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surface of the water concentric rings which widened and died away。
The trail led the crew through many minor labours； all of which
consumed time。 At Reed's Mill Orde entered into diplomatic
negotiations with Old Man Reed； whom he found singularly amenable。
The skirmish in the spring seemed to have taken all the fight out of
him； or perhaps； more simply； Orde's attitude toward him at that
time had won him over to the young man's side。 At any rate； as soon
as he understood that Orde was now in business for himself； he
readily came to an agreement。 Thereupon Orde's crew built a new
sluiceway and gate far enough down to assure a good head in the pond
above。 Other dam owners farther down the stream also signed
agreements having to do with supplying water over and above what the
law required of them。 Above one particularly shallow rapid Orde
built a dam of his own。
All this took time； and the summer months slipped away。 Orde had
fallen into the wild life as into a habit。 He lived on the river or
the trail。 His face took on a ruddier hue than ever； his clothes
faded to a nondescript neutral colour of their own； his hair below
his narrow felt hat bleached three shades。 He did his work； and
figured on his schemes； and smoked his pipe； and occasionally took
little trips to the nearest town； where he spent the day at the
hotel desks reading and answering his letters。 The weather was
generally very warm。 Thunder…storms were not infrequent。 Until the
latter part of August； mosquitoes and black flies were bad。
About the middle of September the crew had worked down as far as
Redding； leaving behind them a river tamed； groomed； and harnessed
for their uses。 Remained still the forty miles between Redding and
the Lake to be improved。 As； however； navigation for light draught
vessels extended as far as that city； Orde here paid off his men。 A
few days' work with a pile driver would fence the principal shoals
from the channel。
He stayed over night with his parents； and at once took the train
for Monrovia。 There he made his way immediately to the little
office the new firm had rented。 Newmark had just come down。
〃Hullo； Joe；〃 greeted Orde； his teeth flashing in contrast to the
tan of his face。 〃I'm done。 Anything new since you wrote last？〃
Newmark had acquired his articles of incorporation and sold his
stock。 How many excursions； demonstrations； representations； and
arguments that implied； only one who has undertaken the floating of
a new and untried scheme can imagine。 Perhaps his task had in it as
much of difficulty as Orde's taming of the river。 Certainly he
carried it to as successful a conclusion。 The bulk of the stock he
sold to the log…owners themselves； the rest he scattered here and
there and everywhere in small lots； as he was able。 Some five
hundred and thousand dollar blocks even went to Chicago。 His own
little fortune of twenty thousand he paid in for the shares that
represented his half of the majority retained by himself and Orde。
The latter gave a note at ten per cent for his proportion of the
stock。 Newmark then borrowed fifteen thousand more； giving as
security a mortgage on the company's newly acquired propertythe
tugs； booms； buildings； and real estate。 Thus was the financing
determined。 It left the company with obligations of fifteen hundred
dollars a year in interest； expenses which would run heavily into
the thousands； and an obligation to make good outside stock worth at
par exactly forty…nine thousand dollars。 In addition； Orde had
charged against his account a burden of two thousand dollars a year
interest on his personal debt。 To offset these liabilitiesoutside
the river improvements and equipments； which would hold little or no
value in case of failurethe firm held contracts to deliver about
one hundred million feet of logs。 After some discussion the
partners decided to allow themselves twenty…five hundred dollars
apiece by way of salary。
〃If we don't make any dividends at first；〃 Orde pointed out； 〃I've
got to keep even on my interest。〃
〃You can't live on five hundred；〃 objected Newmark。
〃I'll be on the river and at the booms six months of the year；〃
replied Orde； 〃and I can't spend much there。〃
〃I'm satisfied；〃 said Newmark thoughtfully； 〃I'm getting a little
better than good interest on my own investment from the start。 And
in a few years after we've paid up； there'll be mighty big money in
it。〃
He removed his glasses and tapped his palm with their edge。
〃The only point that is at all risky to me；〃 said he； 〃is that we
have only one…season contracts。 If for any reason we hang up the
drive； or fail to deliver promptly； we're going to get left the year
following。 And then it's B…U…S…T； bust。〃
〃Well； we'll just try not to hang her；〃 replied Orde。
XVI
Orde's bank account； in spite of his laughing assertion to Newmark；
contained some eleven hundred dollars。 After a brief but
comprehensive tour of inspection over all the works then forward； he
drew a hundred of this and announced to Newmark that business would
take him away for about two weeks。
〃I have some private affairs to attend to before settling down to
business for keeps；〃 he told Newmark vaguely。
At Redding； whither he went to pack his little sole…leather trunk；
he told Grandma Orde the same thing。 She said nothing at the time；
but later； when Grandpa Orde's slender figure had departed； very
courteous； very erect； very dignified； with its old linen duster
flapping around it； she came and stood by the man leaning over the
trunk。
〃Speak to her； Jack；〃 said she quietly。 〃She cares for you。〃
Orde looked up in astonishment； but he did not pretend to deny the
implied accusation as to his destination。
〃Why； mother！〃 he cried。 〃She's only seen me three or four times！
It's absurdyet。〃
〃I know；〃 nodded Grandma Orde； wisely。 〃I know。 But you mark my
words； she cares for you。〃
She said nothing more； but stood looking while Orde folded and laid
away； his head bent low in thought。 Then she placed her hand for an
instant on his shoulder and went away。 The Ordes were not a
demonstrative people。
The journey to New York was at that time very long and disagreeable；
but Orde bore it with his accustomed stoicism。 He had visited the
metropolis before； so it was not unfamiliar to him。 He was very
glad； however； to get away from the dust and monotony of the
railroad train。 The September twilight was just falling。 Through
its dusk the street lamps were popping into illumination as the
lamp…lighter made his rapid way。 Orde boarded a horse…car and
jingled away down Fourth Avenue。 He was pleased at having arrived；
and stretched his legs and filled his lungs twice with so evident an
enjoyment that several people smiled。
His