"Of course," he said, looking around him comprehensively, "this is only a day-dream, so far. It may be impossible to realize it."
"Why?" she asked, instantly concerned. "This project must be carried through! It is already as good as completed. It just must be done. I never before had a hand, even in a remote way, in planning a big thing, and I couldn't bear not to see this done. What is to prevent it?"
"I may not be able to get the land," returned Sam soberly. "It is probably owned by half a dozen people, and one or more of them is certain to want exorbitant prices for it."
"It certainly can't be very valuable," she protested. "It isn't fit for anything, is it?"
"For nothing but the building of Lake Jo," he agreed. "Right now it is worthless, but the minute anybody found out I wanted it it would become extremely valuable. The only way to do would be to see everybody at once and close the options before they could get to talking it over among themselves."
"What time is it?" she demanded.
He looked at his watch.
"Ten-thirty," he said.
"Then let's go and see all these people right away," she urged, jumping to her feet.
He smiled at her enthusiasm, but he was none loath to accept her suggestion.