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the riverman-第52章

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the transactions。



It will be remembered that at the time1878Orde first came in 

need of money for the purpose of buying the California timber; the 

firm; Newmark and Orde; owned in the northern peninsula 300;000;000 

feet of pine。  On this they had paid 150;000; and owed still a like 

amount。  They borrowed 75;000 on it; giving a note secured by 

mortgage due in 1883。  Orde took this; giving in return his note 

secured by the Boom Company's stock。  In 1879 and 1880 they made the 

two final payments on the timber; so that by the latter date they 

owned the land free of encumbrance save for the mortgage of 75;000。  

Since Newmark's plan had always contemplated the eventual 

foreclosure of this mortgage; it now became necessary further to 

encumber the property。  Otherwise; since a property worth 

considerably above 300;000 carried only a 75;000 mortgage; it 

would be possible; when the latter came due; to borrow a further sum 

on a second mortgage with which to meet the obligations of the 

first。  Therefore Newmark; in 1881; approached Orde with the request 

that the firm raise 70;000 by means of a second mortgage on the 

timber。  This 70;000 he proposed to borrow personally; giving his 

note due in 1885 and putting up the same collateral as Orde had

that is to say; his stock in the Boom Company。  To this Orde could 

hardly in reason oppose an objection; as it nearly duplicated his 

own transaction of 1878。  Newmark therefore; through Heinzman; lent 

this sum to himself。



It may now be permitted to forecast events in the line of Newmark's 

reasoning。



If his plans should work out; this is what would happen: in 1883 the 

firm's note for 75;000 would come due。  Orde would be unable to pay 

it。  Therefore at once his stock in the Boom Company would become 

the property of Newmark and Orde。  Newmark would profess himself 

unable to raise enough from the firm to pay the mortgage。  The 

second mortgage from which he had drawn his personal loan would 

render it impossible for the firm to raise more money on the land。  

A foreclosure would follow。  Through Heinzman; Newmark would buy in。  

As he had himself loaned the money to himselfagain through 

Heinzmanon the second mortgage; the latter would occasion him no 

loss。



The net results of the whole transaction would be: first; that 

Newmark would have acquired personally the 300;000;000 feet of 

northern peninsula timber; and; second; that Orde's personal share 

in the stock company would flow be held in partnership by the two。  

Thus; in order to gain so large a stake; it would pay Newmark to 

suffer considerable loss jointly with Orde in the induced 

misfortunes of the firm。



Incidentally it might be remarked that Newmark; of course; purposed 

paying his own note to the firm when it should fall due in 1885; 

thus saving for himself the Boom Company stock which he had put up 

as collateral。





Affairs stood thus in the autumn before the year the notes would 

come due。  The weather had been beautiful。  A perpetual summer 

seemed to have embalmed the world in its forgetfulness of times and 

seasons。  Navigation remained open through October and into 

November。  No severe storms had as yet swept the lakes。  The barge 

and her two tows had made one more trip than had been thought 

possible。  It had been the intention to lay them up for the winter; 

but the weather continued so mild that Orde suggested they be laden 

with a consignment for Jones and Mabley; of Chicago。



〃Did intend to ship by rail;〃 said he。  〃They're all 'uppers;' so it 

would pay all right。  But we can save all kinds of money by water; 

and they ought to skip over there in twelve to fifteen hours。〃



Accordingly; the three vessels were laid alongside the wharves at 

the mill; and as fast as possible the selected lumber was passed 

into their holds。  Orde departed for the woods to start the cutting 

as soon as the first belated snow should fall。



This condition seemed; however; to delay。  During each night it grew 

cold。  The leaves; after their blaze and riot of colour; turned 

crisp and crackly and brown。  Some of the little; still puddles were 

filmed with what was almost; but not quite ice。  A sheen of frost 

whitened the house roofs and silvered each separate blade of grass 

on the lawns。  But by noon the sun; rising red in the veil of smoke 

that hung low in the snappy air; had mellowed the atmosphere until 

it lay on the cheek like a caress。  No breath of wind stirred。  

Sounds came clearly from a distance。  Long V…shaped flights of geese 

swept athwart the sky; very high up; but their honking came faintly 

to the ear。  And yet; when the sun; swollen to the great dimensions 

of the rising moon; dipped blood…red through the haze; the first 

premonitory tingle of cold warned one that the grateful warmth of 

the day had been but an illusion of a season that had gone。  This 

was not summer; but; in the quaint old phrase; Indian summer; and 

its end would be as though the necromancer had waved his wand。



To Newmark; sitting at his desk; reported Captain Floyd of the steam 

barge NORTH STAR。



〃All loaded by noon; sir;〃 he said。



Newmark looked up in surprise。



〃Well; why do you tell me?〃 he inquired。



〃I want your orders。〃



〃My orders?  Why?〃



〃This is a bad time of year;〃 explained Captain Floyd; 〃and the 

storm signal's up。  All the signs are right for a blow。〃



Newmark whirled in his chair。



〃A blow!〃 he cried。  〃What of it?  You don't come in every time it 

blows; do you?〃



〃You don't know the lakes; sir; at this time of year;〃 insisted 

Captain Floyd。



〃Are you afraid?〃 sneered Newmark。



Captain Floyd's countenance burned a dark red。



〃I only want your orders;〃 was all he said。  〃I thought we might 

wait to see。〃



〃Then go;〃 snapped Newmark。  〃That lumber must get to the market。  

You heard Mr。 Orde's orders to sail as soon as you were loaded。〃



Captain Floyd nodded curtly and went out without further comment。



Newmark arose and looked out of the window。  The sun shone as 

balmily soft as ever。  English sparrows twittered and fought 

outside。  The warm smell of pine shingles rose from the street。  

Only close down to the horizon lurked cold; flat; greasy…looking 

clouds; and in the direction of the Government flag…pole he caught 

the flash of red from the lazily floating signal。  He was little 

weatherwise; and he shook his head sceptically。  Nevertheless it was 

a chance; and he took it; as he had taken a great many others。







XXXIV





To Carroll's delight; Orde returned unexpectedly from the woods late 

that night。  He was so busy these days that she welcomed any chance 

to see him。  Much to his disappointment; Bobby had been taken duck…

hunting by his old friend; Mr。 Kincaid。  Next morning; however; Orde 

told Carroll his stay would be short and that his day would be 

occupied。



〃I'd take old Prince and get some air;〃 he advised。  〃You're too 

much indoors。  Get some friend and drive around。  It's fine and 

blowy out; and you'll get some colour in your cheeks。〃



After breakfast Carroll accompanied her husband to the front door。  

When they opened it a blast of air rushed in; whirling some dead 

leaves with it。



〃I guess the fine weather's over;〃 said Orde; looking up at the sky。



A dull lead colour had succeeded the soft gray of the preceding 

balmy days。  The heavens seemed to have settled down closer to the 

earth。  A rising wind whistled through the branches of the big maple 

trees; snatching the remaining leaves in handfuls and tossing them 

into the air。  The tops swayed like whips。  Whirlwinds scurried 

among the piles of dead leaves on the lawns; scattering them; 

chasing them madly around and around in circles。



〃B…r…r…r!〃 shivered Carroll。  〃Winter's coming。〃



She kept herself busy about the house all the morning; ate her lunch 

in solitude。  Outside; the fierce wind; rising in a crescendo 

shriek; howled around the eaves。  The day darkened; but no rain 

fell。  At last Carroll resolved to take her husband's advice。  She 

stopped for Mina Heinzman; and the two walked around to the stable; 

where the men harnessed old Prince into the phaeton。



They drove; the wind at their backs; across the drawbridge; past the 

ship…yards; and out beyond the mills to the Marsh Road。  There; on 

either side the causeway; miles and miles of cat…tails and reeds 

bent and recovered under the snatches of the wind。  Here and there 

showed glimpses of ponds or little inlets; the surface of the water 

ruffled and dark blue。  Occasionally one of these bayous swung in 

across the road。  Then the two girls could see plainly the fan…like 

cat's…paws skittering here and there as though panic…stricken by the 

swooping; invisible monster that pursued them。



Carroll and Mina Heinzman had a good tim
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