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。