Newmark broke in quickly before Orde could speak.
“I've told Mr. Heinzman,” said he, “that we would sort and deliver the rest of his logs for two dollars a thousand.”
“That will be about it,” agreed Orde.
“But,” exploded Heinzman, “that is as much as you agreet to drive and deliffer my whole cut!”
“Precisely,” said Newmark.
“Put I haf all the eggspence of driving the logs myself. Why shoult I pay you for doing what I haf alretty paid to haf done?”
Orde chuckled.
“Heinzman,” said he, “I told you I'd make you scratch gravel. Now it's time to talk business. You thought you were boring with a mighty auger, but it's time to revise. We aren't forced to bother with your logs, and you're lucky to get out so easy. If I turn your whole drive into the river, you'll lose more than half of it outright, and it'll cost you a heap to salvage the rest. And what's more, I'll turn 'em in before you can get hold of a pile-driver. I'll sort night and day,” he bluffed, “and by to-morrow morning you won't have a stick of timber above my booms.” He laughed again. “You want to get down to business almighty sudden.”
When finally Heinzman had driven sadly away, and the whole drive, “H” logs included, was pouring into the main boom, Orde stretched his arms over his head in a luxury of satisfaction.
“That just about settles that campaign,” he said to Newmark.