ed aloud, more to himself than to
Wentworth, "I wonder if John has made a slip at last?"

"That is just what he has done! And he is so cocksure of his ground
that he didn't even glance at the papers to refresh his memory--I doubt
if he has looked at them since he made the deal."

The banker eyed the younger man shrewdly. "And in case I should
interest myself in the proposition to the extent of organizing the
capital to swing the deal, what would you expect out of it?"

"A share in the business, and a salary of ten thousand a year."

"You don't want much!" exclaimed Orcutt.

"Not any more than you could well afford to give me. You don't realize
what a big thing this is--it's going to take a lot of capital to swing
it."

"About how much?"

"You'll have to get your figures on the paper mill from someone that
knows more about it than I do. The pulp-wood will cost, I imagine,
somewhere between six and ten dollars an acre. McNabb's options call
for purchase at five dollars, and he told me he could not renew at that
figure. But even at ten dollars, there is a mint in it. You will have
to pay down ten percent of the purchase price in cash."

Orcutt whistled. "Ten percent of the purchase price, at say, ten
dollars, would be half a million. Besides the cost of the mill and the
interest on four million and a half!"

"It is a big proposition," agreed Wentworth. "If it is too big for you
to handle, I can find someone who will. I have a friend in Detroit
whose father will jump at the chance. It isn't too big for McNabb."

"Who said anything about it being too big?" snapped Orcutt. "If McNabb
could find the money, I can. But, mind you, I'm not going to spend a
damned cent on the proposition until after McNabb's options have
expired and we've got our hands on the pulp-wood. Mind you; you don't
draw any advance money."

"Not a cent," agreed Wentworth. "But you'd better have the money right
on hand on the first day of July; those options expire at noon, and we
don't want any delay about getting hold of the property. And, by the
way, I want a written contract--make my share a ten percent interest in
the business."

After some demurring on the part of Orcutt, he called a stenographer
and drew a contract, which he duly signed and handed to Wentworth, who
thrust it into his pocket with the packet of papers.

"Let's see those papers of McNabb's," said Orcutt.

Wentworth smiled. "That is hardly necessary, do