"You're--you're _crazy_," said McKettrick. It was an exclamation of disgust, a statement of belief, and a cry of pain. "I might go a quarter of a million." "This here's a one-price store--marked plain on the goods. Customers is requested not to haggle." "You're not serious?" "One million dollars." "I'll build a road down my side of the river." "Maybe. Can be done. Twelve mile of tunnel and the rest trestle. Wouldn't cost more 'n fifteen, twenty million--if you're figgerin' on the west side of the stream.... How you figgerin' on gettin' your pulp wood down to Tupper Falls?" "What?... What's that?" "Goin' to log, yourself, or job it?" "Look here, Baines, what do you know?" "About what's needful. I try to keep posted." "Tell me what you know. I insist." Scattergood opened his eyes and peered over his dumpling cheeks at McKettrick, but said nothing. "And how you found it out." "I've been figgerin' over your case," said Scattergood. "I'll give you a sidetrack into your yards pervidin' you pay the cost of bridgin' and layin' the track, me to furnish ties and rails. _Also_, I'll give you a commodity rate of seven cents to the G. and B. As to sellin', I don't calc'late you want to buy at a million. But that hain't no sign you and me can't do business. You got to log by rail. You got to cut consid'able number of cords of pulpwood. I'll build your loggin' road, and I'll contract to cut your pulp and deliver it.... Want to go into it with me?" McKettrick peered at Scattergood with awakened interest. His scrutiny told him nothing. "What backing have you?" "My own." McKettrick almost sneered. "Been lookin' me up?" asked Scattergood. "No." "Let's step to the bank." McKettrick followed Scattergood's bulky figure-wondering. In the bank Scattergood presented the treasurer. "Mr. Noble, meet Mr. McKettrick. He wants you should tell him somethin' about me. For instance, Noble, about how fur you calculate my credit could be stretched." "Mr. Baines would have no difficulty borrowing from five hundred thousand to three quarters of a million," said Noble. "How's his reppitation for keepin' his word?" said Scattergood. "The whole state knows your word is kept to the letter." "What you calculate I'm wuth--visible prop'ty?" "I'd say a million and a half to two millions." "Backin' enough to suit you, Mr. McKettrick?" asked Scattergood. McKettrick wore a dazed look. Scattergood did not look like two millions; he did not look like ten thousand. His bearing became more respectful. "I'll listen to any proposition you wish to make," he said. "Come over to Johnnie Bones's," said Scattergood. In a moment they were sitting in Johnnie's office, and McKettrick and Johnnie were acquainted.