the riverman-第15章

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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　enterprise。　　

At　twelve　he　had　not　in　any　way　committed　himself　nor　expressed　an　

opinion。　　He；　however；　instructed　Orde　to　return　the　afternoon　of　

the　following　day。



〃I　vill　see　Proctor；〃　said　he。



Orde；　rather　exhausted；　returned　to　find　Newmark　still　sitting　in　

the　rocking…chair　with　his　unlighted　cigar。　　The　two　had　lunch　

together；　after　which　Orde；　somewhat　refreshed；　started　out。　　He　

succeeded　in　getting　two　more　promises　of　contracts　and　two　more　

deferred　interviews。



〃That's　going　a　little　faster；〃　he　told　Newmark　cheerfully。



The　following　morning；　also；　he　was　much　encouraged　by　the　reception　

his　plan　gained　from　the　other　lumbermen。　　At　lunch　he　recapitulated　

to　Newmark。



〃That's　four　contracts　already；〃　said　he；　〃and　three　more　

practically　a　sure　thing。　　Proctor　and　Heinzman　are　slower　than　

molasses　about　everything；　and　mean　as　pusley；　and　Johnson's　up　in　

the　air；　the　way　he　always　is；　for　fear　some　one's　going　to　do　him。〃



〃It　isn't　a　bad　outlook；〃　admitted　Newmark。



But　Heinzman　offered　a　new　problem　for　Orde's　consideration。



〃I　haf　talked　with　Proctor；〃　said　he；　〃and　ve　like　your　scheme。　　If　

you　can　deliffer　our　logs　here　for　two　dollars　and　a　quarter；　why；　

that　is　better　as　ve　can　do　it；　but　how　do　ve　know　you　vill　do　it？〃



〃I'll　guarantee　to　get　them　here　all　right；〃　laughed　Orde。



〃But　what　is　your　guarantee　good　for？〃　persisted　Heinzman　blandly；　

locking　his　fingers　over　his　rotund　little　stomach。　　〃Suppose　the　

logs　are　not　delifferedwhat　then？　　How　responsible　are　you　

financially？〃



〃Well；　we're　investing　seventy…five　thousand　dollars　or　so。〃



Heinzman　rubbed　his　thumb　and　forefinger　together　and　wafted　the　

imaginary　pulverisation　away。



〃Worth　that　for　a　judgment；〃　said　he。



He　allowed　a　pause　to　ensue。



〃If　you　vill　give　a　bond　for　the　performance　of　your　contract；〃　

pursued　Heinzman；　〃that　vould　be　satisfactory。〃



Orde's　mind　was　struck　chaotic　by　the　reasonableness　of　this　

request；　and　the　utter　impossibility　of　acceding　to　it。



〃How　much　of　a　bond？〃　he　asked。



〃Twenty…fife　thousand　vould　satisfy　us；〃　said　Heinzman。　　〃Bring　us　a　

suitable　bond　for　that　amount　and　ve　vill　sign　your　contract。〃



Orde　ran　down　the　stairs　to　find　Newmark。　　〃Heinzman　won't　sign　

unless　we　give　him　a　bond　for　performance；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone；　

as　he　dropped　into　the　chair　next　to　Newmark。



Newmark　removed　his　unlighted　cigar；　looked　at　the　chewed　end；　and　

returned　it　to　the　corner　of　his　mouth。



〃Heinzman　has　sense；〃　said　he　drily。　　〃I　was　wondering　if　ordinary　

business　caution　was　unknown　out　here。〃



〃Can　we　get　such　a　bond？　　Nobody　would　go　on　my　bond　for　that　

amount。〃



〃Mine　either；〃　said　Newmark。　　〃We'll　just　have　to　let　them　go　and　

drive　ahead　without　them。　　I　only　hope　they　won't　spread　the　idea。　　

Better　get　those　other　contracts　signed　up　as　soon　as　we　can。〃



With　this　object　in　v