Page:Tongues of Flame (1924).pdf/130

 "No, I think not," agreed Lahleet; "and since you admit the principle, I will talk to Adam John; but it is his island—not mine. I will try to persuade him to yield his whim of a private purpose to the general good as contained in a shingle mill; but that is a hard proposition for a savage to grasp. I fancy if conditions were reversed it would even be a hard proposition for Mr. Boland to grasp. But Adam John is more hopeful soil for the development of a social conscience."

Harrington, having gained her consent to help him, could afford to be merely amused at the girl's acid subtleties, and turned seriously to Adam John.

"Old fellow," he said, "you're getting off wrong on this. I want you to think it over tonight—talk it over with Lahleet."

"Aw ri', me t'ink!" replied Adam John, but his lower lip was thrust out stubbornly. However, Harrington laughed hopefully, as he bade the two good-by. Even though Lahleet failed, he meant to get round the half-breed somchow—for Adam John's good, of course, as well as his own; and was rather full of this determination when he met Billie Boland just getting into her coupé in front of her father's office, whither he was bound to report to Quackenbaugh.