Forsomeyearsthesetwosortsofactivitygavethepartnersaboutalltheycouldattendto。AssoonasthedrivehadpassedRedding，Ordeleftitinchargeofoneofhisforemenwhilehedividedhistimebetweentheboomsandthemill。Lateintheyearhiswoodstripsbegan，thetoursofinspection，ofsurveyingfornewroads，theinevitablepreparationforthelongwintercampaignsintheforest。Assoonasthespringthawsbegan，oncemorethedrivedemandedhisattention。Andinmarketingthelumber，manipulatingthefirm’sfinancialaffairs，collectingitsdues，payingitsbills，makingitspurchases，andkeepingoiledtheintricatebearingpointsofitsofficemachinery，Newmarkwasbusy——andinvaluable。
Attheendofthefifthyeartheopportunitycame，throughacombinationofabaddebtandaman’sdeath，togetpossessionoftwolakeschooners。Ordeatoncesuggestedthecontractforasteambarge。Towingwastheninitsinfancy。Thebulkoflaketrafficwasbymeansofindividualsailingships——amethoduncertainastotime。Ordethoughtthatasteambargecouldbebuiltpowerfulenoughnotonlytocarryitsownholdanddeckloads，buttotowafteritthetwoschooners。Inthismannerthecrewscouldbereduced，andanapproximatedateofdeliverycouldbeguaranteed。
Newmarkagreedwithhim。Thusthefirm，inaccordancewithhisprophecy，wentintothecarryingtrade，forthevesselsmorethansufficedforitsownneeds。Thefreightingoflumberaddedmuchtotheincome，andthecarryingofmachineryandotherheavyfreightonthereturntripgreweveryyear。
Butbyfarthemostimportantacquisitionwasthatofthenorthernpeninsulatimber。Mostoperatorscalledthewhitepinealongandbackfromtheriverinexhaustible。Ordedidnotbelievethis。Hesawthetime，notfardistant，whentheworldwouldbecompelledtolookelsewhereforitslumbersupply，andheturnedhiseyestothealmostunknownNorth。Afteralonginvestigationthroughagents，andamonth’sland—lookingonhisownaccount，helocatedandpurchasedthreehundredmillionfeet。Thiswastobepaidfor，asusual，mostlybythefirm’snotessecuredbyitsotherproperty。Itwouldbecomeavailableonlyinthefuture，butOrdebelieved，asindeedtheeventjustified，thisfuturewouldprovetobenotsodistantasmostpeoplesupposed。
Astheseinterestswidened，Ordebecamemoreandmoreimmersedinthem。Hewasforcedtobeawayallofeveryday，andmorethanthebulkofeveryyear。Nevertheless，hishomelifedidnotsufferforit。
ToCarrollhewasalwaysthesamebig，hearty，whole—souledboyshehadfirstlearnedtolove。Shehadallhisconfidence。Ifthisdidnotextendintobusinessaffairs，itwasbecauseOrdehadalwaystriedtogetawayfromthemwhenathome。AtfirstCarrollhadattemptedtokeepinthecurrentofherhusband’sactivities，butasthelatterbroadenedinscopeandbecamemorecomplex，sheperceivedthattheirexplanationweariedhim。Shegrewoutofthehabitofaskinghimaboutthem。Soontheirrapidadvancehadcarriedthemquitebeyondherhorizon。Toher，also，astomostwomen，theword\"business\"connotednothingbutaturmoilandamystery。
Inallotherthingstheyweretoeachotherwhattheyhadbeenfromthefirst。Nomorechildrenhadcometothem。Bobby，however；hadturnedoutasturdy，honestlittlefellow，withmorethanastreakofhismother’scharmandintuition。HisfuturewasthesubjectofallOrde’splans。
\"Iwanttogivehimallthechancethereis，\"heexplainedtoCarroll。\"Aboyoughttostartwherehisfatherleftoff，andnothavetodothesamethingalloveragain。Butbeingarichman’ssonisn’tmuchofajob。\"
\"Whydon’tyoulethimcontinueyourbusiness？\"smiledCarroll，secretlyamusedattheideaofthesmallpersonbeforethemeverdoinganything。
\"BythetimeBobby’sgrownupthisbusinesswillallbeclosedout，\"
repliedOrdeseriously。
Hecontinuedtolookathisminutesonwithpuckeredbrow，untilCarrollsmoothedoutthewrinkleswiththetipsofherfingers。
\"Ofcourse，havingonlyafewminutestodecide，\"shemocked，\"perhapswe’dbettermakeupourmindsrightnowtohavehimastreet—cardriver。\"
\"Yes！\"agreedBobbyunexpectedly，andwithemphasis。
Threeyearsafterthisconversation，whichwouldhavemadeBobbyjusteight，Ordecamebackbeforesixofasummerevening，hisfacealightwithsatisfaction。
\"Hullo，bub！\"hecriedtoBobby，tossinghimtohisshoulder。
\"How’sthekid？\"
Theywentouttogether，whileawaitingdinner，toseethenewsetterpuppyinthewoodshed。
\"Namedhimyet？\"askedOrde。
\"Duke，\"saidBobby。
Ordesurveyedtheanimalgravely。
\"Seemslikeagoodname，\"saidhe。
Afterdinnerthetwoadjournedtothelibrary，wheretheysattogetherinthe\"bigchair，\"andBobby，squirmedalittlesidewiseinorderthebettertosee，watchedthesmokefromhisfather’scigarasiteddiedandcurledintheair。
\"Tellastory，\"hecommandedfinally。
\"Well，\"acquiescedOrde，\"therewasonceamanwhohadacow——\"
\"Onceuponatime，\"correctedBobby。
Helistenedforamomentorso。
\"Idon’tlikethatstory，\"hethenannounced。\"Tellthestoryaboutthebears。\"
\"Butthisisanewstory，\"protestedOrde，\"andyou’veheardaboutthebearssomanytimes。\"
\"Bears，\"insistedBobby。
\"Well，onceuponatimetherewerethreebears——abigbearandamiddle—sizedbearandalittlebear——\"beganOrdeobediently。
Bobby，withasighofraptureandcontent，curledupinasnug，warmlittleball。Thetwilightdarkened。
\"Blind—man’sholiday！\"warnedCarrollbehindthemsosuddenlythattheybothjumped。\"Andthesandman’sbeenatsomebody，Iknow！\"
Sheborehimawaytobed。Ordesatsmokinginthedarkness，staringstraightaheadofhimintothefuture。Hebelievedhehadfoundtheopportunity——twentyyearsdistant——forwhichhehadbeenlookingsolong。
XXX
AfteratimeCarrolldescendedthestairs，chuckling。\"Jack，\"shecalledintothesitting—room，\"comeoutontheporch。Whatdoyousupposetheyoungmandidto—night？\"
\"Giveitup，\"repliedOrdepromptly。\"Nogoodguessingwhenit’saquestionofthatyoungster’sperformances。Whatwasit？\"
\"Hesaidhis’NowIlayme，’andaskedblessingsonyouandme，andthegrandpasandgrandmas，andAuntieKate，asusual。Thenhestopped。’Whatelse？’Iremindedhim。’And，’hefinishedwitharush，’make—Bobby—a—good—boy—and—give—him—plenty—of—bread—’n—butter—
’n—apple—sauce！’\"
Theylaugheddelightedlyoverthis，clingingtogetherliketwochildren。Thentheysteppedoutonthelittleporchandlookedintothefathomlessnight。Theskywasfullofstars，aloofandcalm，butwaitingbreathlessontheedgeofaction，attendingthewordofcommandorthecelestialvision，orwhateveritisforwhichstarsseemtowait。Alongthestreetthedensevelvetshadeofthemaplesthrewthesidewalksintoimpenetrableblackness。Soundscarriedclearly。FromtheWelton’s，downthestreet，camethetinkleofamandolinandanoccasionallowlaughfromthegroupofyoungpeoplethatnightlyfrequentedthefrontsteps。Treetoadschirpedinunisonorfellabruptlysilentasthoughbysignal。Allupanddowntherowsofhouseswhirredthelowmonotoneofthelawnsprinklers，andthearomaoftheirwetnesswasbornecoolandrefreshingthroughthetepidair。
Ordeandhiswifesattogetheronthetopstep。Heslippedhisarmabouther。Theysaidnothing，butbreatheddeepofthequiethappinessthatfilledtheirlives。
Thegatelatchclickedandtwoshadowyfiguresdefinedthemselvesapproachinguptheconcretewalk。
\"Hullo！\"calledOrdecheerfullyintothedarkness。
\"Hullo！\"aman’svoiceinstantlyresponded。
\"TaylorandClara，\"saidOrdetoCarrollwithsatisfaction。\"JustthemanIwantedtosee。\"
Thelawyerandhiswifemountedthesteps。Hewasaquick，energetic，spareman，withleancheeks，abristling，clippedmoustache，andaslightstooptohisshoulders。Shewassmall，piquant，almostchild—like，withadaintyup—turnednose，alargeandlustrouseye，aconstant，bird—likeanimationofmanner——theFollyofartists，theadorable，lovable，harmlessFollystandingtiptoeonacomplaisantworld。
\"JustthemanIwantedtosee，\"repeatedOrde，asthetwoapproached。
ClaraTaylorstoppedshortandconsideredhimforamoment。
\"Letusaway，\"shesaidseriouslytoCarroll。\"Mypropheticsoultellsmetheyaregoingtotalkbusiness，andifanymorebusinessistalkedinmypresence，IshallEXPIRE！\"
Bothmenlaughed，butOrdeexplainedapologetically：
\"Well，youknow，Mrs。Taylor，thesearemyespeciallybusydaysforthefirm，andIhavetoworkmyprivateaffairsinwhenIcan。\"
\"IthoughtFrankwasverysolicitousaboutmygettingoutintheair，\"criedClara。\"Come，Carroll，let’swanderdownthestreetandseeMinaHeinzman。\"
Thetwointerlockedarmsandsaunteredalongthewalk。Bothmenlitcigarsandsatonthetopstepoftheporch。
\"Lookhere，Taylor，\"brokeinOrdeabruptly，\"youtoldmetheotherdayyouhadfifteenortwentythousandyouwantedtoplacesomewhere。\"
\"Yes，\"repliedTaylor。
\"Well，IbelieveIhavejusttheproposition。\"
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Californiapine，\"repliedOrde。
\"Californiapine？\"repeatedTaylor，afteraslightpause。\"WhyCalifornia？That’salongwayoff。Andthere’snomarket，isthere？Whywayoutthere？\"
\"It’scheap，\"repliedOrdesuccinctly。\"Idon’tsayitwillbegoodforimmediatereturns，norevenforreturnsinthenearfuture，butintwentyorthirtyyearsitoughttopaybigonasmallinvestmentmadenow。\"
Taylorshookhisheaddoubtfully。
\"Idon’tseehowyoufigureit，\"heobjected。\"WehavemoretimberthanwecanuseintheEast。Whyshouldwegoseveralthousandmileswestforthesamething？\"
\"Whenourtimbergivesout，thenwe’llHAVEtogowest，\"saidOrde。
Taylorlaughed。
\"Laughallyouplease，\"rejoinedOrde，\"butItellyouMichiganandWisconsinpineisdoomed。Twentyorthirtyyearsfromnowtherewon’tbeanywhitepineforsale。\"
\"Nonsense！\"objectedTaylor。\"You’retalkingwild。Wehaven’tevenbegunontheupperpeninsula。Afterthatthere’sMinnesota。AndI
haven’tobservedthatwe’requiteoutoftimberontheriver，ortheMuskegon，ortheSaginaw，ortheGrand，ortheCheboygan——why，GreatScott！man，ourchildren’schildren’schildrenmaybethinkingofinvestinginCaliforniatimber，butthat’saboutsoonenough。\"
\"Alltight，\"saidOrdequietly。\"Well，whatdoyouthinkofIndianaasagoodfieldfortimberinvestment？\"
\"Indiana！\"criedTaylor，amazed。\"Why，there’snotimberthere；
it’saprairie。\"
\"Thereusedtobe。AndallthesouthernMichiganfarmbeltwastimbered，andaroundhere。Wehaveourstumpstoshowforit，buttherearenoevidencesatallfarthersouth。You’dhavehardwork，forinstance，topersuadeastrangerthatVanBurenCountywasonceforest。\"
\"Wasit？\"askedTaylordoubtfully。
\"Itwas。Youtakeyourmapandseehowmuchareahasbeencutalready，andhowmuchremains。That’llopenyoureyes。Andrememberallthathasbeendonebycrudemethodsforarelativelysmalldemand。Thedemandincreasesasthecountrygrowsandmethodsimprove。Itwouldnotsurprisemeifsomedaythirtyorfortymillionswouldconstituteanaveragecut。*’Michiganpineexhaustless！’——thosefellowsmakemesick！\"
*Atthepresentdaysomefirmscutashighas150，000，000feet。
\"Soundsalittlemorereasonable，\"saidTaylorslowly。
\"It’llsoundalotmorereasonableinfiveortenyears，\"insistedOrde，\"andthenyou’llseethebigmenrushingoutintothatOregonandCaliforniacountry。Butnowamancangetpracticallythepickofthecoast。Thereareonlyafewbigconcernsoutthere。\"
\"Whyisitthatnoone——\"
\"Because，\"Ordecuthimshort，\"thebigthingsareforthefellowwhocanseefarenoughahead。\"
\"Whatkindofapropositionhaveyou？\"askedTaylorafterapause。
\"Icangettenthousandacresatanaveragepriceofeightdollarsanacre，\"repliedOrde。
\"Acres？Whatdoesthatmeanintimber？\"
\"Onthisparticulartractitmeansaboutfourhundredmillionfeet。\"
\"That’sabouttwentycentsathousand。\"
Ordenodded。
\"Andofcourseyoucouldn’toperateforalongtime？\"
\"Notfortwenty，maybethirty，years，\"repliedOrdecalmly。
\"There’syourinterestonyourmoney，andtaxes，andtheriskoffireand——\"
\"Ofcourse，ofcourse，\"agreedOrdeimpatiently，\"butyou’regettingyourstumpagefortwentycentsoralittlemore，andinthirtyyearsitwillbeworthashighasadollarandahalf。\"*
*Atthepresenttime（1908）sugarpinesuchasOrdedescribedwouldcost$3。50to$4。
\"What！\"criedTaylor。
\"Thatismyopinion，\"saidOrde。
Taylorrelapsedintothought。
\"Lookhere，Orde，\"hebrokecutfinally，\"howoldareyou？\"
\"Thirty—eight。Why？\"
\"HowmuchtimberhaveyouinMichigan？\"
\"Abouttenmillionthatwe’vepickedupontheriversincetheDalypurchaseandthreehundredmillioninthenorthernpeninsula。\"
\"Whichwilltakeyoutwentyyearstocut，andmakeyouamilliondollarsorso？\"
\"Hopeso。\"
\"Thenwhythisinvestmentthirtyyearsahead？\"
\"It’sforBobby，\"explainedOrdesimply。\"Amanlikestohavehissoncontinueoninhisbusiness。Ican’tdoithere，butthereI
can。Itwouldtakefiftyyearstocutthatpine，andthatwillgiveBobbyasteadyincomeandasteadybusiness。\"
\"Bobbywillbewellenoughoff，anyway。Hewon’thavetogointobusiness。\"
Orde’sbrowpuckered。
\"Iknowaman——Bobbyisgoingtowork。Amanisnotasuccessinlifeunlesshedoessomething，andBobbyisgoingtobeasuccess。
Why，Taylor，\"hechuckled，\"thelittlerascalfillsthewood—boxforacentatime，andthat’sallthepocket—moneyhegets。He’ssavingnowtobuyathousand—dollarboat。I’veagreedtopoolinhalf。Athispresentrateofincome，I’msafeforaboutsixtyyearsyet。\"
\"Howsoonareyougoingtoclosethisdeal？\"askedTaylor，risingashecaughtsightoftwofigurescomingupthewalk。
\"IhaveanoptionuntilNovember1，\"repliedOrde。\"Ifyoucan’tmakeit，IguessIcanswingitmyself。Bytheway，keepthisdark。\"
Taylornodded，andthetwoturnedtodefendthemselvesasbesttheycouldagainstClara’slaughingattack。
XXXI
OrdehadsaidnothingtoNewmarkconcerningthispurposednewinvestment，nordidheintenddoingso。
\"ItisforBobby，\"hetoldhimself，\"andIwantBobby，andnooneelse，torunit。Joewouldwanttotakecharge，naturally。Taylorwon’t。Heknowsnothingofthebusiness。\"
Hewalkeddowntownnextmorningbusilyformulatinghisscheme。AttheofficehefoundNewmarkalreadyseatedathisdesk，apileoflettersinfrontofhim。UponOrde’sboisterousgreetinghisnervescrispedslightly，butofthistherewasnooutwardsignbeyondatighteningofhishandsontheletterhewasreading。Behindhiseye—glasseshisblue，cynicaleyestwinkledlikefrostcrystals。Asalways，hewasimmaculatelydressedinneatgrayclothes，andcarriedinonecornerofhismouthanunlightedcigar。
\"Joe，\"saidOrde，spinningachairtoNewmark’sroll—topdeskandspeakinginalowtone，\"justhowdowestandonthatupperpeninsulastumpage？\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？Howmuchofitisthere？YouknowthataswellasIdo——aboutthreehundredmillion。\"
\"No；Imeanfinancially。\"
\"We’vemadetwopaymentsofseventy—fivethousandeach，andhavestilltwotomakeofthesameamount。\"
\"Whatcouldweborrowonit？\"
\"Wedon’twanttoborrowanythingonit，\"returnedNewmarkinaflash。
\"Perhapsnot；butifweshould？\"
\"Wemightraisefiftyorseventy—fivethousand，Isuppose。\"
\"Joe，\"saidOrde，\"Iwanttoraiseaboutseventy—fivethousanddollarsonmyshareinthisconcern，ifitcanbedone。\"
\"What’sup？\"inquiredNewmarkkeenly。
\"It’saprivatematter。\"
Newmarksaidnothing，butforsometimethoughtbusily，hislightblueeyesnarrowedtoaslit。
\"I’llhavetofigureonitawhile，\"saidheatlast，andturnedbacktohismail。Alldayheworkedhard，withonlyafifteen—
minuteintermissionforalunchwhichwasbroughtupfromthehotelbelow。Atsixo’clockheslammedshutthedesk。HedescendedthestairswithOrde，fromwhomhepartedattheirfoot，andwalkedpreciselyaway，histall，thinfigureheldrigidandslightlyaskew，hispaleeyesslittedbehindhiseye—glasses，theunlightedcigarinonecornerofhisstraightlips。Totheoccasionalpasserbyhebowedcoldlyandwithformality。Atthecornerbelowheboretotheleft，andafterashortwalkenteredthesmallone—storyhousesetwellbackfromthesidewalkamongtheclumpsofoleanders。Hereheturnedintoastudy，quietlyandrichlyfurnishedtenyearsinadvanceofthetastethenprevalentinMonrovia，wherehesankintoadeep—cushionedchairandlitthemuch—chewedcigar。Forsomemomentshelaybackwithhiseyesshut。Thenheopenedthemtolookwithapprovalonthedarkwalnutbook—cases，theframedprintsandetchings，thebronzedstudent’slamponthesquaretabledesk，therugsonthepolishedfloor。Hepickedupamagazine，intowhichhedippedfortenminutes。
Thedooropenednoiselesslybehindhim。
\"Mr。Newmark，sir，\"camearespectfulvoice，\"itisjustshortofseven。\"
\"Verywell，\"repliedNewmark，withoutlookingaround。
Themanwithdrewassoftlyashehadcome。Afteramoment，Newmarkreplacedthemagazineonthetable，yawned，threwasidethecigar，ofwhichhehadsmokedbutaninch，andpassedfromhisstudyintohisbedroomacrossthehall。ThiscontainedanexquisiteColonialfour—poster，withalowboyanddressertomatch，andwaspaperedandcarpetedinaccordancewiththese，itschiefornaments。Newmarkbathedintheadjoiningbathroom，shavedcarefullybetweenthetwowaxlightswhichwerehiswhim，anddressedinwhatwerethenknownas\"swallow—tail\"clothes。ProbablyhewastheonlymaninMonroviaatthatmomentsoapparelled。Thencalmly，andwithallthedeliberationofoneunderfireofahundredeyes，heproceededtothedining—room，wherewaitedthemanwhohadashorttimebeforeremindedhimofthehour。Hewasasolemn，dignifiedman，whoselikewasnottobefoundelsewherethissidethecity。He，too，worethe\"swallow—tail，\"butitsbuttonswereofgilt。
Newmarkseatedhimselfinaleather—upholsteredmahoganychairbeforeasmall，round，mahoganytable。Theroomwasilluminatedonlybyfourwaxcandleswithredshades。Theythrewintoreliefthepolishofmahogany，theglitterofglass，theshineofsilver，butintodarknessthedetailofmassivesideboard，dullpanelling，andthetwoorthreedark—tonedsportingprintsonthewall。
\"Youmayservedinner，Mallock，\"saidNewmark。
Heatedeliberatelyandwithenjoymentthemeal，exquisitelypreparedandexquisitelypresentedtohim。WithithedrankasingleglassofBurgundy——adeedthatwould，intheeyesofMonrovia，havecondemnedhimascertainlyasdrivingahorseonSundayorplayingcardsforastake。Afterwardhereturnedtothestudy，whitherMallockbroughtcoffee。Helitanothercigar，openedadrawerinhisdesk，extractedtherefromsomebank—booksandsmallpersonalaccountbooks。Fromthesehefiguredalltheevening。Hiscigarwentout，buthedidnotnoticethat，andchewedawayquitecontentedlyonthedeadbutt。Whenhehadfinished，hiscoldeyeexhibitedagleamofsatisfaction。Hehadresolvedonacourseofaction。Atteno’clockhewenttobed。
NextmorningMallockclosedthedoorbehindhimpromptlyuponthestrokeofeight。ItwasstrangethatnotonelivingsoulbutMallockhadeverenteredNewmark’sabode。Curiosityhadatfirstbroughtafewcallers；butthesewerealwaysmetbytheimperturbableservantwithsoplausibleareasonforhismaster’sabsencethatthevisitorshaddepartedwithoutasuspicionthattheyhadbeendeliberatelyexcluded。AndasNewmarkmadenofriendsandexcitedlittleinterest，theattemptstocultivatehimgraduallyceased。
\"Orde，\"saidNewmark，astheformerenteredtheoffice，\"IthinkI
canarrangethismatter。\"
Ordedrewupachair。
\"ItalkedlasteveningwithamanfromDetroitnamedThayer，whothinkshemayadvanceseventy—fivethousanddollarsonamortgageonournorthernpeninsulastumpage。Forthat，ofcourse，wewillgivethefirm’snotewithinterestattenpercent。Iwillturnthisovertoyou。\"
\"That’s——\"beganOrde。
\"Holdon，\"interruptedNewmark。\"AscollateralsecurityyouwilldepositformeyourstockintheBoomCompany，indorsedinblank。
Ifyoudonotpaythefullamountofthefirm’snotetoThayer，thenthestockwillbeturnedintome。\"
\"Isee，\"saidOrde。
\"Now，don’tmisunderstandme，\"saidNewmarkdrily。\"Thisisyourownaffair，andIdonoturgeitonyou。Ifweraiseasmuchasseventy—fivethousanddollarsonthatupperpeninsulastumpage，itwillbeallitcanstand，fornextyearwemustmakeathirdpaymentonit。Ifyoutakethatmoney，itisofcourseproperthatyoupaytheinterestonit。\"
\"Certainly，\"saidOrde。
\"Andifthere’sanypossibilityoftheforeclosureofthemortgage，itisonlyrightthatyourunalltheriskofloss——notmyself。\"
\"Certainly，\"repeatedOrde。
\"Fromanotherpointofview，\"wentonNewmark，\"youarepracticallymortgagingyourinterestintheBoomCompanyforseventy7fivethousanddollars。Thatwouldmake，ontheusualbasisofamortgage，yourshareworthabovetwohundredthousand——andfourhundredthousandisahighvaluationofourproperty。\"
\"Thatlooksmorethandecentonyourpart，\"saidOrde。
\"Ofcourse，it’snoneofmybusinesswhatyouintendtodowiththis，\"wentonNewmark，\"butunlessyou’reSUREyoucanmeetthesenotes，Ishouldstronglyadviseagainstit。\"
\"Thesameremarkappliestoanymortgage，\"rejoinedOrde。
\"Exactly。\"
\"ForhowlongatimecouldIgetthis？\"askedOrdeatlength。
\"Icouldn’tpromiseitforlongerthanfiveyears，\"repliedNewmark。
\"Thatwouldmakeaboutfifteenthousandayear？\"
\"Andinterest。\"
\"Certainly——andinterest。Well，Idon’tseewhyIcan’tcarrythateasilyonourpresentshowingandprospects。\"
\"Ifnothinguntowardhappens，\"insistedNewmarkdeterminedtoputforwardallobjectionspossible。
\"It’snotmuchrisk，\"saidOrdehopefully。\"There’snothingsurerthanlumber。We’llpaythenoteseasilyenoughaswecut，andtheBoomCompany’sonvelvetnow。Whatdoourearningsfigure，anyway？\"
\"We’redrivingonehundredandfiftymillionataprofitofaboutsixtycentsathousand，\"saidNewmark。
\"That’sninetythousanddollars——infiveyears，fourhundredandfiftythousand，\"saidOrde，suckinghispencil。
\"Weoughttocleanupfivedollarsathousandonourmill。\"
\"That’saboutahundredthousandonwhatwe’vegotleft。\"
\"Andthatlittlebargebusinessnetsusabouttwelveorfifteenthousandayear。\"
\"Forthefiveyearsaboutsixtythousandmore。Let’ssee——that’satotalofsaysixhundredthousanddollarsinfiveyears。\"
\"Wewillhavetotakeupinthattime，\"saidNewmark，whoseemedtohavethestatisticsathisfinger—tips，\"thetwopaymentsonourtimber，thenoteontheFirstNational，theCommercialnote，theremainingliabilitiesontheBoomCompany——aboutthreehundredthousandalltold，countingtheinterest。\"
Ordecrumpledthepaperandthrewitintothewastebasket。
\"Correct，\"saidhe。\"Goodenough。Ioughttogetalongonamarginlikethat。\"
Hewentovertohisowndesk，whereheagainsettofiguringonhispad。Theresultsheeyedalittledoubtfully。Eachyearhemustpayininterestthesumofseventhousandfivehundreddollars。
