第16章

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。