the riverman-第74章
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Orde picked up a paper knife and turned it slowly between his
fingers。
〃I don't believe I'll be able to meet those notes。 So many things
have happened〃
〃But;〃 broke in Newmark; 〃the firm certainly cannot do so。 I've
been relying on your assurance ell; keep your hair on;〃 said Orde; on whom
Newmark's manner was
beginning to have its effect; as Newmark intended it should。 〃You
have my Boom Company stock as security。〃
〃Pretty security for the loss of a tract like the Upper Peninsula
timber!〃
〃Well; it's the security you asked for; and suggested;〃 said Orde。
〃I thought you'd surely be able to pay it;〃 retorted Newmark; now
secure in the position he desired to take; that of putting Orde
entirely in the wrong。
〃Well; I expected to pay it; and I'll pay it yet;〃 rejoined Orde。
〃I don't think Heinzman will stand in his own light rather than
renew the notes。〃
He seized his hat and departed。 Once in the street; however; his
irritation passed。 As was the habit of the man; he began more
clearly to see Newmark's side; and so more emphatically to blame
himself。 After all; when he got right down to the essentials; he
could not but acknowledge that Newmark's anger was justified。 For
his own private ends he had jeopardised the firm's property。 More
of a business man might have reflected that Newmark; as financial
head; should have protected the firm against all contingencies;
should have seen to it that it met Heinzman's notes; instead of
tying up its resources in unnecessary ways。 Orde's own delinquency
bulked too large in his eyes to admit his perception of this。 By
the time he had reached Heinzman's office; the last of his
irritation had vanished。 Only he realised clearly now that it would
hardly do to ask Newmark for a renewal of the personal note on which
depended his retention of his Boom Company stock unless he could
renew the Heinzman note also。 This is probably what Newmark
intended。
〃Mr。 Heinzman?〃 he askedage deed on certain
lands described herein。〃
〃That's it;〃 said Orde。
Lambert looked up over his spectacles。
〃I want to renew the note for another year;〃 Orde explained。
〃Can't do it;〃 replied L briefly of the first clerk。
〃Mr。 Heinzman is at home ill;〃 replied the bookkeeper。
〃Already?〃 said Orde。 He drummed on the black walnut rail
thoughtfully。 The notes came due in ten days。 〃How bad is he?
The clerk looked up curiously。 〃Can't say。 Probably won't be back
for a long time。 It's smallpox; you know。〃
〃True;〃 said Orde。 〃Well; who's in charge?〃
〃Mr。 Lambert。 You'll find him in the private office。〃
Orde passed through the grill into the inner room。
〃Hullo; Lambert;〃 he addressed the individual seated at Heinzman's
desk。 〃So you're the boss; eh?〃
Lambert turned; showing a perfectly round face; ornamented by a dot
of a nose; two dots of eyes set rather close together; and a pursed
up mouth。 His skin was very brown and shiny; and was so filled by
the flesh beneath as to take the appearance of having been inflated。
〃Yes; I'm the boss;〃 said he non…committally。
Orde dropped into a chair。
〃Heinzman holds some notes due against our people in ten days;〃 said
he。 〃I came in to see about their renewal。 Can you attend to it?〃
〃Yes; I can attend to it;〃 replied Lambert。 He struck a bgambert; removing and
folding the glasses。
〃Why not?〃
〃Mr。 Heinzman gave me especial instructions in regard to this matter
just before his daughter was taken sick。 He told me if you came
when he was not herehe intended to go to Chicago yesterdayto
tell you he would not renew。〃
〃Why not?〃 asked Orde blankly。
〃I don't know that。〃
〃But I'll give him twelve per cent for another year。〃
〃He said not to renew; even if you offered higher interest。〃
〃Do you happen to know whether he intends anything in regard to this
mortgage?〃
〃He instructed me to begin suit in foreclosure immediately。〃
〃I don't understand this;〃 said Orde。
Lambert shook his head blandly。 Orde thought for a moment。
〃Where's your telephone?〃 he demanded abruptly。
He tried in vain to get Heinzman at his house。 Finally the
telephone girl informed him that although messages had come from the
stricken household; she had been unable to get an answer to any of
her numerous calls; and suspected the bell had been removed。
Finally Orde left the office at a loss how to proceed next。
Lambert; secretly overjoyed at this opportunity of exercising an
unaccustomed andow
you'd better get home where you can be taken care of。 You're sick。〃
〃No; no; my friend;〃 said Heinzman; vigourously shaking his ' autocratic power;
refused to see beyond his
instructions。 Heinzman's attitude puzzled Orde。 A foreclosure
could gain Heinzman no advantage of immediate cash。 Orde was forced
to the conclusion that the German saw here a good opportunity to
acquire cheap a valuable property。 In that case a personal appeal
would avail little。
Orde tramped out to the end of the pier and back; mulling over the
tangled problem。 He was pressed on all sidesby the fatigue after
his tremendous exertions of the past two weeks; by his natural
uneasiness in regard to Carroll; and finally by this new
complication which threatened the very basis of his prosperity。
Nevertheless the natural optimism of the man finally won its
ascendency。
〃There's the year of redemption on that mortgage;〃 he reminded
himself。 〃We may be able to do something in that time。 I don't
know just what;〃 he added whimsically; with a laugh at himself。 He
became grave。 〃Poor Joe;〃 he said; 〃this is pretty tough on him。
I'll have to make it up to him somehow。 I can let him in on that
California deal; when the titles are straightened out。〃
XLV
Orde did not return to the office; he felt unwilling to face Newmark
until he had a little more thoroughly digested the situation。 He
spent the rest of the afternoon about the place; picking up the tool
house; playing with Bobby; training Duke; the black and white setter
dog。 Three or four times he called up Carroll by telephone; and
three or four times he passed Dr。 McMullen's house to shout his half
of a long…distance and fragmentary conversation with her。 He ate
solemnly with Bobby at six o'clock; the two quite subdued over the
vacant chair at the other end of the table。 After dinner they sat
on the porch until Bobby's bed…time。 Orde put his small son to bed;
and sat talking with the youngster as long as his conscience would
permit。 Then he retired to the library; where; for a long time; he
sat in twilight and loneliness。 Finally; when he could no longer
distinguish objects across the room; he arose with a sigh; lit the
lamp; and settled himself to read。
The last of the twilight drained from the world; and the window
panes turned a burnished black。 Through the half…open sashes sucked
a warm little breeze; swaying the long lace curtains back and forth。
The hum of lawn…sprinklers and the chirping of crickets and tree…
frogs came with it。
One by one the lawn…sprinklers fell silent。 Gradually there
descended upon the world the deep slumbrous stillness of late night;
a stillness compounded of a thousand and one mysterious little
noises repeated monotonously over and over until their identity was
lost in accustomedness。 Occasionally the creak of timbers or the
sharp scurrying of a mouse in the wall served more to accentuate
than to break this night silence。
Orde sat lost in reverVy you do dot to the peoples dot safe your Mina?'
And ven she look at me; her eyes say it; and in the night everything
cry out at me; and I get sick; and I can't stand it no longer; and I
don't care if he send me to prison or to hell; no more。〃
His excitemen