"Why?"
"Just figuring on the drive," said Orde, nodding a farewell.
He had the team harnessed, and, assuming his buffalo-fur coat, drove
to the offices of all the men owning timber up and down the river.
When he had collected his statistics, he returned to his desk, where
he filled the backs of several envelopes with his characteristically
minute figures. At the close of his calculations he nodded his head
vigorously several times.
"Joe," he called across to his partner, "I'm going to cut that whole
forty million we have left."
Newmark did not turn. After a moment his dry expressionless voice
came back.
"I thought that we figured that as a two-years' job."
"We did, but I'm going to clean up the whole thing this year."
"Do you think you can do it?"
"Sure thing," replied Orde. Then under his breath, and quite to
himself, he added: "I've got to!"
XXXVII
The duel had now come to grapples. Orde was fighting for his very
life. The notes given by Newmark and Orde would come due by the
beginning of the following summer. Before that time Orde must be
able to meet them personally, or, as by the agreement with Newmark,
his stock in the Boom Company would be turned in to the firm.
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