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第53章

the riverman-第53章

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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 darkness; staring 

straight ahead of him into the future。  He believed he had found the 

opportunitytwenty years distantfor which he had been looking so 

long。







XXX





After a time Carroll descended the stairs; chuckling。  〃Jack;〃 she 

called into the sitting…room; 〃come out on the porch。  What do you 

suppose the young man did to…night?〃



〃Give it up;〃 replied Orde promptly。  〃No good guessing when it's a 

question of that youngster's performances。  What was it?〃



〃He said his 'Now I lay me;' and asked blessings on you and me; and 

the grandpas and grandmas; and Auntie Kate; as usual。  Then he 

stopped。  'What else?' I reminded him。  'And;' he finished with a 

rush; 'make…Bobby…a…good…boy…and…give…him…plenty…of…bread…'n…butter…

'n…apple…sauce!'〃



They laughed delightedly over this; clinging together like two 

children。  Then they stepped out on the little porch and looked into 

the fathomless night。  The sky was full of stars; aloof and calm; 

b

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