"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？"