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。