ng that," suggested Mr. Westlake placidly, looking out over the
brook, "why couldn't we organize a sort of tentative company? Why
couldn't we at least canvass ourselves and see how much of Mr. Turner's
stock we would take up among us?"

"That is," put in Mr. Cuthbert, screwing the remark out of himself
sidewise, "provided the terms of incorporation and promotion were
satisfactory to us."

"I have already drawn up a sort of preliminary proposition, after
consultation with our friends here," Mr. Blackrock now stated, "and
purely as a tentative matter it might be read."

"Go right ahead," directed Sam. "I'm a good listener."

Mr. Blackrock slowly and ponderously read the proposed plan of
incorporation. Sam rose and looked at his watch.

"It won't do," he announced sharply. "That whole thing, in accordance
with the figures you submitted me last night, is framed up for the sole
purpose of preventing my ever securing control, and if I do not have a
chance, at least, at control, I won't play."

"You seem to be very sure of that," said Mr. Princeman, surveying him
coldly; "but there is another thing equally sure, and that is that you
can not engage capital in as big an enterprise as this on any basis
which will separate the control and the money."

"I'm going to try it, though," retorted Sam. "If I can't separate the
control and the money I suppose I'll have to put up with the best terms
I can get. If you will let me have that prospectus of yours, Mr.
Blackrock, I'll take it up to my room and study it, and draw up a
counter prospectus of my own."

"With pleasure," said Mr. Blackrock, handing it over courteously, and
Mr. Turner rose.

"I'll say this much, Sam," stated Mr. Westlake, who seemed to have
grown more friendly as Mr. Princeman grew cooler; "if you can get a
proposition upon which we are all agreed, I'll take fifty thousand of
that stock myself, at fifty."

"As a matter of fact, Mr. Turner," added Mr. Cuthbert, "including your
friend Creamer, who insists upon being in, I imagine that we can
finance your entire company right in this crowd--if the terms are
right."

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure, I'm sure," said Mr. Turner,
and bowed himself away.

In place of going to his room, however, he went to the telegraph
office, and wired his brother in New York:

"How are you coming on with pulp company stock subscription?"

The telegraph office was in one corner of the post-office, which was