Theboomerangworkedlikeacharm。Themenhadbeengrumblingatanapparentlypeacefulyieldingofthepointatissue，andwouldhavesackedoutmanyoftheblazedlogsifOrdehadnotheldthemrigidlytoit。Nowtheirspiritsflamedintojoyagain。Thesortingwentlikeclockwork。Orde，inpersonalcharge，watchedthatthroughthedifferentopeningsinhis\"boomerang\"the\"H\"logswereshuntedintotheriver。Shortlythechannelwasfulloflogsfloatingmerrilyawaydownthelittlebluewavelets。AfterawhileOrdehandedoverhisjobtoTomNorth。
\"Can’tstanditanylonger，boys，\"saidhe。\"I’vegottogodownandseehowtheDutchmanismakingit。\"
\"Comebackandtellus！\"yelledoneofthecrew。
\"YoubetIwill！\"Ordeshoutedback。
HedrovetheteamandbuckboarddownthemarshroadtoHeinzman’smill。Therehefoundevidencesofthewildestexcitement。Themillhadbeencloseddown，andallthementurnedintorescuelogs。
Boatspliedinalldirections。Atugdartedbackandforth。
Constantlythenumberoffloatinglogsaugmented，however。Manyhadalreadygoneby。
\"Ifyouthinkyou’rebusynow，\"saidOrdetohimselfwithachuckle，\"justwaituntilyoubegintogetLOGS。\"
Hewatchedforafewmomentsinsilence。
\"What’shedoingwiththattug？\"thoughthe。\"O—ho！He’sstringingboomsacrosstherivertoholdthewholeoutfit。\"
Helaughedaloud，turnedhisteamabout，anddrovefranticallybacktothebooms。Everyfewmomentshechuckled。Hiseyesdanced。
Hardlycouldhewaittogetthere。Onceatthecamp，heleapedfromthebuckboard，withashouttothestableman，andranrapidlyoutovertheboomstowherethesortingof\"H\"logswasgoingmerrilyforward。
\"He’sshutdownhismill，\"shoutedOrde，\"andhe’sgotallthatgangofhighbankersout，andeveryoldrum—blossominMonrovia，andIbetifyousay’logs’tohim，he’dchasehistailincircles。\"
\"Wantthisjob？\"Northaskedhim。
\"No，\"saidOrde，suddenlyfallensolemn，\"haven’ttime。I’mgoingtotakeMarshandtheSPRITEandgototown。OldHeinzman，\"headdedasanafterthought，\"isstringingboomsacrosstheriver——
obstructingnavigation。\"
Herandownthelengthofthewholeboomtowherelaythetwotugs。
\"Marsh，\"hecalledwhenstillsomedistanceaway，\"gotupsteam？\"
Thereappearedashort，square，blue—cladman，withhardbrowncheeks，aheavybleachedflaxenmoustache，andeyessteady，unwavering，andasblueasthesky。
\"Upintwominutes，\"heanswered，anddescendedfromthepilothousetoshoutdownalowdoorleadingfromthedeckintotheengineroom。
\"Harvey，\"hecommanded，\"fireherup！\"
Atall，good—naturednegroreachedtheupperhalfofhisbodyfromthelowdoortoseizeanarmfuloftheslabspiledalongthenarrowdeck。TenminuteslatertheSPRITE，acloudofwhitesmokepouringfromherfunnel，wascareeningdownthestretchoftheriver。
CaptainMarshguidedhisenergeticchargeamongthelogsfloatinginthestreamwiththemarvelloussecondinstinctoftheexperttugboatman。Awhirlofthewheeltotheright，aturntotheleft——thecraftheeledstronglyundertheforcingofherpowerfulruddertoavoidbyanarm’s—lengthsometimbersfairlyflungasidebythewash。Thedisplacementoftherapidrunningseemedalmosttopressthewaterabovethelevelofthedeckoneithersideandabouttenfeetfromthegunwale。Asthelowmarshesandcat—tailsflewpast，Ordenotedwithsatisfactionthatmanyofthelogs，urgedonesidebythebreeze，hadfoundlodgmentamongthereedsandinthebayousandinlets。Oneatatime，andpainfully，thesewouldhavetobesalvaged。
Inashorttimethemills’tallsmokestacksloomedinsight。ThelogsthickeneduntilitwaswithdifficultythatCaptainMarshcouldthreadhiswayamongthematall。ShortlyOrde，standingbythewheelinthepilot—house，couldseedownthestretchesoftheriveracrowdofmenworkingantlike。
\"They’vegot’emstopped，\"commentedOrde。\"Lookatthatgangworkingfromboats！Theyhaven’tadozen’corkboots’among’em。\"
\"Whatdoyouwantmetodo？\"askedCaptainMarsh。
\"Thisisanavigableriver，isn’tit？\"repliedOrde。\"Runthrough！\"
Marshrangforhalf—speedandbegantonosehiswaygentlythroughthelooselyfloatinglogs。Soonthetughadreachedthesceneofactivity，andheadedstraightfortheslenderlineofboomshitchedendtoendandstretchingquiteacrosstheriver。
\"I’mafraidwe’lljustrideoverthemifwehitthemtooslow，\"
suggestedMarsh。
Ordelookedathiswatch。
\"We’llbelateforthemailunlesswehurry，\"saidhe。Marshwhirledthespokesofhiswheeloverandrangtheengine—roombell。
Thewaterchurnedwhitebehind，thetugcareened。
\"Vatyoudo！Stop！\"criedHeinzmanfromoneoftheboatse，hisheadstilloutthedoor，lookedback。\"Slowdown，Marsh，\"
saidhe。\"Let’sseetheshow。\"Alreadythelogscaughtbytheboomshadtakentheirmotionandhadsweptpasttheopening。
AlthoughthelonesometugHeinzmanhadontheworkimmediatelypickeduponeendofthebrokenboom，andwithitstartedoutintotheriver，shefounddifficultyinmakingheadwayagainstthesweepofthelogs。Afteralongstruggleshereachedthemiddleoftheriver，whereshewasabletoholdherown。
\"Wonderwhatnext？\"speculatedOrde。\"Howaretheygoingtogettheotherendoftheboomsoutfromtheotherbank？\"
CaptainMarshhadreversedtheSPRITE。Thetuglaynearlymotionlessamidstream，herpropellerslowlyrevolving。
Upriverallthesmallboatsgatheredinaline，connectedonetotheotherbyarope。Thetugpassedovertothemthecableattachedtotheboom。Evidentlythecombinedeffortsoftherowboatswerecou。
Ordestuckhisheadfromthepilot—housedoor。
\"You’reobstructingnavigation！\"heyelled。\"I’vegottogototowntobuyapostage—stamp。\"
Theprowofthetug，accuratelyaimedbyMarsh，hitsquareinthejunctionoftwoofthebooms。Immediatelythewaterwasagitatedonbothsidesandforahundredfeetorsobythepressureofthelongpolessidewise。Thereensuedamomentofstrain；thenthelinkssnapped，andtheSPRITEplungedjoyouslythroughtheopening。Thebooms，sweptasidebythecurrent，floatedtoeithershore。Theriverwasopen。
Ordntedontoholdthehalf—boomacrossthecurrentwhilethetugbroughtouttheotherhalf。Whenthetugdroppedthecable，Ordelaughed。
\"NobodybutaDutchmanwouldhavethoughtofthat！\"hecried。\"Nowforthefun！\"
Immediatelytheweightfellonthesmallboats，theyweredraggedirresistiblybackward。EvenfromadistancethethreemenontheSPRITEcouldmakeoutthewhite—waterastheoarssplashedandchurnedandfranticallycaughtcrabsinavainefforttoholdtheirown。Marshloweredhistelescope，thetearsstreamingdownhisface。
\"It’sbetterthanagoatfight，\"saidhe。
Futilelyprotesting，therowboatsweredraggedbackward，turnedasawhipissnapped，andstrungoutalongthebankbelow。
\"They’llhavetohavetwotugsbeforetheycanclosethebreakthatway，\"commentedOrde。
\"Surething，\"repliedCaptainMarsh。
Butatthatmomentablacksmokerolledupoverthemarshes，andshortlyaroundthebendfromabovecametheLUCYBELLE。
TheLUCYBELLEwasthemainexcuseforcallingtherivernavigable。
ShemadetripsasoftenasshecouldbetweenReddingandMonrovia。
Inluck，shecouldcoverthefortymilesinaday。Itwasnounusualthing，however，fortheLUCYBELLEtohangupindefinitelyonsomeoneofthenumerousshiftingsandbars。Forthatreasonshecarriedmoreimperishablefreightthanpassengers。Inappearanceshewastwo—storied，withtwinsmokestacks，anironIndianonhertop，anda\"splutter—bmysteriousheralwaysfathomlesseyes。ToOrdesheseemedfragile，aloof，enshrinedamongherlacesanddaintyribbons。
Hardlydaredhetouchherwhensheheldherhandouttohimweakly，butfellonhiskneesbesidethebedandburiedhisfaceintheclothes。Sheplacedagentlehandcaressioappreciatesyou！\"shecried，possessingherselfoftheinfant。\"He’sabeautifulbaby；oneofthebest—lookingnew—bornbabiesIeversaw！\"
Ordeescapedtotheopenair。Hehadtogototheofficetoattendtosomedetailsofthebusiness。Witheverystephiselationincreased。Attheofficehethrewopenhisdeskwithaslam。
Newmarkjumpednervouslyandfrowned。Orde’sbig，open，andbrusquemannersbotheredhimastheywouldhavebotheredacat。
\"Gotasonandheiroveratmyplace，\"calledOrdeinhisbigvoice。
\"Thisoldfirm’sgottorustlenow，Itellyou。\"
\"Congratulateyou，I’msure，\"saidNewmarkehind\"paddle—wheel。
\"Therecomeshishelp，\"saidOrde。\"OldSimpsonwouldstoptopickupabogusthree—centpiece。\"
Sureenough，onhailfromoneoftherowboats，theLUCYBELLEsloweddownandstopped。Afterashortconference，shesteamedclumsilyovertogetholdofoneendofthebooms。Thetugtooktheother。
Intime，andbydintofmuchsplashing，somecollisions，andseveralattempts，theendsoftheboomswereunited。
Bythistime，however，nearlyallthelogshadescaped。Thetug，towingastringofrowboats，setoutinpursuit。
TheSPRITEcontinuedonherwayuntilbeyondsight。Thenshesloweddownagain。TheLUCYBELLEchurnedaroundthebend，andturnedintowardthetug。
\"She’sgoingtospeakus，\"marvelledOrde。\"Iwonderwhatthedickensshewants。\"
\"Tugahoy！\"bellowedared—facedindividualfromtheupperdeck。Hewasdressedinblueandbrassbuttons，carriedatelescopeinonehand，andwasliberallyfestoonedwithgoldbraidandembroideredanchors。
\"Answerhim，\"OrdecommandedMarsh。
\"Hullothere，commodore！whatisit？\"repliedthetugcaptain。
Thered—facedfigureglareddownforamoment。
\"TheywantatugupthereatHeinzman’s。Canyougo？\"
\"Sure！\"criedMarsh，choking。
TheLUCYBELLEsheeredoffmagnificently。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat？\"MarshaskedOrde。
\"Thecommodorealwaysactsasifthatoldraftwasasixty—gunfrigate，\"wasOrde’snon—committalanswer。\"Headupstreamagain。\"
HeinzmansawtheSPRITEcoming，androwedoutfrantically，splashingateverystrokeandyellingwitheverybreath。
\"Don’tyougothroughthere！Vaitaminute！Stop，Itellyou！\"
\"Holdup！\"saidOrdetoMarsh。
Heinzmanrowedalongside，droppedhisoarsandmoppedhisbrow。
\"Vatyoudo？\"hedemandedheatedly。
\"Iforgotthemoneytobuymystampwith，\"saidOrdesweetly。\"I’mgoingbacktogetit。\"
\"Notthroughmypooms！\"criedHeinzman。
\"Mr。Heinzman，\"saidOrdeseverely，\"youareobstructinganavigablestream。Iamdoingbusiness，andIcannotbeinterferedwith。\"
\"Butmylogs！\"criedtheunhappymillman。
\"Ihavenothingtodowithyourlogs。Youaredrivingyourownlogs，\"Orderemindedhim。
Heinzmanvituperatedandpoundedthegunwale。
\"Goahead，Marsh！\"saidOrde。
Thetuggatheredway。SoonHeinzmanwasforcedtoletgo。Forasecondtimethechainsweresnapped。OrdeandMarshlookedbackoverthechurningwakeleftbytheSPRITE。Theseveredendsoftheboomswereswingingbacktowardeithershore。Betweenthemfloatedarowboat。Intherowboatgesticulatedapudgyman。Theriverwaswellsprinkledwithlogs。Evidentlythesortingwasgoingonwell。
\"Mayaswellgobacktotheworks，\"saidOrde。\"Hewon’tstringthemtogetheragainto—day——notifhewaitsforthattughesentSimpsonfor。\"
Accordingly，theyreturnedtothebooms，whereworkwassuspendedwhileOrdedetailedtoanappreciativeaudiencethehappeningsbelow。Thistickledthemenimmensely。
\"Why，wehain’tsortedoutmore’namillionfeetofhislogs，\"criedRollwayCharlie。\"Hehain’tSEENnologsyet！\"
Theyturnedwithnewenthusiasmtotheworkofshunting\"H\"logsintothechannel。
Intenminutes，however，thestablemanpickedhiswayoutovertheboomswithamessageforOrde。
Mr。Heinzman’sashore，andwantstoseeyou，\"saidhe。
OrdeandJimDenningexchangedglances。
\"’Coon’scomedown，\"saidthelatter。
Ordefoundthemillmanpacingrestlesslyupanddownbeforeasteamingpairofhorses。Newmark，perchedonastump，wassurveyinghimsardonicallyandchewingtheendofanunlightedcigar。
\"Hereyoupothare！\"burstoutHeinzman，whenOrdesteppedashore。
\"Now，thismuststop。Imustnotlosemylogs！Vatisyourprobosition？\"
NewmarkbrokeinquicklybeforeOrdecouldspeak。
\"I’vetoldMr。Heinzman，\"saidhe，\"thatwewouldsortanddelivertherestofhislogsfortwodollarsathousand。\"
\"Thatwillbeaboutit，\"agreedOrde。
\"But，\"explodedHeinzman，\"thatisasmuchasyouagreettodriveanddeliffermywholecut！\"
\"Precisely，\"saidNewmark。
\"PutIhafalltheeggspenceofdrivingthelogsmyself。WhyshoultIpayyoufordoingwhatIhafalrettypaidtohafdone？\"
Ordechuckled。
\"Heinzman，\"saidhe，\"ItoldyouI’dmakeyouscratchgravel。Nowit’stimetotalkbusiness。Youthoughtyouwereboringwithamightyauger，butit’stimetorevise。Wearen’tforcedtobotherwithyourlogs，andyou’reluckytogetoutsoeasy。IfIturnyourwholedriveintotheriver，you’lllosemorethanhalfofitoutright，andit’llcostyouaheaptosalvagetherest。Andwhat’smore，I’llturn’eminbeforeyoucangetholdofapile—driver。
I’llsortnightandday，\"hebluffed，\"andbyto—morrowmorningyouwon’thaveastickoftimberabovemybooms。\"Helaughedagain。
\"Youwanttogetdowntobusinessalmightysudden。\"
WhenfinallyHeinzmanhaddrivensadlyaway，andthewholedrive，\"H\"logsincluded，waspouringintothemainboom，Ordestretchedhisarmsoverhisheadinaluxuryofsatisfaction。
\"Thatjustaboutsettlesthatcampaign，\"hesaidtoNewmark。
\"Oh，no，itdoesn’t，\"repliedthelatterdecidedly。
\"Why？\"askedOrde，surprised。\"Youdon’timaginehe’lldoanythingmore？\"
\"No，butIwill，\"saidNewmark。
XXVII
Earlyinthefallthebabywasborn。Itprovedtobeaboy。Orde，nervousasacataftertheordealofdoingnothing，tiptoedintothedarkenedroom。Hefoundhiswifeweakandpale，herdarkhairframingherface，anewlookofraptinnercontemplationrenderingevenmorenglyonhishead。
Sotheyremainedforsometime。Finallyheraisedhiseyes。Sheheldherlipstohim。Hekissedthem。
\"Itseemssortofmake—believeevenyet，sweetheart，\"shesmiledathimwhimsically，\"thatwehaveareal，livebabyallofourown。\"
\"Likeotherpeople，\"saidOrde。
\"Notlikeotherpeopleatall！\"shedisclaimed，withashowofindignation。
GrandmaOrdebroughtthenewcomerinforOrde’sinspection。Helookedgravelydownonthepuckered，discolouredbitofhumanitywithsomefeelingofdisappointment，andperhapsafaintuneasiness。
Afteramomenthevoicedthelatter。
\"Is——doyouthink——thatis——\"hehesitated，\"doesthedoctorsayhe’sgoingtobeallright？\"
\"Allright！\"criedGrandmaOrdeindignantly。\"I’dliketoknowifheisn’tallrightnow！Whatintheworlddoyouexpectofanew—
bornbaby？\"
ButCarrollwaslaughingsoftlytoherselfonthebed。Sheheldoutherarmsforthebaby，andcuddleditclosetoherbreast。
\"He’salittledarling，\"shecrooned，\"andhe’sgoingtogrowupbigandstrong，justlikehisdaddy。\"Sheputhercheekagainstthesleepingbabe’sandlookedupsidewiseatthetwostandingaboveher。\"ButIknowhowyoufeel，\"shesaidtoherhusband。\"Whentheyfirstshowedhimtome，Ithoughthelookedlikeapeanutathousandyearsold。\"
GrandmaOrdefairlysnortedwithindignation。
\"Cometoyouroldgrandmother，whrathershortly。\"Mrs。
Ordeisdoingwell，Ihope？\"
\"Fine，fine！\"criedOrde。
Newmarkdroppedthesubjectandplungedintoabusinessmatter。
Orde’sattention，however，wasflighty。Afteralittlewhileheclosedhisdeskwithanotherbang。
\"Nouse！\"saidhe。\"Gottomakeitavacation。I’mgoingtorunovertoseehowthefamilyis。\"
Strangelyenough，theyoungcouplehadnotdiscussedbeforethequestionofaname。Oneeveningattwilight，whenOrdewasperchedatthefootofthebed，Carrollbroughtupthesubject。
\"Heoughttobenamedforyou，\"shebegantimidly。\"Iknowthat，Jack，andI’dlovetohaveanotherJackOrdeinthefamily；but，dear，I’vebeenthinkingaboutfather。He’sapoor，forlornoldman，whodoesn’tgetmuchoutoflife。Anditwouldpleasehimso——
oh，morethanyoucanimaginesuchathingcouldpleaseanybody！\"
Shelookedupathimdoubtfully。Ordesaidnothing，butwalkedaroundthebedtowherethebabylayinhislittlecradle。Heleanedoverandtooktheinfantupinhisgingerlyawkwardfashion。
\"Howareyouto—day，BobbyOrde？\"heinquiredoftheblinkingmite。
XXVIII
ThefirstseasonoftheBoomCompanywasmostsuccessful。Itsprospectsforthefuturewerebright。Thedrivehadbeendeliveredtoitsvariousownersatapricebelowwhatithadcostthemseverally，andwithoutthenecessaryattendantbother。Therefore，theloggerswereonlytoowillingtorenewtheircontractsforanotheryear。ThisdidnotsatisfyNewmark，however。
\"Whatwewant，\"hetoldOrde，\"isachartergivingusexclusiverightsontheriver，andauthorisingustoasktoll。I’mgoingtotryandgetoneoutofthelegislature。\"
HedepartedforLansingassoonastheAssemblyopened，andalmostimmediatelybecamelostinoneofthosefiercestrugglesofpoliticsnotlessbitterbecauseconcealed。Heinzmanwasalreadyontheground。
Newmarkhadtheshadowofrightonhisside，forheappliedforthecharteronthebasisoftheriverimprovementsalreadyputinbyhisfirm。Heinzman，however，possessedmuchpoliticalinfluence，adeepknowledgeofthesubterraneanworkingsofplotandcounterplot，anda\"barrel。\"Althougharmedwithanapparentlyincontestablelegalright，Newmarksoonfoundhimselffightingonthedefensive。
Heinzmanwantedtheimprovementsalreadyexistingcondemnedandsoldasapublicutilitytothehighestbidder。Heofferedfurtherguaranteesastofutureimprovements。Inadditionwereotherandmorepotentargumentsprofferedbehindcloseddoors。Manycasesresolvedthemselvesintoabaldquestionofcash。Othersdemandeddiplomacy。Jobs，fatcontracts，businessfavours，influencewereallflungoutfreely——bribesasabsoluteasthoughstampedwiththedollarmark。NewspapersallovertheStatewerepressedintoservice。These，boughtupbyHeinzmanandhisprospectivepartnersinalucrativebusiness，spokevirtuouslyofprivatepiracyofwhatarenowcalledpublicutilities，theexploitingofthepeople’snaturalwealths，andalltherestofaspeciousreasoningthemoreconvincinginthatitwasinmanyothercasesonlytootrue。Theindependentjournals，uninformedoftherightsofthecase，eitherremainedsilentonthematter，orgropedinapuzzledandundecidedmanneronbothsides。
AgainstthissecretbuteffectiveorganisationNewmarkmostunexpectedlyfoundhimselfpitted。Hehadanticipatedbeingabsentbutaweek；hebecameinvolvedinanaffairofmonths。
Withdecisionheappliedhimselftotheproblem。Hetookroomsatthehotel，sentforOrde，andbeganatoncetosetinmotionthemachineryofopposition。Therefreshedresourcesofthecompanywerestrainedtothebreakingpointinordertoraisemoneyforthisnewcampaignopeningbeforeit。Orde，returningtoLansingafteratripdevotedtothecarryingoutofNewmark’sdirectionsastofinances，wasdismayedatthetangleofstrategyandcross—strategy，innuendo，vagueandformlesscobwebforcesbywhichhewassurrounded。Hecouldmakenothingofthem。Theybrushedhisface，hefelttheirinfluence，yethecouldplacehisfingeronnotangibleandcomprehensiblesolidity。Amongthesedelicateandcomplicatedcross—currentsNewmarkmovedsilent，cold，secret。Heseemedtounderstandthem，toplaywiththem，tomanipulatethemaselementsofthegame。Abovethemwasthehollowshockoftheostensiblebattle——thespeeches，theloudtalkinlobbies，thenewspapervirtue，indignation，accusations；buttherealstrugglewashereinthefurtiveways，inwhisperedwordsdeliveredhastilyaside，inhotelhallsonthewaytoandfromthestairs，behindcloseddoorsofroomswithoutopentransoms。
Ordeincomicdespairacknowledgedthatitwasall\"toodeepforhim。\"Nevertheless，itwassoonborneinonhimthatthenewcompanywasstrugglingforitsveryrighttoexistence。Ithadbeendoingthatfromthefirst；butnow，toOrdethefight，theexistence，hadanewimportance。Thecompanyuptothispointhadbeenaschememerely，anexperimentthatmightwinorlose。Now，withthehistoryofadrivebehindit，ithadbecomealivingentity。Ordewouldhavefoughtagainstitsdissolutionashewouldhavefoughtagainstamurder。Yethehadpracticallytostandoneside，watchingNewmark’sslender，gray—clad，tensefigureglidinghereandthere，moresilent，morereserved，morewatchfuleveryday。
Thefightenduredthroughmostofthefirsthalfofthesession。
WhenfinallyitbecameevidenttoHeinzmanthatNewmarkwouldwin，hemadetheissueoftollratestheditchofhislastresistance，tryingtoforcelegalchargessolowastoeatuptheprofits。Atthelast，however，thebillpassedtheboard。Thecompanyhaditscharter。
AtwhatpriceonlyNewmarkcouldhavetold。Hehadfoughtwiththetenseearnestnessofthenervoustemperamentthatfightstowinwithoutcountofthecost。Thefirmwasestablished，butitwasasheavilyindebtasitscreditwouldstand。Newmarkhimself，thoughascalmandreservedandpreciseasever，seemedtohaveturnedgray，andoneofhiseyelidshadacquiredaslightnervoustwitchwhichpersistedforsomemonths。Hetookhisseatatthedesk，however，ascalmlyasever。Inthreedaysthescandalisedhowlsofbriberyandcorruptionhadgivenplaceinthenewspaperstosomeothersensation。
\"Joe，\"saidOrdetohispartner，\"howaboutallthistalk？Istherereallyanythinginit？Youhaven’tgoneinforthatbusiness，haveyou？\"
Newmarkstretchedhisarmswearily。
\"Pressboughtup，\"hereplied。\"IknowforafactthatoldStanfordgotfivehundreddollarsfromsomeoftheHeinzmaninterests。I
couldhaveswunghimbackforanextrahundred，butitwasn’tworthwhile。Theyhowlbriberyatustodistractattentionfromtheirownperformances。\"
WiththisevasivereplyOrdecontentedhimself。Whetheritsatisfiedhimorwhetherhewasloathtopursuethesubjectfurtheritwouldbeimpossibletosay。
\"It’scostusplenty，anyway，\"hesaid，afteramoment。\"Theproposition’sgotaloadonit。Itwilltakeusalongtimetogetoutofdebt。Theriverdrivingwon’tpayquitesobigaswethoughtitwould，\"heconcluded，witharuefullittlelaugh。
\"Itwillpayplentywellenough，\"repliedNewmarkdecidedly，\"anditgivesusavantagepointtoworkfrom。Youdon’tsupposewearegoingtoquitatriverdriving，doyou？Wewanttolookaroundforsometimberofourown；there’swherethebigmoneyis。Andperhapswecanbuyaschoonerortwoandgointothecarryingtrade——thecountry’salivewithopportunity。NewmarkandOrdemeanssomethingtothesefellowsnow。Wecanhaveanythingwewant，ifwejustreachoutforit。\"
Histhinfigure，ordinarilyslightlyaskew，hadstraightened；hissteel—gray，impersonaleyeshadlitupbehindthebowedglassesandwereseeingthingsbeyondthewallatwhichtheygazed。Ordelookedupathimwithasuddenadmiration。
\"You’rethebrainsofthisconcern，\"saidhe。
\"We’llgeton，\"repliedNewmark，thefiredyingfromhiseyes。
XXIX
InthecourseofthenexteightyearsNewmarkandOrdefloatedhighonthatfloodofapparentprosperitythatattendsabusinesswellconceivedandpassablywellmanaged。TheBoomandDrivingCompanymademoney，ofcourse，forwiththemarginoffiftypercentorthereaboutsnecessitatedbythetemporaryvalueoftheimprovements，goodyearscouldhardlyfailtobringgoodreturns。This，itwillberemembered，wasastockcompany。Withtheprofitsfromthatbusinessthetwomenembarkedonaseparatecopartnership。Theymademoneyatthis，too，buttheburdenofdebtnecessitatedbynewventures，constantlyweightedbytheheavyinterestdemandedatthattime，keptaffairsontheraggededge。
Inaddition，bothOrdeandNewmarkweremoreinclinedtoextensionofintereststhanto\"playingsafe。\"Theassetsgainedinoneventurewerepromptlypledgedtoanother。Theramificationsofdebt，property，mortgages，andexpectationsoverlappedeachotherinacobwebofinterests。
Ordelivedateaseinanewhouseofsomesizesurroundedbygrounds。Hekepttwoservants：abloodedteamofhorsesdrewthesuccessortotheoriginalbuckboard。Newmarkownedasailyachtoffiveorsixtons，inwhich，quitesolitary，hetookhisonlypleasure。Bothwereconsideredmenofsubstanceandproperty，asindeedtheywere。Only，theyriskeddollarstogainthousands。A
successionofbadyears，apanic—contractionofmoneymarkets，anyoneofadozenpossible，thoughnotprobable，contingencieswouldrenderitdifficulttomeettheobligationswhichconstantlycamedue，andwhichNewmarkkeptbusydevisingwaysandmeansofmeeting。
Ifthingswentwell——anditmayberemarkedthatlegitimatelytheyshould——NewmarkandOrdewouldsomedayberatedamongthemillionairefirms。Ifthingswentill，bankruptcycouldnotbeavoided。Therewasnomiddleground。NorwereOrdeandhispartneruniqueinthis；practicallyeveryfirmthendevelopingorexploitingthenaturalresourcesofthecountryfounditselfinthesamecase。
ImmediatelyafterthegrantingofthechartertodrivetheriverthepartnershadofferedthemanopportunityofacquiringaboutthirtymillionfeetoftimberremainingfromMorrisonandDaly’soriginalholdings。ThatfirmwasveryanxioustobegindevelopmentonalargescaleofitsBeesonLakepropertiesintheSaginawwaters。
DalyproposedtoOrdethathetakeovertheremnant，andhavingconfidenceintheyoungman’sabilities，agreedtolethimhaveitonlong—timenotes。AfterseveralconsultationswithNewmark，Ordefinallycompletedthepurchase。Belowtheboomstheyerectedamill，themachineryforwhichtheyhadalsoboughtofDaly，atRedding。ThefollowingwinterOrdespentinthewoods。Byspringhehadbanked，readytodrive，aboutsixmillionfeet。
