l times.

"I believe you're on the right track, and I'll help you all I can," said
he briefly.

"So, of course, I want to keep the thing dead secret," continued Orde.
"You're the only man who knows anything about it. I'm not even going
to buy directly under my own name. I'm going to incorporate myself," he
said, with a grin. "You know how those things will get out, and how they
always get back to the wrong people."

"Count on me," Taylor assured him.

As Orde walked home that evening, after a hot day, his mind was full of
speculation as to the immediate future. He had a local reputation for
wealth, and no one knew better than himself how important it is for a
man in debt to keep up appearances. Nevertheless, decided retrenchment
would be necessary. After Bobby had gone to bed, he explained this to
his wife.

"What's the matter?" she asked quickly. "Is the firm losing money?"

"No," replied Orde, "it's a matter of reinvestment." He hesitated. "It's
a dead secret, which I don't want to get out, but I'm thinking of buying
some western timber for Bobby when he grows up."

Carroll laughed softly.

"You so relieve my mind," she smiled at him. "I was afraid you'd decided
on the street-car-driver idea. Why, sweetheart, you know perfectly well
we could go back to the little house next the church and be as happy as
larks."

XXXII

In the meantime Newmark had closed his desk, picked his hat from the
nail, and marched precisely down the street to Heinzman's office. He
found the little German in. Newmark demanded a private interview, and
without preliminary plunged into the business that had brought him. He
had long since taken Heinzman's measure, as, indeed, he had taken
the measure of every other man with whom he did or was likely to do
business.

"Heinzman," said he abruptly, "my partner wants to raise seventy-five
thousand dollars for his personal use. I have agreed to get him that
money from the firm."

Heinzman sat immovable, his round eyes blinking behind his big
spectacles.

"Proceed," said he shrewdly.

"As security in case he cannot pay the notes the firm will have to give,
he has signed an agreement to turn over to me his undivided one-half
interest in our enterprises."

"Vell? You vant to borrow dot money of me?" asked Heinzman. "I could not
raise it."

"I know that perfectly well," replied Newmark coolly. "You are going to
have difficulty meeting your July notes, as it is."

Heinzman har