Thereupon Scattergood explained in detail his contract with the pulp company, and his theories of what that company was planning to do to him. "Double barreled," he said. "Crane and Keith owns them bonds. Figger on freezin' out the stockholders and buyin' 'em out for a song. Figger on bustin' me. Next we hear the mill'll be in receiver's hands. No money. Can't pay no contracts. My notes'll come due, and I'm done for. Simple. Crane thought it up." "What do you want of me? So far as I can see, you are up against it. You can't borrow any more, and your notes won't be extended. You're done." "Hain't started yet--not yet. Figger to start to-day. That's why I come to see you." "But I can do nothing for you." "Higgins's Bridge mill's good, hain't it? Logical payin' proposition? Money to be made?" "Yes." "Like to own it cheap?" "Of course." "Crane and Keith is gittin' ready for a killin'. Own big block of stock. Paid par. Want to sell, I hear ... if anybody's fool enough to buy. Then want to buy back for dum' near nothin' when receivership comes. Good scheme. Money in it. Crane thought it up." "What's your idea?" "Buy all they got. Option the rest. Easy.... What happens when a man sells somethin' he hain't got?" "He has to get it some place." "If he can't get it, what?" "Makes it expensive for him." "Thought so. Figgered that way.... Nobody to interfere. Crane and Keith left orders to sell. They won't be takin' notice. Got 'em worried some place else. Mighty worried." Scattergood recounted the story of Plumm's farm. Mr. Linderman scrutinized Scattergood intently and nodded his head. "And you want me--" "Put up the money. Git the stock. Lemme handle it. Gimme twenty per cent." "In stock?" "Calc'late so." "Baines," said Linderman, "I'll go you. Crane and Keith are due for a lesson." "Ready now?" "Yes." "G'-by, Mr. Linderman. Have money when I want it. G'-by." Scattergood had a list of stockholders in the pulp company and knew they were worried. He spent two days in interviewing a dozen of them, and found little difficulty optioning their stock at a pleasant figure. They imagined he must be crazy, and he did nothing to destroy the belief. Then he called at the offices of Crane & Keith. "Want to see the boss man," he said. "What for?" "Hear you got stock for sale. Pulp company. Figger to buy." Here was a lamb ready for the slaughter. Mr. McCann, who received him, could see the delight of his employers, and his own profit, if he should succeed in taking this fat backwoodsman into camp. "You want to buy stock in the pulp company, I understand?" "Yes." "How much?" "How much you got?" "Guess we can sell you all you want." "Money-makin' proposition, hain't it?" "Of course." "But you're willin' to sell? Kind of funny, hain't it?" "Oh no. We have so many enterprises." "Glad you want to sell. I figger to make money on this stock. Want to buy a lot of it." "About how many shares?" "What you askin'?" said Scattergood.