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 had disbursed in living expenses,
whether or not Orde had any private debts, and whether or not he had
private resources.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362