown out of court in the
matter of the Consolidated Supply Company receivership, since Eaton's stock
would now be in the hands of the enemy. But what was of more importance was
the fact that Eaton's interest in the Mesa Ore-producing Company now
belonged to Harley, who could work any amount of mischief with it as a
lever for litigation.
The effect, too, of the man's desertion upon the morale of the M. O. P.
forces must be considered and counteracted, if possible. He fancied he
could see his subordinates looking shiftyeyed at each other and wondering
who would slip away next.
If it had been anybody but Steve! He would as soon have distrusted his
right hand as Steve Eaton. Why, he had made the man, had picked him out
when he was a mere clerk, and tied him to himself by a hundred favors.
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