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plain； ordinary selfishness。 I suppose I really ought to jug you；
but if I do； I'll always carry with me the thought that I've taken
it on myself to judge a man。 And I don't believe any man is
competent to judge another。 I told you whyor tried toa minute
or so ago。 I've lived clean； and I've enjoyed the world as a clean
open…air sort of propositionlike a windy dayand I always hope
to。 I'd rather drop this whole matter。 In a short time I'd forget
you； you'd pass out of my life entirely。 But if we carry this thing
through to a finish； I'd always have the thought with me that I'd
put you in the pen； that you are there now。 I don't like the
notion。 I'd rather finish this up right here and now and get it
over and done with and take a fresh start。〃 He paused and wiped his
brow； wet with the unusual exertion of this self…analysis。 〃I think
a fellow ought to act always as if he was making the world。 He
ought to try not to put things in it that are going to make it an
unpleasant or an evil world。 We don't always do it； but we ought to
try。 Now if I were making a world； I wouldn't put a man in a
penitentiary in it。 Of course there's dangerous criminals。〃 He
glanced at Newmark a little anxiously。 〃I don't belieye you're
that。 You're sharp and dishonest； and need punishment； but you
don't need extinction。 Anyway； I'm not going to bother my future
with you。〃
Newmark； who had listened to this long and rambling exposition with
increasing curiosity and interest； broke into a short laugh。
〃You've convicted me；〃 he said。 〃I'm a most awful failure。 I
thought I knew you； but this passes all belief。〃
Orde brushed this speech aside as irrelevant。
〃Our association； of course； comes to an end。 There remain the
terms of settlement。 I could fire you out of this without a cent；
and you'd have to git。 But that wouldn't be fair。 I don't give a
damn for you； but it wouldn't be fair to me。 Now as for the
Northern Peninsula timber； you have had seventy…five thousand out of
that and have lent me the same amount。 Call that quits。 I will
take up your note when it comes due； and destroy the one given to
Heinzman。 For all your holdings in our common business I will give
you my note without interest and without time for one hundred
thousand dollars。 That is not its face value； nor anything like it；
but you have caused me directly and indirectly considerable loss。 I
don't know how soon I can pay this note； but it will be paid。〃
〃All right；〃 agreed Newmark。
〃Does that satisfy you？〃
〃I suppose it's got to。〃
〃Very well。 I have the papers here all made out。 They need simply
to be signed and witnessed。 Timbull is the nearest notary。〃
He unlocked the outside door。
〃Come；〃 said he。
In silence the two walked the block and a half to the notary's
house。 Here they were forced to wait some time while Timbull
dressed himself and called the necessary witnesses。 Finally the
papers were executed。 In the street Newmark paused significantly。
But Orde did not take the hint。
〃Are you coming with me？〃 asked Newmark。
〃I am；〃 replied Orde。 〃There is one thing more。〃
In silence once more they returned to the shadowy low library filled
with its evidences of good taste。 Newmark threw himself into the
armchair。 He was quite recovered； once again the imperturbable；
coldly calculating； cynical observer。 Orde relocked the door； and
turned to face him。
〃You have five days to leave town；〃 he said crisply。 〃Don't ever
show up here again。 Let me have your address for the payment of
this note。〃
He took two steps forward。
〃I've let you off from the pen because I didn't want my life
bothered with the thought of you。 But you've treated me like a
hound。 I've been loyal to the firm's interests from the start； and
I've done my best by it。 You knifed me in the back。 You're a
dirty； low…lived skunk。 If you think you're going to get off scot…
free； you're mightily mistaken。〃
He advanced two steps more。 Newmark half arose。
〃What do you mean？〃 he asked in some alarm。
〃I mean that I'm going to give you about the worst licking you ever
heard TELL of；〃 replied Orde； buttoning his coat。
XLIX
Five minutes later Orde emerged from Newmark's house； softly rubbing
the palm of one hand over the knuckles of the other。 At the front
gate he paused to look up at the stars。 Then he shut it decisively
behind him。
Up through the maple shaded streets he walked at a brisk pace；
breathing deep； unconsciously squaring back his shoulders。 The
incident was behind him。 In his characteristic decisive manner he
had wiped the whole disagreeable affair off the slate。 The
copartnership with its gains and losses； its struggles and easy
sailing was a thing of the past。 Only there remained； as after a
flood the sediment； a final result of it all； the balance between
successes and failures； a ground beneath the feet of new
aspirations。 Orde had the Northern Peninsula timber； the Boom
Company； and the carrying trade。 They were all burdened with debt；
it is true； but the riverman felt surging within him the reawakened
and powerful energy for which optimism is another name。 He saw
stretching before him a long life of endeavour； the sort of
endeavour he enjoyed； exulted in； and in it he would be untrammelled
and alone。 The idea appealed to him。 Suddenly he was impatient for
the morrow that he might begin。
He turned out of the side street。 His own house lay before him；
dark save for the gas jet in the hallway and the single lamp in the
library。 A harmony of softly touched chords breathed out through
the open window。 He stopped； then stole forward softly until he
stood looking in through the doorway。
Carroll sat leaning against the golden harp； her shining head with
the soft shadows bent until it almost touched the strings。 Her
hands were straying idly over accustomed chords and rich
modulations； the plaintive half…music of reverie。 A soft light fell
on her slender figure； half revealed the oval of her cheek and the
sweep of her lashes。
Orde crept to her unheard。 Gently he clasped her from behind。
Unsurprised she relinquished the harp strings and sank back against
his breast with a happy little sigh。
〃Kind of fun being married； isn't it； sweetheart？〃 he repeated their
quaint formula。
〃Kind of；〃 she replied； and raised her face to his。
THE END