\"Worthsaving！\"snortedNewmark，whirlinginhischair。
\"Well；andtothebookkeeperwhoansweredhesaid：\"John，bringmethoseNewmarkandOrdepapers。\"
Ordeheardtheclangofthesafedoor。InamomenttheclerkreturnedandhandedtoLambertalongmanillaenvelope。Lambertopenedthisquitedeliberately，spreaditscontentsonhisknee，andassumedapairofroundspectacles。
\"Noteforseventy—fivethousanddollarswithinterestattenpercent。InterestpaidtoJanuarytenth。MortI’mashamedofyou！Whatkindofanexhibitionisthis？Goouttothekitchenandcookussomelunch！\"
Hewatchedherdepartwithahumourousquirktohisthinlips。
\"FoolIrish！\"hesaidwithaScotchman’scontempt。\"Imeanttoheadyouoffbeforeyougothome，butImissedyou。Comeinandsitdown，andI’lltellyouaboutit。\"
\"You’requitesureMrs。Ordeiswell？\"insistedOrde。
\"Absolutely。Neverbetter。Aswella。\"Why，IthoughtIrememberedseeinghimupriveronlytheotherday。\"
\"No；hisdaughter。\"
\"Mina？\"
\"Yes。Lordknowswhereshegotit。Butgetitshedid。Mrs。Ordehappenedtobewithherwhenshewastakenwiththefeveranddistressingsymptomsthatbeginthedisease。Asaneighbourlydeedsheremainedwiththegirl。Ofcoursenoonecouldtellitwassmallpoxatthattime。Nextday，however，thecharacteristicrashappearedonthethighsandarmpits，andIdiagnosedthecase。\"Dr。
McMullenlaughedalittlebitterly。\"Lord，yououghttohaveseenthemrun！Servants，neighbours，friends——theyallskedaddled，andyoucoudn’thavedriventhembackwithasteam—roller！I
telegraphedtoReddingforanurse。UntilshecameMrs。Ordestayedby，likeabrick。Don’tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithouther。
Therewasnobodytodoanythingatall。AssoonasthenursecameMrs。Ordegaveupherpost。Itellyou，\"criedDoctorMcMullenwithasnearanapproachtoenthusiasmasheeverpermittedhimself，\"there’sasensiblewoman！Noneofyourstory—booktwaddleaboutnursingthroughtheillness，andallthat。Whenherusefulnesswasended，sheknewenoughtostepasidegracefully。Therewasnotmuchdangerasfarasshewasconcerned。Ihadvaccinatedhermyself，youknow，lastyear。ButsheMIGHTtakethecontagionandshewantedtosparetheyoungster。Quiteright。SoIofferedherquarterswithusforacoupleofweeks。\"
\"Howlongagowasthis？\"askedOrde，whohadlistenedwithawarmglowofpridetothedoctor’ssuccinctstatement。
\"Sevendays。\"
\"HowisMinagettingon？\"
\"She’llgetwell。Itwasamildcase。Feverneverseriousaftertheeruptionappeared。IsupposeI’llhaveoldHeinzmanonmyhands，though。\"
\"Why；hashetakenit？\"
\"No；buthewill。EmotionaloldGermanfool。Rushedrightinwhenheheardhisdaughterwassick。Couldn’tkeephimout。Andhe’sbeenwithherornearhereversince。\"
\"Thenyouthinkhe’sinforit？\"
\"Suretohe，\"repliedDr。McMullen。\"Unlessamanhasbeenvaccinated，continuousexposuremeansinfectioninthegreatmajorityofcases。\"
\"Hardluck，\"saidOrdethoughtfully。\"I’mgoingtostepuptoyourhouseandseeMrs。Orde。\"
\"Youcantelephoneher，\"saidthedoctor。\"Andyoucanseeherifyouwantto。OnlyinthatcaseIshouldadviseyourremainingawayfromBobbyuntilweseehowthingsturnout。\"
\"Isee，\"saidOrde。\"Well，\"heconcludedwithasigh，afteramoment’sthought，\"IsupposeI’dbetterstaybytheship。\"
HecalledupDr。McMullen’shouseonthetelephone。
\"Oh，it’sgoodtohearyourvoiceagain，\"criedCarroll，\"evenifI
can’tseeyou！YoumustpromisemerightafterlunchtowalkuppastthehousesoIcanseeyou。I’llwaveatyoufromthewindow。\"
\"You’readear，bravegirl，andI’mproudofyou，\"saidOrde。
\"Nonsense！Therewasnodangeratall。I’dbeenvaccinatedrecently。AndsomebodyhadtotakecareofpoorMinauntilwecouldgethelp。How’sBobby？\"
XLIV
AfterlunchOrdewentdowntowntohisofficewhereforsometimehesatidlylookingoverthemail。Aboutthreeo’clockNewmarkcamein。
\"Hullo，Joe，\"saidOrdewithaslightconstraint，\"sorrytohearyou’vebeenundertheweather。Youdon’tlookverysicknow。\"
\"I’mbetter，\"repliedNewmark，briefly；\"thisismyfirstappearance。\"
\"Toobadyougotsickjustatthattime，\"saidOrde；\"weneededyou。\"
\"SoIhear。YoumayrestassuredI’dhavebeenthereifpossible。\"
\"Surething，\"saidOrde，heartily，hisslightresentmentdissipating，asalways，inthepresenceofanother’spersonality。
\"Well，wehadalivelytime，youbet，allright；andgotthroughaboutbytheskinofourteeth。\"HearoseandwalkedovertoNewmark’sdesk，ontheedgeofwhichheperched。\"It’scostusconsiderable；andit’sgoingtocostusalotmore，I’llhavetogetanextensiononthosenotes。\"
\"What’sthat？\"askedNewmark，quickly。
Ordepickedupapaperknifeandturneditslowlybetweenhisfingers。
\"Idon’tbelieveI’llbeabletomeetthosenotes。Somanythingshavehappened——\"
\"But，\"brokeinNewmark，\"thefirmcertainlycannotdoso。I’vebeenrelyingonyourassuranceell，keepyourhairon，\"saidOrde，onwhomNewmark’smannerwasbeginningtohaveitseffect，asNewmarkintendeditshould。\"YouhavemyBoomCompanystockassecurity。\"
\"PrettysecurityforthelossofatractliketheUpperPeninsulatimber！\"
\"Well，it’sthesecurityyouaskedfor，andsuggested，\"saidOrde。
\"Ithoughtyou’dsurelybeabletopayit，\"retortedNewmark，nowsecureinthepositionhedesiredtotake，thatofputtingOrdeentirelyinthewrong。
\"Well，Iexpectedtopayit；andI’llpayityet，\"rejoinedOrde。
\"Idon’tthinkHeinzmanwillstandinhisownlightratherthanrenewthenotes。\"
Heseizedhishatanddeparted。Onceinthestreet，however，hisirritationpassed。Aswasthehabitoftheman，hebeganmoreclearlytoseeNewmark’sside，andsomoreemphaticallytoblamehimself。Afterall，whenhegotrightdowntotheessentials，hecouldnotbutacknowledgethatNewmark’sangerwasjustified。Forhisownprivateendshehadjeopardisedthefirm’sproperty。MoreofabusinessmanmighthavereflectedthatNewmark，asfinancialhead，shouldhaveprotectedthefirmagainstallcontingencies；
shouldhaveseentoitthatitmetHeinzman’snotes，insteadoftyingupitsresourcesinunnecessaryways。Orde’sowndelinquencybulkedtoolargeinhiseyestoadmithisperceptionofthis。BythetimehehadreachedHeinzman’soffice，thelastofhisirritationhadvanished。OnlyherealisedclearlynowthatitwouldhardlydotoaskNewmarkforarenewalofthepersonalnoteonwhichdependedhisretentionofhisBoomCompanystockunlesshecouldrenewtheHeinzmannotealso。ThisisprobablywhatNewmarkintended。
\"Mr。Heinzman？\"heaskedagedeedoncertainlandsdescribedherein。\"
\"That’sit，\"saidOrde。
Lambertlookedupoverhisspectacles。
\"Iwanttorenewthenoteforanotheryear，\"Ordeexplained。
\"Can’tdoit，\"repliedLbrieflyofthefirstclerk。
\"Mr。Heinzmanisathomeill，\"repliedthebookkeeper。
\"Already？\"saidOrde。Hedrummedontheblackwalnutrailthoughtfully。Thenotescamedueintendays。\"Howbadishe？
Theclerklookedupcuriously。\"Can’tsay。Probablywon’tbebackforalongtime。It’ssmallpox，youknow。\"
\"True，\"saidOrde。\"Well，who’sincharge？\"
\"Mr。Lambert。You’llfindhimintheprivateoffice。\"
Ordepassedthroughthegrillintotheinnerroom。
\"Hullo，Lambert，\"headdressedtheindividualseatedatHeinzman’sdesk。\"Soyou’retheboss，eh？\"
Lambertturned，showingaperfectlyroundface，ornamentedbyadotofanose，twodotsofeyessetratherclosetogether，andapursedupmouth。Hisskinwasverybrownandshiny，andwassofilledbythefleshbeneathastotaketheappearanceofhavingbeeninflated。
\"Yes，I’mtheboss，\"saidhenon—committally。
Ordedroppedintoachair。
\"Heinzmanholdssomenotesdueagainstourpeopleintendays，\"saidhe。\"Icameintoseeabouttheirrenewal。Canyouattendtoit？\"
\"Yes，Icanattendtoit，\"repliedLambert。Hestruckabgambert，removingandfoldingtheglasses。
\"Whynot？\"
\"Mr。Heinzmangavemeespecialinstructionsinregardtothismatterjustbeforehisdaughterwastakensick。Hetoldmeifyoucamewhenhewasnothere——heintendedtogotoChicagoyesterday——totellyouhewouldnotrenew。\"
\"Whynot？\"askedOrdeblankly。
\"Idon’tknowthat。\"
\"ButI’llgivehimtwelvepercentforanotheryear。\"
\"Hesaidnottorenew，evenifyouofferedhigherinterest。\"
\"Doyouhappentoknowwhetherheintendsanythinginregardtothismortgage？\"
\"Heinstructedmetobeginsuitinforeclosureimmediately。\"
\"Idon’tunderstandthis，\"saidOrde。
Lambertshookhisheadblandly。Ordethoughtforamoment。
\"Where’syourtelephone？\"hedemandedabruptly。
HetriedinvaintogetHeinzmanathishouse。Finallythetelephonegirlinformedhimthatalthoughmessageshadcomefromthestrickenhousehold，shehadbeenunabletogetananswertoanyofhernumerouscalls，andsuspectedthebellhadbeenremoved。
FinallyOrdelefttheofficeatalosshowtoproceednext。
Lambert，secretlyoverjoyedatthisopportunityofexercisinganunaccustomedandowyou’dbettergethomewhereyoucanbetakencareof。You’resick。\"
\"No，no，myfriend，\"saidHeinzman，vigourouslyshakinghis’autocraticpower，refusedtoseebeyondhisinstructions。Heinzman’sattitudepuzzledOrde。AforeclosurecouldgainHeinzmannoadvantageofimmediatecash。OrdewasforcedtotheconclusionthattheGermansawhereagoodopportunitytoacquirecheapavaluableproperty。Inthatcaseapersonalappealwouldavaillittle。
Ordetrampedouttotheendofthepierandback，mullingoverthetangledproblem。Hewaspressedonallsides——bythefatigueafterhistremendousexertionsofthepasttwoweeks；byhisnaturaluneasinessinregardtoCarroll；andfinallybythisnewcomplicationwhichthreatenedtheverybasisofhisprosperity。
Neverthelessthenaturaloptimismofthemanfinallywonitsascendency。
\"There’stheyearofredemptiononthatmortgage，\"heremindedhimself。\"Wemaybeabletodosomethinginthattime。Idon’tknowjustwhat，\"headdedwhimsically，withalaughathimself。Hebecamegrave。\"PoorJoe，\"hesaid，\"thisisprettytoughonhim。
I’llhavetomakeituptohimsomehow。IcanlethiminonthatCaliforniadeal，whenthetitlesarestraightenedout。\"
XLV
Ordedidnotreturntotheoffice；hefeltunwillingtofaceNewmarkuntilhehadalittlemorethoroughlydigestedthesituation。Hespenttherestoftheafternoonabouttheplace，pickingupthetoolhouse，playingwithBobby，trainingDuke，theblackandwhitesetterdog。ThreeorfourtimeshecalledupCarrollbytelephone；andthreeorfourtimeshepassedDr。McMullen’shousetoshouthishalfofalong—distanceandfragmentaryconversationwithher。HeatesolemnlywithBobbyatsixo’clock，thetwoquitesubduedoverthevacantchairattheotherendofthetable。AfterdinnertheysatontheporchuntilBobby’sbed—time。Ordeputhissmallsontobed，andsattalkingwiththeyoungsteraslongashisconsciencewouldpermit。Thenheretiredtothelibrary，where，foralongtime，hesatintwilightandloneliness。Finally，whenhecouldnolongerdistinguishobjectsacrosstheroom，hearosewithasigh，litthelamp，andsettledhimselftoread。
Thelastofthetwilightdrainedfromtheworld，andthewindowpanesturnedaburnishedblack。Throughthehalf—opensashessuckedawarmlittlebreeze，swayingthelonglacecurtainsbackandforth。
Thehumoflawn—sprinklersandthechirpingofcricketsandtree—
frogscamewithit。
Onebyonethelawn—sprinklersfellsilent。Graduallytheredescendedupontheworldthedeepslumbrousstillnessoflatenight；
astillnesscompoundedofathousandandonemysteriouslittlenoisesrepeatedmonotonouslyoverandoveruntiltheiridentitywaslostinaccustomedness。Occasionallythecreakoftimbersorthesharpscurryingofamouseinthewallservedmoretoaccentuatethantobreakthisnightsilence。
OrdesatlostinreverVyyoudodottothepeoplesdotsafeyourMina？’
Andvenshelookatme，hereyessayit；andinthenighteverythingcryoutatme；andIgetsick，andIcan’tstanditnolonger，andI
don’tcareifhesendmetoprisonortohell，nomore。\"
Hisexcitementdied。Hesatlistless，hiseyesvacant，hishandsbetweenhisknees。
ie，hisbookinhislap。Atstatedintervalsthestudentlampathiselbowflaredslightly，thenburnedclearagainafteraswallowofsatisfactioninitsreservoir。Theseregularreplenishmentsoftheoilsupplyalonemarkedtheflightoftime。
SuddenlyOrdeleanedforward，hissensesatthekeenestattention。
Afteramomenthearoseandquietlywalkedtowardtheopenwindow。
Justashereachedthecasementandlookedout，amanlookedin。
Thetwostaredateachothernottwofeetapart。
\"GoodLord！Heinzman！\"criedOrdeinaguardedvoice。Hesteppeddecisivelythroughthewindow，seizedtheGermanbythearm，anddrewhimoneside。
\"Whatareyoudoinghere？\"hedemanded。
Heinzmanwastremblingviolentlyasthoughfromachill。
\"Dakemesomewheres，\"hewhisperedhoarsely。\"Somewheresquick。I
hafbrokequarantine，anddeyvillbeafterme。\"
\"Theplaceforyouisatyourownhouse，\"saidOrde，hisangerrising。\"Whatdoyoumeanbycominghereandexposingmyhousetoinfection？\"
Heinzmanbegantoblubber；choked，shiveredallover，andcriedaloudwithanexpressionofthegreatestagony：
\"Youmustdakemesomewheres。Imusttalkwithyouandyourgootwife。Ihafsomedingstosaytoyou。\"HeinhisturngraspedOrdebythearm。\"Ihafbrokequarantinetogomeandtellyou。DeyarederemitshotgunstokillmeifIbrokequarantine。AndIhafleftmydaughter，mydaughterMina，allalonemitdosepeopletocomeandtellyou。Andnowyoudon’tlisten。\"
Hewrunghishandsdramatically，hissoftpudgybodyshaking。
\"Comewithme，\"saidOrdebriefly。
Heledthewayaroundthehousetothetoolshed。Herehelitalantern，thrustforwardonenailkeg，andsatdownonanother。
Heinzmansatdownonthenailkeg，almostimmediatelyarose，walkedupanddowntwoorthreetimes，andresumedhisseat。
Ordelookedathimcuriously。Hewashalfdressed，withoutacollar，histhinhairunkempt。Theusualbrightcolourofhischeekshadbecomelivid，andtheflesh，ordinarilyfirmandelastic，hadfalleninfoldsandwrinkles。Hiseyesburnedbrightasthoughfromsomeinternalfire。Agreatrestlessnesspossessedhim。
ImpulsivelyOrdeleanedforwardtotouchhishand。Itwasdryandhot。
\"Whatisit，Heinzman？\"heaskedquietly，fullypreparedforthevagariesofahalfdelirium。
\"Ach，Orde！\"criedtheGerman，\"IamtorturedmitHOLLENQUALLE——whatyoucall？——hell’sfire。You，whosewifecomesinandsavesmyMinawhentheothersrunsaway。You，mybestfriends！ItisSCHRECKLICH！Shevasthenoblest，thebest，themostkindest——\"
\"IfyoumeanMrs。Orde’sstayingwithMina，\"brokeinOrde，\"itwasonlywhatanyoneshouldhavedone，inhumanity；andI，forone，amonlytoogladshehadthechance。Youmustn’texaggerate。Andnhead。
\"Shemighttakethedisease。Shemightdie。Itvasnoble。\"Heshuddered。\"MyMinalefttodieallalone！\"
Orderosetohisfeetwithdecision。
\"Thatisallright，\"saidhe。\"Carrollwasgladofthechance。Nowletmegetyouhome。\"
ButHeinzman’sexcitementhadsuddenlydied。
\"No，\"saidhe，extendinghistremblinghand；\"sitdown。Iwanttotalkbusiness。\"
\"Youareinnoconditiontotalkbusiness，\"saidOrde。
\"No！\"criedHeinzmanwithunexpectedvigour。\"Sitdown！Listentome！Dot’sbetter。Ihafyournoteforsefenty—fivet’ousanddollars。No？\"
Ordenodded。
\"DotmoneyIneverlentyou。NO！I’mnotcrazy。Sitstill！I
knowmynameisondotnote。Butthemoneycamefromsomewhereselse。Itcamefromyourpartner，JosephNewmark。\"
Ordehalfrosefromhiskeg。
\"Why？What？\"heaskedinbewilderment。
\"Denvenyoucouldnotpaythenote，IvastoforecloseandhandoverdotNorthernPeninsulalandtoJosephNewmark，yourpartner。\"
\"Impossible！\"criedOrde。
\"Ivastogetashare。Itvasatrick。\"
\"Goon，\"saidOrdegrimly。
\"Dereisnogoon。Dotisall。\"
\"Whydoyoucometotellmenow？\"
\"BecauseformorethanoneyearnowIsaytomineself，’CarlHeinzman，youvasonedirtyscoundrel。Youvasdishonest；asneak；
athief’；Idon’tliketocallmyselfnameslikedose。Itissallrighdttobesmart；buttobeathief！\"
\"Whydidn’tyoupullout？\"askedOrde。
\"Icouldn’t！\"criedHeinzmanpiteously。\"HowcouldI？Hehafmecold。IpaidStanfordfivehundreddollarsforhisvoteonthecharter；andJosephNewmark，heknowdot；hecanPROVEit。HetellmeifIdon’tdowhathesay，heputmeinjail。Thinkofdot！Allmyfriendsgobackonme；allmymoneygone；maybemydaughterMinagobackonme，too。HowcouldI？\"
\"Well，hecanstillputyouinprison，\"saidOrde。
\"VotIcare？\"criedHeinzman，throwingupbothhisarms。\"Youandyourwifearemyfriends。ShesavemyMina。DULIEBERGOTT！Ifmydaughterhaddied，votgoodissfriendsandmoney？Votgoodissanything？Idon’tvanttolive！AndvenIsitderebyheralwayssomethingaskme：
\"Vell，Igo，\"hesaidatlast。
\"Haveyouthatnote？\"askedOrde。
\"JosephNewmark，hekeepsitmosttimes，\"repliedHeinzman，\"butnowitisatmyofficefortheforeclosure。Ivillnotforeclose；hecansendmetothepenitentiary。\"
\"TelephoneLambertinthemorningtogiveittome。No；here。
Writeanorderinthisnotebook。\"
Heinzmanwrotetherequiredorder。
\"Igo，\"saidhe，suddenlyweary。
Ordeaccompaniedhimdownthestreet。TheGermanwasagainlight—
headedwiththefever，mumblingabouthisdaughter，thenotes，Carroll，thevoicesthathaddrivenhimtorighteousness。BysomemanoeuvringOrdesucceededinslippinghimthroughtheimprovisedquarantinewithoutdiscovery。Thentherivermanwithslowandthoughtfulstepsreturnedtowherethelampinthestudystillmarkedoffwiththespacedreplenishmentsfromitsoilreservoirtheearlymorninghours。
XLVI
MorningfoundOrdestillseatedinthelibrarychair。Hisheadwassunkforwardonhischest；hishandswereextendedlistless，palmsup，alongthearmsofthechair；hiseyeswerevacantandtroubled。
Hardlyonceinthelonghourshadheshiftedbyahair’sbreadthhisposition。Hisbodywassuspendedinanabsoluteinactionwhilehisspiritbatteredatthewallsofanimpasse。For，strangelyenough，Ordedidnotonce，evenforasingleinstant，giveathoughttothebusinessaspectsofthesituation——whatitmeanttohimandhisprospectsorwhathecoulddoaboutit。Hurttothesoulhestaredatthewreckofafriendship。Nothingwillmoredeeplysickentheheartofanaturallyloyalmanthantodiscoverbaselesshisfaithinsomeonehehasthoroughlytrusted。
OrdehadlikedNewmark。Hehadadmiredheartilyhisclearnessofvision，hisfinancialskill，hisknowledgeofbusinessintricacies，hisimperturbablecoolness，alltheabilitiesthathadbroughthimtosuccess。WithamanofOrde’stemperament，toadmireistolike；
andtolikeistoinvestwithallgoodqualities。Hehadconstructedhisidealofafriend，withNewmarkasabasis；andnowthatthis，whichhadseemedtohimassolidarealityasabrickblock，haddissolvedintonothing，hefoundhimselfinthenecessityofrefashioninghiswholeworld。HewasnotangryatNewmark。Buthewasgrieveddowntothedepthsofhisbeing。
Whenthefullsunshoneintothelibrary，hearousedhimselftochangehisclothes。Then，carryingthosehehadjustdiscarded，heslippedoutofthehouseanddownthestreet。Duke，theblackandwhitesetterdog，beggedtofollowhim。Ordewelcomedtheanimal’scompany。HepausedonlylongenoughtotelephonefromtheofficetellingCarrollhewouldbeoutoftownallday。Thenhesetoutatalongswinginggaitoverthehills。Bythetimethesungrewhot，hewassomemilesfromthevillageandinthehighbeechwoods。
Therehesatdown，hisbacktoamonstertree。Alldaylonghegazedsteadilyontheshiftingshadowsandsplotchesofsunlight；onthepatchesofbluesky，thedazzlingwhitecloudsthatsailedacrossthem；onthewaving，whisperingfrondthatover—archedhim，andthedeepcoolshadowsbeneath。Thewoodscreaturessoonbecameaccustomedtohispresence。SquirrelsoftheseveralvarietiesthataboundedintheMichiganforestsscamperedmadlyaftereachotherinspiralsaroundthetreetrunks，orboundedacrossthegroundinlongundulatingleaps。Birdsflashedandcalledanddisappearedmysteriously。Achewink，braveinhisblackandwhiteandtanuniform，scratchedmightilywithgreattwo—footedswoopsthatthrewthevegetablemouldoverOrde’sveryfeet。Blazonedbutterflies——
theyellowandblackturnus，thedarktroilus，theshade—lovingnymphalis——flickeredinandoutofthepatchesofsunlight。Ordepaidthemnoattention。Thenoonheatpoureddownthroughtheforestisleslikeanincense。Overheadswungthesun，anddowntheslopeuntilthelongshaftsofitslightliftedwand—likeacrossthetreetrunks。
AtthishintofeveningOrdeshookhimselfandarose。Hewaslittlenearerthereadjustmenthesoughtthanhehadbeenthepreviousnight。
Hereachedhomealittlebeforesixo’clock。TohissurprisehefoundTaylorawaitinghim。Thelawyerhadwrittennothingastohisreturn。
\"Ihadthingsprettywellinshape，\"hesaid，afterthefirstgreetingshadbeenexchanged，\"anditwoulddonogoodtostayawayanylonger。\"
\"Thenthetroubleisover？\"askedOrde。
\"Iwouldn’tsaythat，\"repliedTaylor；\"butyoucanresteasyastothetitletoyourlands。Theinvestigationhadnorealbasistoit。
Theremayhavebeensomesmallindividualcasesoffalseentry；butnothingonwhichtogrounda？？？？attack。\"
\"WhencanIborrowonit？\"
\"Notforayearortwo，Ishouldsay。There’sanawfullotofred—
tapetounwind，astherealwaysisinsuchcases。\"
\"Oh，\"saidOrdeinsomedisappointment。
Taylorhesitated，removedhiseye—glasses，wipedthemcarefully，andreplacedthem。HeglancedatOrdesidelongthroughhiskeen，shrewdeyes。
\"Ihavesomethingmoretotellyou；somethingthatwillbepainful，\"
saidhe。
Ordelookedupquickly。
\"Well；whatisit？\"heasked。
\"Thegeneralcussednessofallthisinvestigationbusinesshadmepuzzled，untilatlastImadeupmymindtodoalittleinvestigatingonmyownaccount。Italllookedfoolishtome。
Somebodyorsomethingmustbebackofallthisperformance。IwasatitallthetimeIwasWest，betweentimesonregularbusiness，ofcourse。Ididn’tmakemuchoutofmydirectefforts——theycoverthingsupwellinthosematters——butatlastIgotonacluebysheeraccident。Therewasonemanbehindallthis。Hewas——\"
\"JoeNewmark，\"saidOrdequietly。
\"Howdidyouknowthat？\"criedTaylorinastonishment。
\"Ididn’tknow，Frank；Ijustguessed。\"
\"Well，youmadeagoodguess。ItwasNewmark。He’dtiedupthelandinthistrumped—upinvestigationsoyoucouldnotborrowonit。\"
\"HowdidhefindoutIownedanyland？\"askedOrde。
\"ThatIcouldn’ttellyou。Musthavebeenaleaksomewhere。\"
\"Quitelikely，\"saidOrdecalmly。
Taylorlookedathisprincipalinsomewonder。
\"Well，Imustsayyoutakeitcoollyenough，\"saidheatlast。
Ordesmiled。