The Boomers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1914. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. BEINGS AN HONEST TALE. The crew of The Hercules came in a body to thank the passenger, and found him calmly seated on the winch, with his silk hat on the back of his head, and a bank-book in his hand. He slipped the book into his pocket, as they approached to commiserate with him, and told them that, "it didn't matter, anyhow." After all his surprising desire for haste at the start, this struck them as being the height of politeness, and they stood for a moment wondering what it could all be about. There was something in his attitude that appeared to them unusual, some quiet expectancy--which was exactly the opposite to anything in Burmah's mind; for he was ruminating and philosophizing over something that had come to him, and wanted neither thanks nor conversation. "Oh, it's all right, boys," he assured them, with a wave of his hand. "How'll we get back?" "Some tug will come in and pick us up," assured the pilot, looking out toward the sound, which appeared as desolate and primitive as if its waters had never been stirred. And then, as Burmah did not answer, he turned away. Burmah, with abstracted eyes, stared at the forest. He felt convinced, by all reasoning, that the big sale must be lost, and, therefore, that he was exactly where he had been prior to the hour when Conover appeared in his office with that startling proposition. Yet, somehow, sitting there on the iron seat, with everything quiet and dead around him, with no one in an outer office to annoy him, and nothing to do but to think, a helpless prisoner on a helpless craft, his mind seemed clearer. He found time and courage for introspection and review. The ethics of his life did not seem good. A careless life it had been, that of the man greedy to acquire much money quickly, wi...