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第21章

the riverman-第21章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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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 view; Orde started out early the next morning; 

carrying with him the duplicate contracts on which Newmark had been 

busy。



〃Rope 'em in;〃 advised Newmark。  〃It's Saturday; and we don't want 

to let things simmer over Sunday; if we can help it。〃



About eleven o'clock a clerk of the Welton Lumber Co。 entered Mr。 

Welton's private office to deliver to Orde a note。



〃This just came by special messenger;〃 he explained。



Orde; with an apology; tore it open。  It was from Heinzman; and 

requested an immediate interview。  Orde delayed only long enough to 

get Mr。 Welton's signature; then hastened as fast as his horse could 

take him across the drawbridge to the village。



Heinzman he found awaiting him。  The little German; with his round; 

rosy cheeks; his dot of a nose; his big spectacles; and his rotund 

body; looked even more than usual like a spider or a Santa Clause

Orde could not decide which。



〃I haf been thinking of that bond;〃 he began; waving a pudgy hand 

toward a seat; 〃and I haf been talking with Proctor。〃



〃Yes;〃 said Orde hopefully。



〃I suppose you would not be prepared to gif a bond?〃



〃I hardly think so。〃



〃Vell; suppose ve fix him this way;〃 went on Heinzman; clasping his 

hands over his stomach and beaming through his spectacles。  〃 

Proctor and I haf talked it ofer; and ve are agreet that the 

probosition is a good one。  Also ve think it is vell to help the 

young fellers along。〃  He laughed silently in such a manner as to 

shake himself all over。  〃Ve do not vish to be too severe; and yet 

ve must be assured that ve get our logs on time。  Now; I unterstood 

you to say that this new concern is a stock company。〃



Orde did not remember having said so; but he nodded。



〃Vell; if you gif us a bond secured with stock in the new company; 

that would be satisfactory to us。〃



Orde's face cleared。



〃Do you mean that; Mr。 Heinzman?〃



〃Sure。  Ve must haf some security; but ve do not vish to be too hard 

on you boys。〃



〃Now; I call that a mighty good way out!〃 cried Orde。



〃Make your contract out according to these terms; then;〃 said 

Heinzman; handing him a paper; 〃and bring it in Monday。〃



Orde glanced over the slip。  It recited two and a quarter as the 

agreed price; specified the date of delivery at Heinzman and 

Proctor's booms; named twenty…five thousand dollars as the amount of 

the bond; to be secured by fifty thousand dollars' worth of stock in 

the new company。  This looked satisfactery。  Orde arose。



〃I'm much obliged to you; Mr。 Heinzman;〃 said he。  〃I'll bring it 

around Monday。〃



He had reached the gate to the grill before Heinzman called him 

back。



〃By the vay;〃 the little German beamed up at him; swinging his fat 

legs as the office…chair tipped back on its springs; 〃if it is to be 

a stock company; you vill be selling some of the stock to raise 

money; is it not so?〃



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