power and wood;
excellent transportation; iron ore--without question--in the hills;
limestone at hand; cheap labor; no local competition, and--"

"Wait a minute," struck in Wimperley hastily and pressed a bell.

"Telephone Mr. Riggs and Mr. Stoughton and see if they can come over
for a moment," he said to his secretary, then, turning to Clark,
"better wait for them."

Silence fell in the office. Both men were thinking hard. Wimperley,
beginning to be resigned, had, in a burst of revolt, visualized Riggs
and Stoughton as those most likely to help with the barricade which
Clark was already beginning to shatter, and Clark, his face as
imperturbable as ever, marveled not at all at his own influence, but
was busy reviewing the strategic moves which were to convert the two
for whom he waited. Presently they entered, shook hands with a certain
stiffness and sat down. A glance at Clark revealed the reason for
Wimperley's summons. They, too, had in former years come under the
spell.

"Now," said Wimperley briefly.

Clark recapitulated, and the three listened, their faces devoid of
expression save when their eyes involuntarily sought each other.

The voice went on vibrant and compelling. "We can turn out
seventy-five thousand tons of pulp a year at a profit of six dollars a
ton. There is an abundance of hard wood for veneer mills. I have five
hundred acres of land adjoining the power canal; it is crossed by the
Transcontinental Railway; I have been to Ottawa and am promised a bonus
of ten thousand dollars a mile for such railways as we may build. The
balance of the cost will be met by the sale of lands thus developed,
and thus the railways will not mean any permanent investment on our
part, but we will, nevertheless, own them. I am also authorized to
divert from the rapids any water I may require for power. I have been
to see the Provincial Government and am promised exclusive control of
any mineral or lumber areas applied for. The market for pulp is very
good and will shortly be better owing to the exhaustion of areas which
have been cut over too long. I have virgin country which is
practically inexhaustible. The town has transferred to me its entire
rights and holdings. I have all the fundamentals for the making of a
great industrial center. As to the money--"

"Yes," put in Riggs with a suggestion of breathlessness in his voice.

"Philadelphia has millions waiting for investment--you know it, I know
i