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feet。 He's the only big manufacturer up here； the rest are all at
Monrovia； where they can get shipping by water。 I suppose it costs
the other nine firms doing business on the river from two to two and
a half a thousand。〃
Newmark produced a note…book and began to jot down figures。
〃Do these men all conduct separate drives？〃 he inquired。
〃All but Proctor and old Heinzman。 They pool in together。〃
〃Now；〃 went on Newmark； 〃if we were to drive the whole river； how
could we improve on that？〃
〃Well； I haven't got it down very fine； of course；〃 Orde told him；
〃but in the first place we wouldn't need so many men。 I could run
the river on three hundred easy enough。 That saves wages and grub
on two hundred right there。 And； of course； a few improvements on
the river would save time； which in our case would mean money。 We
would not need so many separate cook outfits and all that。 Of
course； that part of it we'd have to get right down and figure on；
and it will take time。 Then； too； if we agreed to sort and deliver；
we'd have to build sorting booms down at Monrovia。〃
〃Suppose we had all that。 What； for example； do you reckon you
could bring Daly's logs down for？〃
Orde fell into deep thought； from which he emerged occasionally to
scribble on the back of his memoranda。
〃I suppose somewhere about a dollar；〃 he announced at last。 He
looked up a trifle startled。 〃Why；〃 he cried； 〃that looks like big
money！ A hundred per cent！〃
Newmark watched him for a moment； a quizzical smile wrinkling the
corners of his eyes。
〃Hold your horses；〃 said he at last。 〃I don't know anything about
this business； but I can see a few things。 In the first place；
close figuring will probably add a few cents to that dollar。 And
then； of course； all our improvements will be absolutely valueless
to anybody after we've got through using them。 You said yesterday
they'd probably stand us in seventy…five thousand dollars。 Even at
a dollar profit； we'd have to drive seventy…five million before we
got a cent back。 And； of course； we've got to agree to drive for a
little less than they could themselves。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed Orde； his crest falling。
〃However；〃 said Newmark briskly； as he arose； 〃there's good money in
it； as you say。 Now； how soon can you leave Daly？〃
〃By the middle of the week we ought to be through with this job。〃
〃That's good。 Then we'll go into this matter of expense thoroughly；
and establish our schedule of rates to submit to the different
firms。〃
Newmark said a punctilious farewell to Mr。 and Mrs。 Orde。
〃By the way；〃 said Orde to him at the gate； 〃where are you staying？〃
〃At the Grand。〃
〃I know most of the people hereall the young folks。 I'd be glad
to take you around and get you acquainted。〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied Newmark； 〃you are very kind。 But I don't go in
much for that sort of thing； and I expect to be very busy now on
this new matter； so I won't trouble you。〃
XI
The new partners； as soon as Orde had released himself from Daly；
gave all their time to working out a schedule of tolls。 Orde drew
on his intimate knowledge of the river and its tributaries； and the
locations of the different rollways； to estimate as closely as
possible the time it would take to drive them。 He also hunted up
Tom North and others of the older men domiciled in the cheap
boarding…houses of Hell's Half…Mile； talked with them； and verified
his own impressions。 Together； he and Newmark visited the supply
houses； got prices； obtained lists。 All the evenings they figured
busily； until at last Newmark expressed himself as satisfied。
〃Now； Orde；〃 said he； 〃here is where you come in。 It's now your job
to go out and interview these men and get their contracts for
driving their next winter's cut。〃
But Orde drew back。
〃Look here； Joe；〃 he objected； 〃that's more in your line。 You can
talk business to them better than I can。〃
〃Not a bit；〃 negatived Newmark。 〃They don't know me from Adam； and
they do know you； and all about you。 We've got to carry this thing
through at first on our face； and they'd be more apt to entrust the
matter to you personally。〃
〃All right；〃 agreed Orde。 〃I'll start in on Daly。〃
He did so the following morning。 Daly swung his bulk around in his
revolving office…chair and listened attentively。
〃Well； Jack；〃 said he； 〃I think you're a good riverman； and I
believe you can do it。 I'd be only too glad to get rid of the
nuisance of it； let alone get it done cheaper。 If you'll draw up
your contract and bring it in here； I'll sign it。 I suppose you'll
break out the rollways？〃
〃No；〃 said Orde； 〃we hadn't thought of doing more than the driving
and distributing。 You'll have to deliver the logs in the river。
Maybe another year； after we get better organised； we'll be able to
break rollwaysat a price per thousandbut until we get a…going
we'll have to rush her through。〃
Orde repeated this to his associate。
〃That was smooth enough sailing；〃 he exulted。
〃Yes；〃 pondered Newmark； removing his glasses and tapping his thumb
with their edge。 〃Yes；〃 he repeated； 〃that was smooth sailing。
What was that about rollways？〃
〃Oh； I told him we'd expect him to break out his own；〃 said Orde。
〃Yes； but what does that mean exactly？〃
〃Why；〃 explained Orde； with a slight stare of surprise； 〃when the
logs are cut and hauled during the winter； they are banked on the
river…banks； and even in the river…channel itself。 Then； when the
thaws come in the spring； these piles are broken down and set afloat
in the river。〃
〃I see；〃 said Newmark。 〃Well； but why shouldn't we undertake that
part of it？ I should think that would he more the job of the river…
drivers。〃
〃It would hold back our drive too much to have to stop and break
rollways；〃 explained Orde。
The next morning they took the early train for Monrovia； where were
situated the big mills and the offices of the nine other lumber
companies。 Within an hour they had descended at the small frame
terminal station； and were walking together up the village street。
Monrovia was at that time a very spread…out little place of perhaps
two thousand population。 It was situated a half mile from Lake
Michigan； behind the sparsely wooded sand hills of its shore。 From
the river； which had here grown to a great depth and width； its main
street ran directly at right angles。 Four brick blocks of three
stories lent impressiveness to the vista。 The stores in general；
however； were low frame structures。 All faced broad plank sidewalks
raised above the street to the level of a waggon body。 From this
main street ran off； to right and left； other streets； rendered
lovely by maple trees that fairly met across the way。 In summer；
over sidewalk and roadway alike rested a dense； refreshing dark
shadow that seemed to throw from itself an odour of coolness。 This
was rendered further attractive by the warm spicy odour of damp pine
that arose from the resilient surface of sawdust and shingles broken
beneath the wheels of traffic。 Back from these trees； in wide；
well…cultivated lawns； stood the better residences。 They were
almost invariably built of many corners； with steep roofs meeting
each other at all angles； with wide and ornamented red chimneys；
numerous windows； and much scroll work adorning each apex and
cornice。 The ridge poles bristled in fancy foot…high palisades of
wood。 Chimneys were provided with lightning…rods。 Occasionally an
older structure； on square lines； recorded the era of a more
dignified architecture。 Everywhere ran broad sidewalks and picket
fences。 Beyond the better residence districts were the board
shanties of the mill workers。
Orde and Newmark tramped up the plank walk to the farthest brick
building。 When they came to a cross street； they had to descend to
it by a short flight of steps on one side； and ascend from it by a
corresponding flight on the other。 At the hotel； Newmark seated
himself in a rocking…chair next the big window。
〃Good luck！〃 said he。
Orde mounted a wide； dark flight of stairs that led from the street
to a darker hall。 The smell of stale cigars and cocoa matting was
in the air。 Down the dim length of this hall he made his way to a
door； which without ceremony he pushed open。
He found himself in a railed…off space； separated from the main part
of the room by a high walnut grill。
〃Mr。 Heinzman in？〃 he asked of a clerk。
〃I think so；〃 replied the clerk； to whom evidently Orde was known。
Orde spent the rest of the morning with Heinzman； a very rotund；
cautious person of German extraction and accent。 Heinzman occupied
the time in asking questions of all sorts about the new enterpr