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第57章

the riverman-第57章

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Heinzman sat immovable; his round eyes blinking behind his big 

spectacles。



〃Proceed;〃 said he shrewdly。



〃As security in case he cannot pay the notes the firm will have to 

give; he has signed an agreement to turn over to me his undivided 

one…half interest in our enterprises。〃



〃Vell?  You vant to borrow dot money of me?〃 asked Heinzman。  〃I 

could not raise it。〃



〃I know that perfectly well;〃 replied Newmark coolly。  〃You are 

going to have difficulty meeting your July notes; as it is。〃



Heinzman hardly seemed to breathe; but a flicker of red blazed in 

his eye。



〃Proceed;〃 he repeated non…committally; after a moment。  〃I intend;〃 

went on Newmark; 〃to furnish this money myself。  It must; however; 

seem to be loaned by another。  I want you to lend this money on 

mortgage。〃



〃What for?〃 asked



〃For a one tenth of Orde's share in case he does not meet those 

notes。〃



〃But he vill meet the notes;〃 objected Heinzman。  〃You are a 

prosperous concern。  I know somethings of YOUR business; also。〃



〃He thinks he will;〃 rejoined Newmark grimly。  〃I will merely point 

out to you that his entire income is from the firm; and that from 

this income he must save twenty…odd thousand a year。



〃If the firm has hard luck〃 said Heinzman。



〃Exactly;〃 finished Newmark。



〃Vy you come to me?〃 demanded Heinzman at length。



〃Well; I'm offering you a chance to get even with Orde。  I don't 

imagine you love him?〃



〃Vat's de matter mit my gettin' efen with you; too?〃 cried Heinzman。  

〃Ain't you beat me out at Lansing?〃



Newmark smiled coldly under his clipped moustache。



〃I'm offering you the chance of making anywhere from thirty to fifty 

thousand dollars。〃



〃Perhaps。  And suppose this liddle scheme don't work out?〃



〃And;〃 pursued Newmark calmly; 〃I'll carry you over in your present 

obligations。〃  He suddenly hit the arm of his chair with his 

clenched fist。  〃Heinzman; if you don't make those July payments; 

what's to become of you?  Where's your timber and your mills and 

your new houseand that pretty daughter of yours?〃



Heinzman winced visibly。



〃I vill get an extension of time;〃 said he feebly。



〃Will you?〃 countered Newmark。



The two men looked each other in the eye for a moment。



〃Vell; maybe;〃 laughed Heinzman uneasily。  〃It looks to me like a 

winner。〃



〃All right; then;〃 said Newmark briskly。  〃I'll make out a mortgage 

at ten per cent for you; and you'll lend the money on it。  At the 

proper time; if things happen that way; you will foreclose。  That's 

all you have to do with it。  Then; when the timber land comes to you 

under the foreclose; you will reconvey an undivided nine…tenths' 

interestfor proper consideration; of course; and without recording 

the deed。〃



Heinzman laughed with assumed lightness。



〃Suppose I fool you;〃 said he。  〃I guess I joost keep it for 

mineself。〃



Newmark looked at him coldly。



〃I wouldn't;〃 he advised。  〃You may remember the member from Lapeer 

County in that charter fight?  And the five hundred dollars for his 

vote?  Try it on; and see how much evidence I can bring up。  It's 

called bribery in this State; and means penitentiary usually。〃



〃You don't take a joke;〃 complained Heinzman。



Newmark arose。



〃It's understood; then?〃 he asked。



〃How so I know you play fair?〃 asked the German。



〃You don't。  It's a case where we have to depend more or less on 

each other。  But I don't see what you stand to loseand anyway 

you'll get carried over those July payments;〃 Newmark reminded him。



Heinzman was plainly uneasy and slightly afraid of these new waters 

in which he swam。



〃If you reduce the firm's profits; he iss going to suspect;〃 he 

admonished。



〃Who said anything about reducing the firm's profits?〃 said Newmark 

impatiently。  〃If it does work out that way; we'll win a big thing; 

if it does not; we'll lose nothing。〃



He nodded to Heinzman and left the office。  His demeanour was as dry 

and precise as ever。  No expression illuminated his impassive 

countenance。  If he felt the slightest uneasiness over having 

practically delivered his intentions to the keeping of another; he 

did not show it。  For one thing; an accomplice was absolutely 

essential。  And; too; he held the German by his strongest passions

his avarice; his dread of bankruptcy; his pride; and his fear of the 

penitentiary。  As he entered the office of his own firm; his eye 

fell on Orde's bulky form seated at the desk。  He paused 

involuntarily; and a slight shiver shook his frame from head to 

footthe dainty; instinctive repulsion of a cat for a large 

robustious dog。  Instantly controlling himself; he stepped forward。



〃I've made the loan;〃 he announced。



Orde looked up with interest。



〃The banks wouldn't touch northern peninsula;〃 said Newmark 

steadily; 〃so I had to go to private individuals。〃



〃So you said。  Don't care who deals it out;〃 laughed Orde。



〃Thayer backed out; so finally I got the whole amount from 

Heinzman;〃 Newmark announced。



〃Didn't know the old Dutchman was that well off;〃 said Orde; after a 

slight pause。



〃Can't tell about those secretive old fellows;〃 said Newmark。



Orde hesitated。



〃I didn't know he was friendly enough to lend us money。〃



〃Business is business;〃 replied Newmark。







XXXIII





There exists the legend of an eastern despot who; wishing to rid 

himself of a courtier; armed the man and shut him in a dark room。  

The victim knew he was to fight something; but whence it was to 

come; when; or of what nature he was unable to guess。  In the event; 

while groping tense for an enemy; he fell under the fatal fumes of 

noxious gases。



From the moment Orde completed the secret purchase of the California 

timber lands from Trace; he became an unwitting participant in one 

of the strangest duels known to business history。  Newmark opposed 

to him all the subtleties; all the ruses and expedients to which his 

position lent itself。  Orde; sublimely unconscious; deployed the 

magnificent resources of strength; energy; organisation; and 

combative spirit that animated his pioneer's soul。  The occult 

manoeuverings of Newmark called out fresh exertions on the part of 

Orde。



Newmark worked under this disadvantage: he had carefully to avoid 

the slightest appearance of an attitude inimical to the firm's very 

best prosperity。  A breath of suspicion would destroy his plans。  If 

the smallest untoward incident should ever bring it clearly before 

Orde that Newmark might have an interest in reducing profits; he 

could not fail to tread out the logic of the latter's devious ways。  

For this reason Newmark could not as yet fight even in the twilight。  

He did not dare make bad sales; awkward transactions。  In spite of 

his best efforts; he could not succeed; without the aid of chance; 

in striking a blow from which Orde could not recover。  The profits 

of the first year were not quite up to the usual standard; but they 

sufficed。  Newmark's finesse cut in two the firm's income of the 

second year。  Orde roused himself。  With his old…time energy of 

resource; he hurried the woods work until an especially big cut gave 

promise of recouping the losses of the year before。  Newmark found 

himself struggling against a force greater than he had imagined it 

to be。  Blinded and bound; it nevertheless made head against his 

policy。  Newmark was forced to a temporary quiescence。  He held 

himself watchful; intent; awaiting the opportunity which chance 

should bring。



Chance seemed by no means in haste。  The end of the fourth year 

found Newmark puzzled。  Orde had paid regularly the interest on his 

notes。  How much he had been able to save toward the redemption of 

the notes themselves his partner was unable to decide。  It depended 

entirely on how much the Ordes 

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