\"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？\"