"Allenwood. It's worth plotting for."
"I guess he'd find the Colonel a pretty big obstacle. Anyway, it's not our business."
"No," Harding replied with a thoughtful air. "As far as I can see at present, it's not my business.... Now we'll look up the steam-plow man."
They found the implement dealer disengaged, and spent the afternoon in his store before Harding, who insisted upon several variations in the standard design, finally ordered a steam gang-plow. The agent was struck by the aptness of many of Harding's suggestions about improvements, and he invited the men to his hotel for the evening. When they parted he frankly admitted that he had picked up some useful hints. He also surmised that Harding had learned all that was worth knowing about new machines.
The two men left Winnipeg the next day, and Devine went to report to Hester while Harding stopped at the Grange to see Lance.
The boy greeted him eagerly, and his eyes glistened with relief when Harding handed him the papers.
"I'll square it off, every dollar, as soon as I can," he said. "In fact, I feel so much about it that I can't express myself—if you'd been in my place, you would understand. I see he didn't claim all my note called for. How did you beat him down?"
"I knew the man I had to deal with," Harding smiled. "What you have to do is to keep clear of debt in future."
"I've given you my word; but I can't get out of debt to you." Lance looked at him with frank admiration. "You beat the fellow at his own game!" he exclaimed.
Harding held out his hand.