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〃Oh； don't stop！〃 they cried in chorus； as though each had been
listening intently。
The girl laughed up at Orde in amusement。 Somehow this flash of an
especial understanding between them to the exclusion of the others
sent a warm glow to his heart。
〃I do wish you had your harp here；〃 said Jane Hubbard； coming
indolently forward。 〃You just ought to hear her play the harp；〃 she
told the rest。 〃It's just the best thing you ever DID hear！〃
At this moment the outside door opened to admit Mr and Mrs。 Hubbard；
who had； according to their usual Sunday custom； been spending the
evening with a neighbour。 This was the signal for departure。 The
company began to break up。
Orde pushed his broad shoulders in to screen Carroll Bishop from the
others。
〃Are you staying here？〃 be asked。
She opened her eyes wide at his brusqueness。
〃I'm visiting Jane；〃 she replied at length； with an affectation of
demureness。
〃Are you going to be here long？〃 was Orde's next question。
〃About a month。〃
〃I am coming to see you；〃 announced Orde。 〃Good…night。〃
He took her hand； dropped it； and followed the others into the hall；
leaving her standing by the lamp。 She watched him until the outer
door had closed behind him。 Not once did he look back。 Jane
Hubbard； returning after a moment from the hall； found her at the
piano again； her head slightly one side； playing with painful and
accurate exactness a simple one…finger melody。
Orde walked home down the hill in company with the Incubus。 Neither
had anything to say； Orde because he was absorbed in thought； the
Incubus because nothing occurred to draw from him his one remark。
Their feet clipped sharply against the tar walks； or rang more
hollow on the boards。 Overhead the stars twinkled through the
still…bare branches of the trees。 With few exceptions the houses
were dark。 People 〃retired〃 early in Redding。 An occasional hall
light burned dimly； awaiting some one's return。 At the gate of the
Orde place； Orde roused himself to say good…night。 He let himself
into the dim…lighted hall； hung up his hat； and turned out the gas。
For some time he stood in the dark； quite motionless； then； with the
accuracy of long habitude； he walked confidently to the narrow
stairs and ascended them。 Subconsciously he avoided the creaking
step； but outside his mother's door he stopped； arrested by a
greeting from within。
〃That you； Jack？〃 queried Grandma Orde。
For answer Orde pushed open the door； which stood an inch or so
ajar； and entered。 A dim light from a distant street…lamp； filtered
through the branches of a tree； flickered against the ceiling。 By
its aid he made out the great square bed； and divined the tiny
figure of his mother。 He seated himself sidewise on the edge of the
bed。
〃Go to Jane's？〃 queried grandma in a low voice； to avoid awakening
grandpa； who slept in the adjoining room。
〃Yes；〃 replied Orde； in the same tone。
〃Who was there？〃
〃Oh； about the usual crowd。〃
He fell into an abstracted silence； which endured for several
minutes。
〃Mother；〃 said he abruptly； at last； 〃I've met the girl I want for
my wife。〃
Grandma Orde sat up in bed。
〃Who is she？〃 she demanded。
〃Her name is Carroll Bishop；〃 said Orde； 〃and she's visiting Jane
Hubbard。〃
〃Yes； but WHO is she？〃 insisted Grandma Orde。 〃Where is she from？〃
Orde stared at her in the dim light。
〃Why； mother；〃 he repeated for the second time that day； 〃blest if I
know that！〃
X
Orde was up and out at six o'clock the following morning。 By eight
he had reported for work at Daly's mill； where； with the assistance
of a portion of the river crew； he was occupied in sorting the logs
in the booms。 Not until six o'clock in the evening did the whistle
blow for the shut…down。 Then he hastened home； to find that Newmark
had preceded him by some few moments and was engaged in conversation
with Grandma Orde。 The young man was talking easily； though rather
precisely and with brevity。 He nodded to Orde and finished his
remark。
After supper Orde led the way up two flights of narrow stairs to his
own room。 This was among the gables； a chamber of strangely
diversified ceiling； which slanted here and there according to the
demands of the roof outside。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I've made up my mind to…day to go in with you。 It
may not work out； but it's a good chance； and I want to get in
something that looks like money。 I don't know who you are； nor how
much of a business man you are or what your experience is； but I'll
risk it。〃
〃I'm putting in twenty thousand dollars；〃 pointed out Newmark。
〃And I'm putting in my everlasting reputation；〃 said Orde。 〃If we
tell these fellows that we'll get out their logs for them； and then
don't do it； I'll be DEAD around here。〃
〃So that's about a stand…off；〃 said Newmark。 〃I'm betting twenty
thousand on what I've seen and heard of you； and you're risking your
reputation that I don't want to drop my money。〃
Orde laughed。
〃And I reckon we're both right；〃 he responded。
〃Still；〃 Newmark pursued the subject； 〃I've no objection to telling
you about myself。 New York born and bred； experience with Cooper
and Dunne； brokers； eight years。 Money from a legacy。 Parents
dead。 No relatives to speak to。〃
Orde nodded gravely twice in acknowledgment。
〃Now；〃 said Newmark； 〃have you had time to do any figuring？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Orde； 〃I got at it a little yesterday afternoon； and
a little this noon。 I have a rough idea。〃 He produced a bundle of
scribbled papers from his coat…pocket。 〃Here you are。 I take Daly
as a sample； because I've been with his outfit。 It costs him to run
and deliver his logs one hundred miles about two dollars a thousand
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