第6章

"AndasortofdamwouldhelpatthatSpruceRapids？"

"Sure！Ifyouimprovedtheriverfordriving，she’dbeeasiertodrive。Thatgoeswithoutsaying。"

"Howmanyfirmsdrivelogsonthisstream？"

"Ten，"repliedOrde，withouthesitation。

"Howmanymendotheyemploy？"

"Driving？"askedOrde。

"Driving。"

"Aboutfivehundred；afewmoreorless。"

"Nowsuppose，"Newmarkleanedforwardimpressively，"supposeafirmshouldbeorganisedtodriveALLthelogsontheriver。Supposeitimprovedtheriverwithnecessarypiers，dams，andalltherestofit，sothatthedrivingwouldbeeasier。Couldn’titdrivewithlessthanfivehundredmen，andcouldn’titsavemoneyonthecostofdriving？"

"Itmight，"agreedOrde。

"Youknowtheconditionshere。Ifsuchafirmshouldbeorganisedandshouldoffertomorethantwentythousandcents，I’mluckyjustnow。"

"Howmuchcapitalwouldwehavetohave？"askedNewmark。

Ordethoughtforseveralminutes，twistingthepetalofanoldapple—blossombetweenhisstrong，bluntfingers。

"Somewherenearseventy—fivethousanddollars，"heestimatedatlast。

"That’seasy，"criedNewmark。"We’llmakeastockcompany——sayahundredthousandshares。We’llkeepjustenoughbetweenustocontrolthecompany——sayfifty—onethousand。I’llputinmypile，andyoucanpayforyoursoutoftheearningsofthecompany。"

"Thatdoesn’tsoundfair，"objectedOrde。

"Youpayinterest，"explainedNewmark。"Thenwe’llselltherestofthestocktoraisetherestofthemoney。"

"Ifwecan，"interjectedOrde。

"Ithinkwecan，"assertedNewmark。

Ordefellintoabrownstudy，occasionallythrowingatwigoraparticleofearthattheoffendinglumpintheturf。Overheadthemigratorywarblersbalancedright—sideuporup—sidedown，searchingbusilyamongthenewleaves，utteringtheirsimplecalls。Theairwaswarmandsoftandstill，theskybright。Fathenscluckedamongthegrasses。AfeelofSundaywasintheair。

"Imusthavesomethingtoliveon，"saidhethoughtfullyatlast。

"SomustI，"saidNewmark。"We’llhavetopayourselvessalaries，ofcourse，butthesmallerthebetteratfirst。You’llhavetotakechargeofthemenandtheworkandalltherestofit——Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat。I’llattendtotheincorporatingandtheroutine，andI’lltrytoplacethestock。You’llhavetosee，firstofall，whetheryoucangetcontractsfromtheloggingfirmstodrivethelogs。"

"HowcanItellwhattochargethem？"

"We’llhavetofigurethatveryclosely。Youknowwherethesedifferentdriveswouldstartfrom，andhowlongeachofthemwouldtake？"

"Oh，yes；Iknowtheriverprettywell。"

"Well，thenwe’llfigurehowmanydays’drivingthereisforeach，andhowmanymenthereare，andwhatitcostsforwages，grub，tools——we’lljusthavetofigureasnearaswecantotheactualcost，andthenaddamarginforprofitandforinterestonourinvestment。"

"Itmightworkoutallright，"admittedOrde。

"I’mconfidentitwould，"assertedNewmark。"Andthere’dbenoharmfiguringitallout，wouldthere？"

"No，"agreedOrde，"thatwouldbefunallright。"

AtthismomentAmandaappearedatthebackdoorandwavedanapron。

"Mr。Jack！"shecalled。"Comeintodinner。"

Newmarklookedpuzzled，and，ashearose，glancedsurreptitiouslyathiswatch。Ordeseemedtotakethesummonsasonetobeexpected，however。Infact，thestrangehourwastheusualSundaycustomintheReddingofthatday，andhadtodowiththelate—churchfreedomofAmandaandherlike。

"Comeinandeatwithus，"invitedOrde。"We’dbegladtohaveyou。"

ButNewmarkdeclined。

"Comeupto—morrownight，then，athalf—pastsix，forsupper，"Ordeurgedhim。"Wecanfigureonthesethingsalittle。I’minDaly’sallday，andhardlyhavetimeexceptevenings。"

TothisNewmarkassented。Ordewalkedwithhimdownthedeep—shadeddrivewaywiththeclippedprivethedgeononeside，totheirongatethatswungopenwhenonedroveoveraprojectinglever。Therehesaidgood—bye。

Amomentlaterheenteredthelongdining—room，whereGrandpaandGrandmaOrdewerealreadyseated。Anold—fashionedserviceofsmoothsilverandivory—handledsteelknivesgavedistinctiontotheplainwhitelinen。Atea—potsmotheredina"cosey"stoodatGrandmaOrde’sright。AsirloinroastonanobleplatterawaitedGrandpaOrde’sknife。

Ordedroppedintohisplacewithsatisfaction。

"Shutup，Cheep！"heremarkedtoafranticcanaryhanginginthesunshine。

"Yourfriendseemsanice—appearingyoungman，"saidGrandmaOrde。

"Wouldn’thestaytodinner？"

"Iaskedhim，"repliedOrde，"buthecouldn’t。HeandIhaveaschemeformakingoureverlastingfortunes。"

"Whoishe？"askedgrandma。

Ordedroppedhisnapkinintohislapwithacomicalchuckleofdismay。

"BlestifIhavetheslightestidea，mother，"hesaid。"Newmarkjoinedusonthedrive。Saidhewasalawyer，andwasoutinthewoodsforhishealth。He’sbeenwithus，studyingandwatchingthework，eversince。"

IX

IthinkI’llgoseeJaneHubbardthisevening，"Orderemarkedtohismother，ashearosefromthetable。Thiswashismethodofannouncingthathewouldnotbehomeforsupper。

JaneHubbardlivedinalowone—storyhouseofbluegranite，situatedamidagroveofoaksatthetopofthehill。Shewasakindlygirl，whoseparentsgaveherfreeswing，andwhosehouse，inconsequence，waspopularwiththeyoungerpeople。EverySundaysheofferedtoallwhocamea"Sunday—nightlunch，"whichconsistedofcoldmeats，coldsalad，bread，butter，cottagecheese，jam，preserves，andthelike，warmedbyacupofexcellenttea。Theserefreshmentswereservedbythegueststhemselves。Itdidnotmuchmatterhowfeworhowmanycame。

OntheSundayeveninginquestionOrdefoundabouttheusualcrowdgathered。Janeherself，tall，deliberateinmovementandinspeech，kindlyandthoughtful，talkedinacornerwithErnestColburn，whowasjustoutofcollege，andwhoworkedinabank。MignonneSmith，aplump，ratherprettylittlebodywithatremendousaureoleofhairlikespungoldenfire，wastryingtobalanceacroquet—ballontheendofaruler。Theballregularlyfelloff。Threeyoungmen，standinginattentiveattitudes，thereupondoveforwardinanattempttocatchitbeforeitshouldhitthefloor——whichitgenerallydidwithaloudthump。Acollapsedchairofslenderlinesstackedagainstthewallattestedpreviousacrobatics。ThismuchOrde，standinginthedoorway，lookeduponquiteastheusualthing。

OnlyhemissedtheIncubus。Searchingtheroomwithhiseyes，heatlengthdiscoveredthatincoherent，desiccated，butpersistentyouthVIS—A—VISwithastranger。Ordemadeoutthewhiteofhergownintheshadows，thewillowyoutlineofhersmallandslenderfigure，andthegraciousforwardbendofherhead。

ThecompanypresentcaughtsightofOrdestandinginthedoorway，andsuspendedoccupationstoshoutathimjoyfully。Hewasevidentlyafavourite。Thestrangegirlinthecornerturnedtohimawhite，longface，ofwhichhecouldseeonlytheoutlineandtherednessofthelipswherethelamplightreachedthem。Sheleanedslightlyforwardandthelipsparted。Orde’smuscularfigure，standingsquareanduncompromisinginthedoorway，theout—of—doorfreshnessofhiscomplexion，thesteadinessofhiseyeslaughingbackagreeting，hadevidentlyattractedher。OrperhapsanythingwasarelieffromtheIncubus。

"Soyou’rebackatlast，areyou，Jack？"drawledJaneinherlazy，good—naturedway。"ComeandmeetMissBishop。Carroll，IwanttopresentMr。Orde。"

Ordebowedceremoniouslyintothepenumbracastbythelamp’sbroadshade。Thegirlinclinedgracefullyhersmallheadwiththeglossyhair。TheIncubus，histhinhandsclaspedonhisknee，hissallowfacetwistedinoneofitscustomarywrysmiles，heldtotheedgeofhischairwithcharacteristicpertinacity。

"Well，Walter，"Ordeaddressedhimgenially，"areyouhavingagoodtime？"

"Yes—indeed！"repliedtheIncubusasthoughitwereoneword。

Hischairwasplantedsquarelytoexcludeallothers。Ordesurveyedthesituationwithgood—humour。

"Goingtokeeptheotherfellowfromgettingachance，Isee。"

"Yes—indeed！"repliedtheIncubus。

Ordebentover，andwithgreateaseliftedIncubus，chair，andall，andsethimfacingMignonneSmithandthecroquet—ball。

"Here，Mignonne，"saidhe，"I’vebroughtyouanotherassistant。"

Hereturnedtothelamp，tofindthegirl，herdarkeyesalightwithamusement，watchinghimintently。Sheheldthetipofaclosedfanagainstherlips，whichbroughtherheadslightlyforwardinanattitudeasthoughshelistened。Somehowtherewasaboutheranairofpoise，ofabsolutebalancedreposequitedifferentfromJane’sratherawkwardstatics，andindirectcontrasttoMignonne’sdynamics。

"Walterisaverybrightmaninhisownline，"saidOrde，swingingforwardachair，"buthemustn’tbeallowedanymonopolies。"

"HowdoyouknowIwanthimsosummarilyremoved？"thegirlaskedhim，withoutchangingeitherhergracefulattitudeofsuspendedmotionortheintentnessofhergaze。

"Well，"arguedOrde，"Igothimtosayallheeversaystoanygirl——

’Yes—indeed！’——soyoucouldn’thaveanymoreconversationfromhim。

Ifyouwanttolookathim，why，thereheisinplainsight。

Besides，Iwanttotalktoyoumyself。"

"Doyoualwaysgetwhatyouwant？"inquiredthegirl。

Ordelaughed。

"Anyonecangetanythinghewants，ifonlyhewantsitbadenough，"

heasserted。

Thegirlponderedthisforamoment，andfinallyloweredandopenedherfan，andthrewbackherheadinamorerelaxedattitude。

"Somepeople，"sheamended。"However，Iforgiveyou。IwillevenflatteryoubysayingIamgladyoucame。Youlooktohavereachedtheageofdiscretion。Iventuretosaythattheseboys’ideaofalivelyeveningistothrowbreadaboutthetable。"

Ordeflushedalittle。ThelasttimehehadsuppedatJaneHubbard’s，thatwasexactlywhattheydiddo。

"Theyareyoung，ofcourse，"hesaid，"andyouandIareveryoldandwise。Buthavinganoisy，goodtimeisn’tsuchagreatcrime——

orisitwhereyoucamefrom？"

Thegirlleanedforward，asparkleofinterestinhereyes。

"AreyouandIgoingtofight？"shedemanded。

"Thatdependsonyou，"returnedOrdesquarely，butwithperfectgood—humour。

Theyeyedeachotheramoment。Thenthegirlclosedherfan，andleanedforwardtotouchhimonthearmwithit。

"Youarequiterightnottoallowmetosaymeanthingsaboutyourfriends，andIamanastylittlesnip。"

Ordebowedwithsuddengravity。

"Andtheydothrowbread，"saidhe。

Theybothlaughed。Sheleanedbackwithamovementofsatisfaction，seemingtosinkintotheshadows。

"Now，tellme；whatdoyoudo？"

"WhatdoIdo？"askedOrde，puzzled。

"Yes。EverybodydoessomethingoutWesthere。It’sadisgracenottodosomething，isn’tit？"

"Oh，mybusiness！I’mariver—driverjustnow。"

"Ariver—driver？"sherepeated，oncemoreleaningforward。"Why，I’vejustbeenhearingagreatdealaboutyou。"

"Thatso？"heinquired。

"Yes，fromMrs。Baggs。"

"Oh！"saidOrde。"Thenyouknowwhatadrunken，swearing，worthlesslotofbumsandtoughsweare，don’tyou？"

Forthefirsttime，insomesubtlewayshebrokethepoiseofherattitude。

"ThereisHell’sHalf—Mile，"sheremindedhim。

"Oh，yes，"saidOrdebitterly，"there’sHell’sHalf—Mile！Whosefaultisthat？Myrivermen’s？Myboys？Lookhere！Isupposeyoucouldn’tunderstandit，ifyoutriedamonth；butsupposeyouwereworkingoutinthewoodsninemonthsoftheyear，upearlyinthemorningandinlateatnight。Supposeyousleptinroughblankets，onthegroundorinbunks，ateroughfood，neversawawomanorabook，undertookworktoscareyourcitymenupatreeandintoaholetooeasy，riskedyourlifeadozentimesaweekinatangleoflogs，withthebigriverroaringbehindjustwaitingtoswallowyou；

sawnothingbutwoodsandriver，werecoldandhungryandwet，andsotiredyoucouldn’twiggle，untilyougottofeelinglikethethingwasnevergoingtoend，anduntilyougotsickofitwaythroughinspiteoftheexcitementanddanger。Andthensupposeyouhittown，wheretherewereallthethingsyouhadn’thad——andthefirstthingyoustruckwasHell’sHalf—Mile。Say！you’veseenwaterbehindajam，haven’tyou？Water—power’sagoodthinginamillcourse，whereithaswheelstoturn；butbehindajamitjustRIPS

things——oh，what’stheusetalking！Agirldoesn’tknowwhatitmeans。Shecouldn’tunderstand。"

Hebrokeoffwithanimpatientgesture。Shewaslookingathimintently，herlipsagainhalf—parted。

"IthinkIbegintounderstandalittle，"saidshesoftly。Shesmiledtoherself。"Buttheyareahardandheartlessclassinspiteofalltheirenergyandcourage，aren’tthey？"shedrewhimout。

"Hardandheartless！"explodedOrde。"There’snokinderlotofmenonearth，letmetellyou。Why，thereisn’tamanonthatriverwhodoesn’tchipinfiveortendollarswhenamanishurtorkilled；

andthatmeansthreeorfourdays’hardworkforhim。Andhemaynotknoworliketheinjuredmanatall！Why——"

"What’salltheexcitement？"drawledJaneHubbardbehindthem。

"Can’tyoumakeitato—be—continued—in—our—next？We’re’moststarved。"

"Yes—indeed！"chimedintheIncubus。

Thecompanytroopedouttothedining—roomwherethetable，spreadwithallthegoodthings，awaitedthem。

"Ernest，youlightthecandles，"drawledJane，driftingslowlyalongthetablewithhereyeonthearrangements，"andsomeofyouboysgogetthebutterandthemilk—pitcherfromtheice—box。"

ToOrde’srelief，noonethrewanybread，althoughthewhole—heartedfungrewboisterousenoughbeforethecloseofthemeal。MissBishopsatdirectlyacrossfromhim。Hehadsmallchanceofconversationwithherinthehubbubthatraged，buthegainedfullleisuretoexaminehermorecloselyinthefullerillumination。

Throughout，hernotewasoffineness。Herhands，ashehadalreadynoticed，werelong，thefingerstapering；herwristswerefinelymoulded，butslender，andrunningwithoutabruptswellingofmusclesintothelonglinesofherforearm；herfigurewasrounded，butbuiltonthecurvesofslenderness；herpiled，glossyhairwassofinethatthoughitwasfullofwonderfulsoftshadowsdeniedcoarsertresses，itsmasshardlydidjusticetoitsabundance。Herface，again，waslongandoval，withapeculiartransparencetotheskinandapeculiarfaint，healthycirculationofthebloodwellbelowthesurface，whichrelievedhercomplexionofpallor，butdidnotgiveheracolour。Thelips，onthecontrary，weresatinred，andOrdewasmildlysurprised，afterhisrecenttalk，tofindthemsensitivelymoulded，andwithaquaint，child—likequirkatthecorners。Hereyeswererathercontemplative，andsoblackastoresemblespots。

Inspiteofherhalf—scornfulreferencesto"bread—throwing，"shejoinedwithevidentpleasureinthebadinageandmorepracticalfunwhichstruckthenoteofthesupper。OnlyOrdethoughttodiscerneveninhermoreboisterousmovementsagraceful，courteousrestraint，tocatchinthebendofherheadadaintyconcessiontothejoyofthemoment，tohearinthetonesofherlaughterareservationofherself，whichneverthelesswasnotatallareservation，againsttheothers。

Afterthemealwasfinished，eachhadhiscandletoblowout，andthenallreturnedtotheparlour，leavingthedebrisforthelaterattentionofthe"hiredhelp。"

OrdewithdeterminationmadehiswaytoMissBishop’sside。Shesmiledathim。

"Yousee，Iamahypocriteaswellasameanlittlesnip，"saidshe。

"Ithrewalittlebreadmyself。"

"Threwbread？"repeatedOrde。"Ididn’tseeyou。"

"Themoonismadeofgreencheese，"shemockedhim，"andtherearecountrieswheremen’sheadsdogrowbeneaththeirshoulders。"ShemovedgracefullyawaytowardJaneHubbard。"DoyouWestern’businessmen’neverdealinfiguresofspeechaswellasfiguresoftheothersort？"shewaftedbacktohimoverhershoulder。

"Iwasverystupid，"acknowledgedOrde，followingher。

Shestoppedandfacedhiminthemiddleoftheroom，smilingquizzically。

"Well？"shechallenged。

"Well，what？"askedOrde，puzzled。

"Ithoughtperhapsyouwantedtoaskmesomething。"

"Why？"

"Yourfollowingme，"sheexplained，thecornersofhermouthsmiling。"Ihadturnedaway——"

"Ijustwantedtotalktoyou，"saidOrde。

"Andyoualwaysgetwhatyouwant，"sherepeated。"Well？"sheconceded，withashrugofmockresignation。Butthefourothermenherecutinwithademand。

"Music！"theyclamoured。"Wewantmusic！"

Withanod，MissBishopturnedtothepiano，sweepingasideherwhitedraperiesasshesat。Shestruckafewsoftchords，andthen，herlonghandswanderingidlyandsoftlyupanddownthekeys，shesmiledatthemoverhershoulder。

"Whatshallitbe？"sheinquired。

Someonethrustanopensong—bookontherackinfrontofher。Theothersgatheredcloseabout，leaningforwardtosee。

Songfollowedsong，atfirstquickly，thenatlongerintervals。Atlastthemembersofthechorusdroppedawayonebyonetooccupationsoftheirown。Thegirlstillsatatthepiano，herheadthrownbackidly，herhandswanderingsoftlyinandoutofmelodiesandmodulations。Watchingher，Ordefinallysawonlytheshimmerofherwhitefigure，andthewhiteoutlineofherheadandthroat。Alltherestoftheroomwasgrayfromtheconcentrationofhisgaze。

Atlastherhandsfellinherlap。Shesatlookingstraightaheadofher。

Ordeatoncearoseandcametoher。

"Thatwasawonderfullyquaintandbeautifulthing，"saidhe。"Whatwasit？"

Sheturnedtohim，andhesawthatthemockinghadgonefromhereyesandmouth，leavingthemquitesimple，likeachild’s。

"Didyoulikeit？"sheasked。

"Yes，"saidOrde。Hehesitatedandstammeredawkwardly。"Itwassostillandsoothing，itmademethinkoftheriversometimesaboutdusk。Whatwasit？"

"Itwasn’tanything。Iwasimprovising。"

"Youmadeitupyourself？"

"Itwasmyself，Isuppose。Ilovetobuildmyselfagarden，andwanderonuntilIlosemyselfinit。I’mgladtherewasariverinthegarden——anice，still，twilightriver。"

Sheflashedupathim，herheadsidewise。

"Thereisn’talways。"Shestruckacrashingdiscordonthepiano。

Everyonelookedupatthesuddennoiseofit。

"Oh，don’tstop！"theycriedinchorus，asthougheachhadbeenlisteningintently。

ThegirllaughedupatOrdeinamusement。Somehowthisflashofanespecialunderstandingbetweenthemtotheexclusionoftheotherssentawarmglowtohisheart。

"Idowishyouhadyourharphere，"saidJaneHubbard，comingindolentlyforward。"Youjustoughttohearherplaytheharp，"shetoldtherest。"It’sjustthebestthingyoueverDIDhear！"

AtthismomenttheoutsidedooropenedtoadmitMrandMrs。Hubbard，whohad，accordingtotheirusualSundaycustom，beenspendingtheeveningwithaneighbour。Thiswasthesignalfordeparture。Thecompanybegantobreakup。

OrdepushedhisbroadshouldersintoscreenCarrollBishopfromtheothers。

"Areyoustayinghere？"beasked。

Sheopenedhereyeswideathisbrusqueness。

"I’mvisitingJane，"sherepliedatlength，withanaffectationofdemureness。

"Areyougoingtobeherelong？"wasOrde’snextquestion。

"Aboutamonth。"

"Iamcomingtoseeyou，"announcedOrde。"Good—night。"

Hetookherhand，droppedit，andfollowedtheothersintothehall，leavingherstandingbythelamp。Shewatchedhimuntiltheouterdoorhadclosedbehindhim。Notoncedidhelookback。JaneHubbard，returningafteramomentfromthehall，foundheratthepianoagain，herheadslightlyoneside，playingwithpainfulandaccurateexactnessasimpleone—fingermelody。

OrdewalkedhomedownthehillincompanywiththeIncubus。Neitherhadanythingtosay；Ordebecausehewasabsorbedinthought，theIncubusbecausenothingoccurredtodrawfromhimhisoneremark。

Theirfeetclippedsharplyagainstthetarwalks，orrangmorehollowontheboards。Overheadthestarstwinkledthroughthestill—barebranchesofthetrees。Withfewexceptionsthehousesweredark。People"retired"earlyinRedding。Anoccasionalhalllightburneddimly，awaitingsomeone’sreturn。AtthegateoftheOrdeplace，Orderousedhimselftosaygood—night。Helethimselfintothedim—lightedhall，hunguphishat，andturnedoutthegas。

Forsometimehestoodinthedark，quitemotionless；then，withtheaccuracyoflonghabitude，hewalkedconfidentlytothenarrowstairsandascendedthem。Subconsciouslyheavoidedthecreakingstep，butoutsidehismother’sdoorhestopped，arrestedbyagreetingfromwithin。

"Thatyou，Jack？"queriedGrandmaOrde。

ForanswerOrdepushedopenthedoor，whichstoodaninchorsoajar，andentered。Adimlightfromadistantstreet—lamp，filteredthroughthebranchesofatree，flickeredagainsttheceiling。Byitsaidhemadeoutthegreatsquarebed，anddivinedthetinyfigureofhismother。Heseatedhimselfsidewiseontheedgeofthebed。

"GotoJane’s？"queriedgrandmainalowvoice，toavoidawakeninggrandpa，whosleptintheadjoiningroom。

"Yes，"repliedOrde，inthesametone。

"Whowasthere？"

"Oh，abouttheusualcrowd。"

Hefellintoanabstractedsilence，whichenduredforseveralminutes。

"Mother，"saidheabruptly，atlast，"I’vemetthegirlIwantformywife。"

GrandmaOrdesatupinbed。

"Whoisshe？"shedemanded。

"HernameisCarrollBishop，"saidOrde，"andshe’svisitingJaneHubbard。"

"Yes，butWHOisshe？"insistedGrandmaOrde。"Whereisshefrom？"

Ordestaredatherinthedimlight。

"Why，mother，"herepeatedforthesecondtimethatday，"blestifI

knowthat！"

X

Ordewasupandoutatsixo’clockthefollowingmorning。ByeighthehadreportedforworkatDaly’smill，where，withtheassistanceofaportionoftherivercrew，hewasoccupiedinsortingthelogsinthebooms。Notuntilsixo’clockintheeveningdidthewhistleblowfortheshut—down。Thenhehastenedhome，tofindthatNewmarkhadprecededhimbysomefewmomentsandwasengagedinconversationwithGrandmaOrde。Theyoungmanwastalkingeasily，thoughratherpreciselyandwithbrevity。HenoddedtoOrdeandfinishedhisremark。

AftersupperOrdeledthewayuptwoflightsofnarrowstairstohisownroom。Thiswasamongthegables，achamberofstrangelydiversifiedceiling，whichslantedhereandthereaccordingtothedemandsoftheroofoutside。

"Well，"saidhe，"I’vemadeupmymindto—daytogoinwithyou。Itmaynotworkout，butit’sagoodchance，andIwanttogetinsomethingthatlookslikemoney。Idon’tknowwhoyouare，norhowmuchofabusinessmanyouareorwhatyourexperienceis，butI’llriskit。"

"I’mputtingintwentythousanddollars，"pointedoutNewmark。

"AndI’mputtinginmyeverlastingreputation，"saidOrde。"Ifwetellthesefellowsthatwe’llgetouttheirlogsforthem，andthendon’tdoit，I’llbeDEADaroundhere。"

"Sothat’saboutastand—off，"saidNewmark。"I’mbettingtwentythousandonwhatI’veseenandheardofyou，andyou’reriskingyourreputationthatIdon’twanttodropmymoney。"

Ordelaughed。

"AndIreckonwe’rebothright，"heresponded。

"Still，"Newmarkpursuedthesubject，"I’venoobjectiontotellingyouaboutmyself。NewYorkbornandbred；experiencewithCooperandDunne，brokers，eightyears。Moneyfromalegacy。Parentsdead。Norelativestospeakto。"

Ordenoddedgravelytwiceinacknowledgment。

"Now，"saidNewmark，"haveyouhadtimetodoanyfiguring？"

"Well，"repliedOrde，"Igotatitalittleyesterdayafternoon，andalittlethisnoon。Ihavearoughidea。"Heproducedabundleofscribbledpapersfromhiscoat—pocket。"Hereyouare。ItakeDalyasasample，becauseI’vebeenwithhisoutfit。Itcostshimtorunanddeliverhislogsonehundredmilesabouttwodollarsathousandfeet。He’stheonlybigmanufactureruphere；therestareallatMonrovia，wheretheycangetshippingbywater。Isupposeitcoststheotherninefirmsdoingbusinessontheriverfromtwototwoandahalfathousand。"

Newmarkproducedanote—bookandbegantojotdownfigures。

"Dothesemenallconductseparatedrives？"heinquired。

"AllbutProctorandoldHeinzman。Theypoolintogether。"

"Now，"wentonNewmark，"ifweweretodrivethewholeriver，howcouldweimproveonthat？"

"Well，Ihaven’tgotitdownveryfine，ofcourse，"Ordetoldhim，"butinthefirstplacewewouldn’tneedsomanymen。Icouldruntheriveronthreehundredeasyenough。Thatsaveswagesandgrubontwohundredrightthere。And，ofcourse，afewimprovementsontheriverwouldsavetime，whichinourcasewouldmeanmoney。Wewouldnotneedsomanyseparatecookoutfitsandallthat。Ofcourse，thatpartofitwe’dhavetogetrightdownandfigureon，anditwilltaketime。Then，too，ifweagreedtosortanddeliver，we’dhavetobuildsortingboomsdownatMonrovia。"

"Supposewehadallthat。What，forexample，doyoureckonyoucouldbringDaly’slogsdownfor？"