"Worthsaving！"snortedNewmark，whirlinginhischair。
　　"Well；andtothebookkeeperwhoansweredhesaid："John，bringmethoseNewmarkandOrdepapers。"
　　Ordeheardtheclangofthesafedoor。InamomenttheclerkreturnedandhandedtoLambertalongmanillaenvelope。Lambertopenedthisquitedeliberately，spreaditscontentsonhisknee，andassumedapairofroundspectacles。
　　"Noteforseventy—fivethousanddollarswithinterestattenpercent。InterestpaidtoJanuarytenth。MortI’mashamedofyou！Whatkindofanexhibitionisthis？Goouttothekitchenandcookussomelunch！"
　　Hewatchedherdepartwithahumourousquirktohisthinlips。
　　"FoolIrish！"hesaidwithaScotchman’scontempt。"Imeanttoheadyouoffbeforeyougothome，butImissedyou。Comeinandsitdown，andI’lltellyouaboutit。"
　　"You’requitesureMrs。Ordeiswell？"insistedOrde。
　　"Absolutely。Neverbetter。Aswella。"Why，IthoughtIrememberedseeinghimupriveronlytheotherday。"
　　"No；hisdaughter。"
　　"Mina？"
　　"Yes。Lordknowswhereshegotit。Butgetitshedid。Mrs。Ordehappenedtobewithherwhenshewastakenwiththefeveranddistressingsymptomsthatbeginthedisease。Asaneighbourlydeedsheremainedwiththegirl。Ofcoursenoonecouldtellitwassmallpoxatthattime。Nextday，however，thecharacteristicrashappearedonthethighsandarmpits，andIdiagnosedthecase。"Dr。
　　McMullenlaughedalittlebitterly。"Lord，yououghttohaveseenthemrun！Servants，neighbours，friends——theyallskedaddled，andyoucoudn’thavedriventhembackwithasteam—roller！I
　　telegraphedtoReddingforanurse。UntilshecameMrs。Ordestayedby，likeabrick。Don’tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithouther。
　　Therewasnobodytodoanythingatall。AssoonasthenursecameMrs。Ordegaveupherpost。Itellyou，"criedDoctorMcMullenwithasnearanapproachtoenthusiasmasheeverpermittedhimself，"there’sasensiblewoman！Noneofyourstory—booktwaddleaboutnursingthroughtheillness，andallthat。Whenherusefulnesswasended，sheknewenoughtostepasidegracefully。Therewasnotmuchdangerasfarasshewasconcerned。Ihadvaccinatedhermyself，youknow，lastyear。ButsheMIGHTtakethecontagionandshewantedtosparetheyoungster。Quiteright。SoIofferedherquarterswithusforacoupleofweeks。"
　　"Howlongagowasthis？"askedOrde，whohadlistenedwithawarmglowofpridetothedoctor’ssuccinctstatement。
　　"Sevendays。"
　　"HowisMinagettingon？"
　　"She’llgetwell。Itwasamildcase。Feverneverseriousaftertheeruptionappeared。IsupposeI’llhaveoldHeinzmanonmyhands，though。"
　　"Why；hashetakenit？"
　　"No；buthewill。EmotionaloldGermanfool。Rushedrightinwhenheheardhisdaughterwassick。Couldn’tkeephimout。Andhe’sbeenwithherornearhereversince。"
　　"Thenyouthinkhe’sinforit？"
　　"Suretohe，"repliedDr。McMullen。"Unlessamanhasbeenvaccinated，continuousexposuremeansinfectioninthegreatmajorityofcases。"
　　"Hardluck，"saidOrdethoughtfully。"I’mgoingtostepuptoyourhouseandseeMrs。Orde。"
　　"Youcantelephoneher，"saidthedoctor。"Andyoucanseeherifyouwantto。OnlyinthatcaseIshouldadviseyourremainingawayfromBobbyuntilweseehowthingsturnout。"
　　"Isee，"saidOrde。"Well，"heconcludedwithasigh，afteramoment’sthought，"IsupposeI’dbetterstaybytheship。"
　　HecalledupDr。McMullen’shouseonthetelephone。
　　"Oh，it’sgoodtohearyourvoiceagain，"criedCarroll，"evenifI
　　can’tseeyou！YoumustpromisemerightafterlunchtowalkuppastthehousesoIcanseeyou。I’llwaveatyoufromthewindow。"
　　"You’readear，bravegirl，andI’mproudofyou，"saidOrde。
　　"Nonsense！Therewasnodangeratall。I’dbeenvaccinatedrecently。AndsomebodyhadtotakecareofpoorMinauntilwecouldgethelp。How’sBobby？"
　　XLIV
　　AfterlunchOrdewentdowntowntohisofficewhereforsometimehesatidlylookingoverthemail。Aboutthreeo’clockNewmarkcamein。
　　"Hullo，Joe，"saidOrdewithaslightconstraint，"sorrytohearyou’vebeenundertheweather。Youdon’tlookverysicknow。"
　　"I’mbetter，"repliedNewmark，briefly；"thisismyfirstappearance。"
　　"Toobadyougotsickjustatthattime，"saidOrde；"weneededyou。"
　　"SoIhear。YoumayrestassuredI’dhavebeenthereifpossible。"
　　"Surething，"saidOrde，heartily，hisslightresentmentdissipating，asalways，inthepresenceofanother’spersonality。
　　"Well，wehadalivelytime，youbet，allright；andgotthroughaboutbytheskinofourteeth。"HearoseandwalkedovertoNewmark’sdesk，ontheedgeofwhichheperched。"It’scostusconsiderable；andit’sgoingtocostusalotmore，I’llhavetogetanextensiononthosenotes。"
　　"What’sthat？"askedNewmark，quickly。
　　Ordepickedupapaperknifeandturneditslowlybetweenhisfingers。
　　"Idon’tbelieveI’llbeabletomeetthosenotes。Somanythingshavehappened——"
　　"But，"brokeinNewmark，"thefirmcertainlycannotdoso。I’vebeenrelyingonyourassuranceell，keepyourhairon，"saidOrde，onwhomNewmark’smannerwasbeginningtohaveitseffect，asNewmarkintendeditshould。"YouhavemyBoomCompanystockassecurity。"
　　"PrettysecurityforthelossofatractliketheUpperPeninsulatimber！"
　　"Well，it’sthesecurityyouaskedfor，andsuggested，"saidOrde。
　　"Ithoughtyou’dsurelybeabletopayit，"retortedNewmark，nowsecureinthepositionhedesiredtotake，thatofputtingOrdeentirelyinthewrong。
　　"Well，Iexpectedtopayit；andI’llpayityet，"rejoinedOrde。
　　"Idon’tthinkHeinzmanwillstandinhisownlightratherthanrenewthenotes。"
　　Heseizedhishatanddeparted。Onceinthestreet，however，hisirritationpassed。Aswasthehabitoftheman，hebeganmoreclearlytoseeNewmark’sside，andsomoreemphaticallytoblamehimself。Afterall，whenhegotrightdowntotheessentials，hecouldnotbutacknowledgethatNewmark’sangerwasjustified。Forhisownprivateendshehadjeopardisedthefirm’sproperty。MoreofabusinessmanmighthavereflectedthatNewmark，asfinancialhead，shouldhaveprotectedthefirmagainstallcontingencies；
　　shouldhaveseentoitthatitmetHeinzman’snotes，insteadoftyingupitsresourcesinunnecessaryways。Orde’sowndelinquencybulkedtoolargeinhiseyestoadmithisperceptionofthis。BythetimehehadreachedHeinzman’soffice，thelastofhisirritationhadvanished。OnlyherealisedclearlynowthatitwouldhardlydotoaskNewmarkforarenewalofthepersonalnoteonwhichdependedhisretentionofhisBoomCompanystockunlesshecouldrenewtheHeinzmannotealso。ThisisprobablywhatNewmarkintended。
　　"Mr。Heinzman？"heaskedagedeedoncertainlandsdescribedherein。"
　　"That’sit，"saidOrde。
　　Lambertlookedupoverhisspectacles。
　　"Iwanttorenewthenoteforanotheryear，"Ordeexplained。
　　"Can’tdoit，"repliedLbrieflyofthefirstclerk。
　　"Mr。Heinzmanisathomeill，"repliedthebookkeeper。
　　"Already？"saidOrde。Hedrummedontheblackwalnutrailthoughtfully。Thenotescamedueintendays。"Howbadishe？
　　Theclerklookedupcuriously。"Can’tsay。Probablywon’tbebackforalongtime。It’ssmallpox，youknow。"
　　"True，"saidOrde。"Well，who’sincharge？"
　　"Mr。Lambert。You’llfindhimintheprivateoffice。"
　　Ordepassedthroughthegrillintotheinnerroom。
　　"Hullo，Lambert，"headdressedtheindividualseatedatHeinzman’sdesk。"Soyou’retheboss，eh？"
　　Lambertturned，showingaperfectlyroundface，ornamentedbyadotofanose，twodotsofeyessetratherclosetogether，andapursedupmouth。Hisskinwasverybrownandshiny，andwassofilledbythefleshbeneathastotaketheappearanceofhavingbeeninflated。
　　"Yes，I’mtheboss，"saidhenon—committally。
　　Ordedroppedintoachair。
　　"Heinzmanholdssomenotesdueagainstourpeopleintendays，"saidhe。"Icameintoseeabouttheirrenewal。Canyouattendtoit？"
　　"Yes，Icanattendtoit，"repliedLambert。Hestruckabgambert，removingandfoldingtheglasses。
　　"Whynot？"
　　"Mr。Heinzmangavemeespecialinstructionsinregardtothismatterjustbeforehisdaughterwastakensick。Hetoldmeifyoucamewhenhewasnothere——heintendedtogotoChicagoyesterday——totellyouhewouldnotrenew。"
　　"Whynot？"askedOrdeblankly。
　　"Idon’tknowthat。"
　　"ButI’llgivehimtwelvepercentforanotheryear。"
　　"Hesaidnottorenew，evenifyouofferedhigherinterest。"
　　"Doyouhappentoknowwhetherheintendsanythinginregardtothismortgage？"
　　"Heinstructedmetobeginsuitinforeclosureimmediately。"
　　"Idon’tunderstandthis，"saidOrde。
　　Lambertshookhisheadblandly。Ordethoughtforamoment。
　　"Where’syourtelephone？"hedemandedabruptly。
　　HetriedinvaintogetHeinzmanathishouse。Finallythetelephonegirlinformedhimthatalthoughmessageshadcomefromthestrickenhousehold，shehadbeenunabletogetananswertoanyofhernumerouscalls，andsuspectedthebellhadbeenremoved。
　　FinallyOrdelefttheofficeatalosshowtoproceednext。
　　Lambert，secretlyoverjoyedatthisopportunityofexercisinganunaccustomedandowyou’dbettergethomewhereyoucanbetakencareof。You’resick。"
　　"No，no，myfriend，"saidHeinzman，vigourouslyshakinghis’autocraticpower，refusedtoseebeyondhisinstructions。Heinzman’sattitudepuzzledOrde。AforeclosurecouldgainHeinzmannoadvantageofimmediatecash。OrdewasforcedtotheconclusionthattheGermansawhereagoodopportunitytoacquirecheapavaluableproperty。Inthatcaseapersonalappealwouldavaillittle。
　　Ordetrampedouttotheendofthepierandback，mullingoverthetangledproblem。Hewaspressedonallsides——bythefatigueafterhistremendousexertionsofthepasttwoweeks；byhisnaturaluneasinessinregardtoCarroll；andfinallybythisnewcomplicationwhichthreatenedtheverybasisofhisprosperity。
　　Neverthelessthenaturaloptimismofthemanfinallywonitsascendency。
　　"There’stheyearofredemptiononthatmortgage，"heremindedhimself。"Wemaybeabletodosomethinginthattime。Idon’tknowjustwhat，"headdedwhimsically，withalaughathimself。Hebecamegrave。"PoorJoe，"hesaid，"thisisprettytoughonhim。
　　I’llhavetomakeituptohimsomehow。IcanlethiminonthatCaliforniadeal，whenthetitlesarestraightenedout。"
　　XLV
　　Ordedidnotreturntotheoffice；hefeltunwillingtofaceNewmarkuntilhehadalittlemorethoroughlydigestedthesituation。Hespenttherestoftheafternoonabouttheplace，pickingupthetoolhouse，playingwithBobby，trainingDuke，theblackandwhitesetterdog。ThreeorfourtimeshecalledupCarrollbytelephone；andthreeorfourtimeshepassedDr。McMullen’shousetoshouthishalfofalong—distanceandfragmentaryconversationwithher。HeatesolemnlywithBobbyatsixo’clock，thetwoquitesubduedoverthevacantchairattheotherendofthetable。AfterdinnertheysatontheporchuntilBobby’sbed—time。Ordeputhissmallsontobed，andsattalkingwiththeyoungsteraslongashisconsciencewouldpermit。Thenheretiredtothelibrary，where，foralongtime，hesatintwilightandloneliness。Finally，whenhecouldnolongerdistinguishobjectsacrosstheroom，hearosewithasigh，litthelamp，andsettledhimselftoread。
　　Thelastofthetwilightdrainedfromtheworld，andthewindowpanesturnedaburnishedblack。Throughthehalf—opensashessuckedawarmlittlebreeze，swayingthelonglacecurtainsbackandforth。
　　Thehumoflawn—sprinklersandthechirpingofcricketsandtree—
　　frogscamewithit。
　　Onebyonethelawn—sprinklersfellsilent。Graduallytheredescendedupontheworldthedeepslumbrousstillnessoflatenight；
　　astillnesscompoundedofathousandandonemysteriouslittlenoisesrepeatedmonotonouslyoverandoveruntiltheiridentitywaslostinaccustomedness。Occasionallythecreakoftimbersorthesharpscurryingofamouseinthewallservedmoretoaccentuatethantobreakthisnightsilence。
　　OrdesatlostinreverVyyoudodottothepeoplesdotsafeyourMina？’
　　Andvenshelookatme，hereyessayit；andinthenighteverythingcryoutatme；andIgetsick，andIcan’tstanditnolonger，andI
　　don’tcareifhesendmetoprisonortohell，nomore。"
　　Hisexcitementdied。Hesatlistless，hiseyesvacant，hishandsbetweenhisknees。
　　ie，hisbookinhislap。Atstatedintervalsthestudentlampathiselbowflaredslightly，thenburnedclearagainafteraswallowofsatisfactioninitsreservoir。Theseregularreplenishmentsoftheoilsupplyalonemarkedtheflightoftime。
　　SuddenlyOrdeleanedforward，hissensesatthekeenestattention。
　　Afteramomenthearoseandquietlywalkedtowardtheopenwindow。
　　Justashereachedthecasementandlookedout，amanlookedin。
　　Thetwostaredateachothernottwofeetapart。
　　"GoodLord！Heinzman！"criedOrdeinaguardedvoice。Hesteppeddecisivelythroughthewindow，seizedtheGermanbythearm，anddrewhimoneside。
　　"Whatareyoudoinghere？"hedemanded。
　　Heinzmanwastremblingviolentlyasthoughfromachill。
　　"Dakemesomewheres，"hewhisperedhoarsely。"Somewheresquick。I
　　hafbrokequarantine，anddeyvillbeafterme。"
　　"Theplaceforyouisatyourownhouse，"saidOrde，hisangerrising。"Whatdoyoumeanbycominghereandexposingmyhousetoinfection？"
　　Heinzmanbegantoblubber；choked，shiveredallover，andcriedaloudwithanexpressionofthegreatestagony：
　　"Youmustdakemesomewheres。Imusttalkwithyouandyourgootwife。Ihafsomedingstosaytoyou。"HeinhisturngraspedOrdebythearm。"Ihafbrokequarantinetogomeandtellyou。DeyarederemitshotgunstokillmeifIbrokequarantine。AndIhafleftmydaughter，mydaughterMina，allalonemitdosepeopletocomeandtellyou。Andnowyoudon’tlisten。"
　　Hewrunghishandsdramatically，hissoftpudgybodyshaking。
　　"Comewithme，"saidOrdebriefly。
　　Heledthewayaroundthehousetothetoolshed。Herehelitalantern，thrustforwardonenailkeg，andsatdownonanother。
　　Heinzmansatdownonthenailkeg，almostimmediatelyarose，walkedupanddowntwoorthreetimes，andresumedhisseat。
　　Ordelookedathimcuriously。Hewashalfdressed，withoutacollar，histhinhairunkempt。Theusualbrightcolourofhischeekshadbecomelivid，andtheflesh，ordinarilyfirmandelastic，hadfalleninfoldsandwrinkles。Hiseyesburnedbrightasthoughfromsomeinternalfire。Agreatrestlessnesspossessedhim。
　　ImpulsivelyOrdeleanedforwardtotouchhishand。Itwasdryandhot。
　　"Whatisit，Heinzman？"heaskedquietly，fullypreparedforthevagariesofahalfdelirium。
　　"Ach，Orde！"criedtheGerman，"IamtorturedmitHOLLENQUALLE——whatyoucall？——hell’sfire。You，whosewifecomesinandsavesmyMinawhentheothersrunsaway。You，mybestfriends！ItisSCHRECKLICH！Shevasthenoblest，thebest，themostkindest——"
　　"IfyoumeanMrs。Orde’sstayingwithMina，"brokeinOrde，"itwasonlywhatanyoneshouldhavedone，inhumanity；andI，forone，amonlytoogladshehadthechance。Youmustn’texaggerate。Andnhead。
　　"Shemighttakethedisease。Shemightdie。Itvasnoble。"Heshuddered。"MyMinalefttodieallalone！"
　　Orderosetohisfeetwithdecision。
　　"Thatisallright，"saidhe。"Carrollwasgladofthechance。Nowletmegetyouhome。"
　　ButHeinzman’sexcitementhadsuddenlydied。
　　"No，"saidhe，extendinghistremblinghand；"sitdown。Iwanttotalkbusiness。"
　　"Youareinnoconditiontotalkbusiness，"saidOrde。
　　"No！"criedHeinzmanwithunexpectedvigour。"Sitdown！Listentome！Dot’sbetter。Ihafyournoteforsefenty—fivet’ousanddollars。No？"
　　Ordenodded。
　　"DotmoneyIneverlentyou。NO！I’mnotcrazy。Sitstill！I
　　knowmynameisondotnote。Butthemoneycamefromsomewhereselse。Itcamefromyourpartner，JosephNewmark。"
　　Ordehalfrosefromhiskeg。
　　"Why？What？"heaskedinbewilderment。
　　"Denvenyoucouldnotpaythenote，IvastoforecloseandhandoverdotNorthernPeninsulalandtoJosephNewmark，yourpartner。"
　　"Impossible！"criedOrde。
　　"Ivastogetashare。Itvasatrick。"
　　"Goon，"saidOrdegrimly。
　　"Dereisnogoon。Dotisall。"
　　"Whydoyoucometotellmenow？"
　　"BecauseformorethanoneyearnowIsaytomineself，’CarlHeinzman，youvasonedirtyscoundrel。Youvasdishonest；asneak；
　　athief’；Idon’tliketocallmyselfnameslikedose。Itissallrighdttobesmart；buttobeathief！"
　　"Whydidn’tyoupullout？"askedOrde。
　　"Icouldn’t！"criedHeinzmanpiteously。"HowcouldI？Hehafmecold。IpaidStanfordfivehundreddollarsforhisvoteonthecharter；andJosephNewmark，heknowdot；hecanPROVEit。HetellmeifIdon’tdowhathesay，heputmeinjail。Thinkofdot！Allmyfriendsgobackonme；allmymoneygone；maybemydaughterMinagobackonme，too。HowcouldI？"
　　"Well，hecanstillputyouinprison，"saidOrde。
　　"VotIcare？"criedHeinzman，throwingupbothhisarms。"Youandyourwifearemyfriends。ShesavemyMina。DULIEBERGOTT！Ifmydaughterhaddied，votgoodissfriendsandmoney？Votgoodissanything？Idon’tvanttolive！AndvenIsitderebyheralwayssomethingaskme：
　　"Vell，Igo，"hesaidatlast。
　　"Haveyouthatnote？"askedOrde。
　　"JosephNewmark，hekeepsitmosttimes，"repliedHeinzman，"butnowitisatmyofficefortheforeclosure。Ivillnotforeclose；hecansendmetothepenitentiary。"
　　"TelephoneLambertinthemorningtogiveittome。No；here。
　　Writeanorderinthisnotebook。"
　　Heinzmanwrotetherequiredorder。
　　"Igo，"saidhe，suddenlyweary。
　　Ordeaccompaniedhimdownthestreet。TheGermanwasagainlight—
　　headedwiththefever，mumblingabouthisdaughter，thenotes，Carroll，thevoicesthathaddrivenhimtorighteousness。BysomemanoeuvringOrdesucceededinslippinghimthroughtheimprovisedquarantinewithoutdiscovery。Thentherivermanwithslowandthoughtfulstepsreturnedtowherethelampinthestudystillmarkedoffwiththespacedreplenishmentsfromitsoilreservoirtheearlymorninghours。
　　XLVI
　　MorningfoundOrdestillseatedinthelibrarychair。Hisheadwassunkforwardonhischest；hishandswereextendedlistless，palmsup，alongthearmsofthechair；hiseyeswerevacantandtroubled。
　　Hardlyonceinthelonghourshadheshiftedbyahair’sbreadthhisposition。Hisbodywassuspendedinanabsoluteinactionwhilehisspiritbatteredatthewallsofanimpasse。For，strangelyenough，Ordedidnotonce，evenforasingleinstant，giveathoughttothebusinessaspectsofthesituation——whatitmeanttohimandhisprospectsorwhathecoulddoaboutit。Hurttothesoulhestaredatthewreckofafriendship。Nothingwillmoredeeplysickentheheartofanaturallyloyalmanthantodiscoverbaselesshisfaithinsomeonehehasthoroughlytrusted。
　　OrdehadlikedNewmark。Hehadadmiredheartilyhisclearnessofvision，hisfinancialskill，hisknowledgeofbusinessintricacies，hisimperturbablecoolness，alltheabilitiesthathadbroughthimtosuccess。WithamanofOrde’stemperament，toadmireistolike；
　　andtolikeistoinvestwithallgoodqualities。Hehadconstructedhisidealofafriend，withNewmarkasabasis；andnowthatthis，whichhadseemedtohimassolidarealityasabrickblock，haddissolvedintonothing，hefoundhimselfinthenecessityofrefashioninghiswholeworld。HewasnotangryatNewmark。Buthewasgrieveddowntothedepthsofhisbeing。
　　Whenthefullsunshoneintothelibrary，hearousedhimselftochangehisclothes。Then，carryingthosehehadjustdiscarded，heslippedoutofthehouseanddownthestreet。Duke，theblackandwhitesetterdog，beggedtofollowhim。Ordewelcomedtheanimal’scompany。HepausedonlylongenoughtotelephonefromtheofficetellingCarrollhewouldbeoutoftownallday。Thenhesetoutatalongswinginggaitoverthehills。Bythetimethesungrewhot，hewassomemilesfromthevillageandinthehighbeechwoods。
　　Therehesatdown，hisbacktoamonstertree。Alldaylonghegazedsteadilyontheshiftingshadowsandsplotchesofsunlight；onthepatchesofbluesky，thedazzlingwhitecloudsthatsailedacrossthem；onthewaving，whisperingfrondthatover—archedhim，andthedeepcoolshadowsbeneath。Thewoodscreaturessoonbecameaccustomedtohispresence。SquirrelsoftheseveralvarietiesthataboundedintheMichiganforestsscamperedmadlyaftereachotherinspiralsaroundthetreetrunks，orboundedacrossthegroundinlongundulatingleaps。Birdsflashedandcalledanddisappearedmysteriously。Achewink，braveinhisblackandwhiteandtanuniform，scratchedmightilywithgreattwo—footedswoopsthatthrewthevegetablemouldoverOrde’sveryfeet。Blazonedbutterflies——
　　theyellowandblackturnus，thedarktroilus，theshade—lovingnymphalis——flickeredinandoutofthepatchesofsunlight。Ordepaidthemnoattention。Thenoonheatpoureddownthroughtheforestisleslikeanincense。Overheadswungthesun，anddowntheslopeuntilthelongshaftsofitslightliftedwand—likeacrossthetreetrunks。
　　AtthishintofeveningOrdeshookhimselfandarose。Hewaslittlenearerthereadjustmenthesoughtthanhehadbeenthepreviousnight。
　　Hereachedhomealittlebeforesixo’clock。TohissurprisehefoundTaylorawaitinghim。Thelawyerhadwrittennothingastohisreturn。
　　"Ihadthingsprettywellinshape，"hesaid，afterthefirstgreetingshadbeenexchanged，"anditwoulddonogoodtostayawayanylonger。"
　　"Thenthetroubleisover？"askedOrde。
　　"Iwouldn’tsaythat，"repliedTaylor；"butyoucanresteasyastothetitletoyourlands。Theinvestigationhadnorealbasistoit。
　　Theremayhavebeensomesmallindividualcasesoffalseentry；butnothingonwhichtogrounda？？？？attack。"
　　"WhencanIborrowonit？"
　　"Notforayearortwo，Ishouldsay。There’sanawfullotofred—
　　tapetounwind，astherealwaysisinsuchcases。"
　　"Oh，"saidOrdeinsomedisappointment。
　　Taylorhesitated，removedhiseye—glasses，wipedthemcarefully，andreplacedthem。HeglancedatOrdesidelongthroughhiskeen，shrewdeyes。
　　"Ihavesomethingmoretotellyou；somethingthatwillbepainful，"
　　saidhe。
　　Ordelookedupquickly。
　　"Well；whatisit？"heasked。
　　"Thegeneralcussednessofallthisinvestigationbusinesshadmepuzzled，untilatlastImadeupmymindtodoalittleinvestigatingonmyownaccount。Italllookedfoolishtome。
　　Somebodyorsomethingmustbebackofallthisperformance。IwasatitallthetimeIwasWest，betweentimesonregularbusiness，ofcourse。Ididn’tmakemuchoutofmydirectefforts——theycoverthingsupwellinthosematters——butatlastIgotonacluebysheeraccident。Therewasonemanbehindallthis。Hewas——"
　　"JoeNewmark，"saidOrdequietly。
　　"Howdidyouknowthat？"criedTaylorinastonishment。
　　"Ididn’tknow，Frank；Ijustguessed。"
　　"Well，youmadeagoodguess。ItwasNewmark。He’dtiedupthelandinthistrumped—upinvestigationsoyoucouldnotborrowonit。"
　　"HowdidhefindoutIownedanyland？"askedOrde。
　　"ThatIcouldn’ttellyou。Musthavebeenaleaksomewhere。"
　　"Quitelikely，"saidOrdecalmly。
　　Taylorlookedathisprincipalinsomewonder。
　　"Well，Imustsayyoutakeitcoollyenough，"saidheatlast。
　　Ordesmiled。