The Forbidden Trail. Honoré Morrow
did not speak for a moment. Five years ago he would have refused such an offer as this, without hesitation. It was very different, this, from turning out say a thousand units in six months. Yet, so long had hope been deferred that Roger hesitated, not for lack of enthusiasm for Austin's offer, but because the sudden joy that rose within him made it difficult to speak. Finally he turned to Ernest, who was watching him with a look of inexpressible satisfaction in his beautiful eyes.
"Will you go with me, Ern?"
"The family will kick, but I'm going," answered Ernest.
"What are the terms, Dr. Austin?" asked Roger.
"We'll buy all machinery and apparatus and pay for labor and living up to ten thousand dollars."
Roger could not believe that his sterile years of endeavor and disappointment were to bring forth even this small fruit. He laid his pipe down, picked it up, then said, "I can't tell you what this opportunity means to me. It's—it's my work, you see, and—and—"
"That's all right," Austin spoke hastily. "When can you start? I know exactly the spot in Arizona that we would wish you to go to—Archer's Springs. Have you a map of Arizona?"
"Yes, some of the Geological Survey maps," said Ernest, opening up a chart case.
"Here's the spot." Austin put his pencil on the map. "It's about twenty miles north of the railroad, a mining country, but we've always believed that the valleys here could blossom if we could get water to them. The Reclamation Service never expects to get in there."
"I know that," said Roger eagerly, "and yet a cheap power would make an inland empire of that section."
"Have you ever seen it?" asked Austin.
"No, Chicago has been my uttermost limit of travel so far. But I've studied hot countries and their resources for ten years."
"My idea is," said Austin, "that we buy all our supplies at St. Louis. I'll go that far with you. You can buy the essentials for making camp at Archer's Springs and by the time you are ready for it, freight will have brought the rest. I believe there is an excellent trading store at Archer's Springs where you can buy a camp outfit. I'll wire down and find out."
"Jove, Rog, doesn't that sound great!" exclaimed Ernest.
"When shall we plan to start?" asked Roger.
"Why not at once, so as to get the plant running by Spring, when the real heat comes on?" Austin looked from one eager face to the other.
"We both are teaching, you know," said Ernest. "I thought next June—"
"Next June!" shouted Roger. "This is the first of December, Dr. Austin. We'll have found substitutes and be ready to travel immediately after the Christmas recess."
Ernest winced. "That's crowding things! But—well, you're the boss of the expedition, Rog. I'll be with you."
"Fine!" Austin rubbed his hands together. "We'll start our purchase list now, eh?"
The concert, which had proceeded during the evening without interruption, now stopped abruptly, just as the clock struck ten.
"How about deferring that until to-morrow?" asked Roger. "I've a number of lists in my desk at the Science Building that will help us."
"That's a good idea," Austin rose as he spoke. "Will you both take dinner with me at the hotel to-morrow evening and we can give the evening to this?"
"We'll be there," replied Roger, following Austin to the door. When he returned, Ernest was locking up the drawings. "Well, Ern, old boy, it's not big business, but thanks to you, it's a real start in that direction, anyhow. How can I thank you?"
"By helping me to break the news to the family. It's most deucedly short notice. We'll have some trouble in finding substitutes for our classroom work."
"I'm sure Benson and Ames will be only too glad of the chance," Roger spoke decidedly. "I thought of them this afternoon. I swear I was in earnest in saying I was through with teaching. And now this! It's like a double answer to prayer."
"Boys!" called Elsa, "the beer is waiting."
Ernest was well into his second stein and his third cheese sandwich before, in response to repeated kicks from Roger, he made his announcement. There was a moment's silence, broken by Elsa.
"Lucky dogs! Take me along!"
"But, Ernest, you cannot go," protested Papa Wolf. "Let Roger go if he wishes. I have nothing to say to that. But, my son, with the chance for a full professorship in a great university—no!"
Roger sighed. He was sorry for Ernest, but he never could understand his docile relationship to his father. Ernest came back, pluckily enough.
"I think I ought to go, Papa. It will be a fine experience and I will come back to teaching with a new interest."
"But why waste time? Why waste time?" cried his father. "You are nearly thirty. Instead of playing in the desert for a year, you should be marrying and starting a home."
"It won't be play, Mr. Wolf," said Roger. "It'll be bitter hard work, but it will add considerably to Ernest's reputation."
"Pah! Pah! Was ist's!" snorted the older man. "You are a good boy, Roger, but you are full of foolishness. You are bad for Ernest."
"Pshaw, Papa, don't talk like a goose," protested Elsa, her cheeks crimson. "All the initiative Ernest's got, Roger gave him. Why not let Ernest see a little of life before he settles down forever? Let him have just one adventure, for goodness sake."
"Will you be still, Elsa?" asked her father sternly.
"Hush, Elschen," whispered Mamma Wolf.
"Roger should be settling down and finding a wife for himself," Papa Wolf went on. "He'd soon get over his absentminded ways."
Ernest suddenly laughed. "Why, Papa, Roger looks on women about the way you look on inventors."
"Dry up, Ern," said Roger.
"What sort of a thing is it, this desert machine?" asked Uncle Hugo.
"It's a method of utilizing solar heat for power," replied Roger.
"Ah, yes, the big umbrella-like things. I've seen them in the pictures."
"Not at all," corrected Roger crossly.
Ernest spoke suddenly, very firmly but without raising his gentle voice. "I'm sorry to go against your wishes, Papa, but I'm going, just the same."
His father's mouth opened in astonishment. There was silence for a moment, broken by a sob from Mamma Wolf. Then Papa Wolf roared: "So that's it! You are of age. But disobedience I will not countenance. If you go, never again can you live in my house."
"Oh, Karl!" cried Mamma Wolf.
Elsa sniffed audibly. "What a tempest over a little thing! Uncle Hugo, have some more beer?"
"I must be going," said Hugo, taking the beer nevertheless.
"So must I," exclaimed Roger, rising hastily. "Then it's settled, Ernest?"
Ernest leaned over to take another sandwich. "It's settled. Don't cry, Mütterchen. I'll bring you home a horned toad and you can make me a bed and serve my meals in the garage."
Roger took Mamma Wolf's hand and kissed her cheek. "Good night, dear," he whispered.
Mamma Wolf smiled bravely and clung to his fingers for a moment. "You have made me sad, Roger, but I can't help loving you!"
Roger kissed her again. "I'm not going to let you be sad long. I'll bring Ernie back to you safe and sound. Well, I'm off to bed! Good night, Elsa!" and he was gone with a bang of the front door.
The days to Christmas flew by with unbelievable speed. Papa Wolf washed his hands of the whole adventure, as Elsa continued to call it, and refused to allow any mention