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XXIX
In the course of the next eight years Newmark and Orde floated high
on that flood of apparent prosperity that attends a business well
conceived and passably well managed。 The Boom and Driving Company
made money； of course； for with the margin of fifty per cent or
thereabouts necessitated by the temporary value of the improvements；
good years could hardly fail to bring good returns。 This； it will
be remembered； was a stock company。 With the profits from that
business the two men embarked on a separate copartnership。 They
made money at this； too； but the burden of debt necessitated by new
ventures； constantly weighted by the heavy interest demanded at that
time； kept affairs on the ragged edge。
In addition； both Orde and Newmark were more inclined to extension
of interests than to 〃playing safe。〃 The assets gained in one
venture were promptly pledged to another。 The ramifications of
debt； property； mortgages； and expectations overlapped each other in
a cobweb of interests。
Orde lived at ease in a new house of some size surrounded by
grounds。 He kept two servants： a blooded team of horses drew the
successor to the original buckboard。 Newmark owned a sail yacht of
five or six tons； in which； quite solitary； he took his only
pleasure。 Both were considered men of substance and property； as
indeed they were。 Only； they risked dollars to gain thousands。 A
succession of bad years； a panic…contraction of money markets； any
one of a dozen possible； though not probable； contingencies would
render it difficult to meet the obligations which constantly came
due； and which Newmark kept busy devising ways and means of meeting。
If things went welland it may be remarked that legitimately they
shouldNewmark and Orde would some day be rated among the
millionaire firms。 If things went ill； bankruptcy could not be
avoided。 There was no middle ground。 Nor were Orde and his partner
unique in this； practically every firm then developing or exploiting
the natural resources of the country found itself in the same case。
Immediately after the granting of the charter to drive the river the
partners had offered them an opportunity of acquiring about thirty
million feet of timber remaining from Morrison and Daly's original
holdings。 That firm was very anxious to begin development on a
large scale of its Beeson Lake properties in the Saginaw waters。
Daly proposed to Orde that he take over the remnant； and having
confidence in the young man's abilities； agreed to let him have it
on long…time notes。 After several consultations with Newmark； Orde
finally completed the purchase。 Below the booms they erected a
mill； the machinery for which they had also bought of Daly； at
Redding。 The following winter Orde spent in the woods。 By spring
he had banked； ready to drive； about six million feet。
For some years these two sorts of activity gave the partners about
all they could attend to。 As soon as the drive had passed Redding；
Orde left it in charge of one of his foremen while he divided his
time between the booms and the mill。 Late in the year his woods
trips began； the tours of inspection； of surveying for new roads；
the inevitable preparation for the long winter campaigns in the
forest。 As soon as the spring thaws began； once more the drive
demanded his attention。 And in marketing the lumber； manipulating
the firm's financial affairs； collecting its dues； paying its bills；
making its purchases； and keeping oiled the intricate bearing points
of its office machinery； Newmark was busyand invaluable。
At the end of the fifth year the opportunity came； through a
combination of a bad debt and a man's death； to get possession of
two lake schooners。 Orde at once suggested the contract for a steam
barge。 Towing was then in its infancy。 The bulk of lake traffic
was by means of individual sailing shipsa method uncertain as to
time。 Orde thought that a steam barge could be built powerful
enough not only to carry its own hold and deck loads； but to tow
after it the two schooners。 In this manner the crews could be
reduced； and an approximate date of delivery could be guaranteed。
Newmark agreed with him。 Thus the firm； in accordance with his
prophecy； went into the carrying trade； for the vessels more than
sufficed for its own needs。 The freighting of lumber added much to
the income； and the carrying of machinery and other heavy freight on
the return trip grew every year。
But by far the most important acquisition was that of the northern
peninsula timber。 Most operators called the white pine along and
back from the river inexhaustible。 Orde did not believe this。 He
saw the time； not far distant； when the world would be compelled to
look elsewhere for its lumber supply； and he turned his eyes to the
almost unknown North。 After a long investigation through agents；
and a month's land…looking on his own account； he located and
purchased three hundred million feet。 This was to be paid for； as
usual； mostly by the firm's notes secured by its other property。 It
would become available only in the future； but Orde believed； as
indeed the event justified； this future would prove to be not so
distant as most people supposed。
As these interests widened； Orde became more and more immersed in
them。 He was forced to be away all of every day； and more than the
bulk of every year。 Nevertheless； his home life did not suffer for
it。
To Carroll he was always the same big； hearty； whole…souled boy she
had first learned to love。 She had all his confidence。 If this did
not extend into business affairs； it was because Orde had always
tried to get away from them when at home。 At first Carroll had
attempted to keep in the current of her husband's activities； but as
the latter broadened in scope and became more complex； she perceived
that their explanation wearied him。 She grew out of the habit of
asking him about them。 Soon their rapid advance had carried them
quite beyond her horizon。 To her； also； as to most women； the word
〃business〃 connoted nothing but a turmoil and a mystery。
In all other things they were to each other what they had been from
the first。 No more children had come to them。 Bobby； however； had
turned out a sturdy； honest little fellow； with more than a streak
of his mother's charm and intuition。 His future was the subject of
all Orde's plans。
〃I want to give him all the chance there is；〃 he explained to
Carroll。 〃A boy ought to start where his father left off； and not
have to do the same thing all over again。 But being a rich man's
son isn't much of a job。〃
〃Why don't you let him continue your business？〃 smiled Carroll；
secretly amused at the idea of the small person before them ever
doing anything。
〃By the time Bobby's grown up this business will all be closed out；〃
replied Orde seriously。
He continued to look at his minute son with puckered brow； until
Carroll smoothed out the wrinkles with the tips of her fingers。
〃Of course； having only a few minutes to decide；〃 she mocked；
〃perhaps we'd better make up our minds right now to have him a
street…car driver。〃
〃Yes！〃 agreed Bobby unexpectedly； and with emphasis。
Three years after this conversation； which would have made Bobby
just eight； Orde came back before six of a summer evening； his face
alight with satisfaction。
〃Hullo； bub！〃 he cried to Bobby； tossing him to his shoulder。
〃How's the kid？〃
They went out together； while awaiting dinner； to see the new setter
puppy in the woodshed。
〃Named him yet？〃 asked Orde。
〃Duke；〃 said Bobby。
Orde surveyed the animal gravely。
〃Seems like a good name；〃 said he。
After dinner the two adjourned to the library； where they sat
together in the 〃big chair；〃 and Bobby； squirmed a little sidewise
in order the better to see； watched the smoke from his father's
cigar as it eddied and curled in the air。
〃Tell a story；〃 he commanded finally。
〃Well；〃 acquiesced Orde； 〃there was once a man who had a cow〃
〃Once upon a time；〃 corrected Bobby。
He listened for a moment or so。
〃I don't like that story；〃 he then announced。 〃Tell the story about
the bears。〃
〃But this is a new story；〃 protested Orde； 〃and you've heard about
the bears so many times。〃
〃Bears；〃 insisted Bobby。
〃Well； once upon a time there were three bearsa big bear and a
middle…sized bear and a little bear〃 began Orde obediently。
Bobby； with a sigh of rapture and content； curled up in a snug； warm
little ball。 The twilight darkened。
〃Blind…man's holiday！〃 warned Carroll behind them so suddenly that
they both jumped。 〃And the sand man's been at somebody； I know！〃
She bore him away to bed。 Orde sat smoking in the dark