"Jest been measurin'," said Scattergood, "and I figger it's a mite longer from here to there than it is from there to here. If you want to see me, here I be." "Where?" Scattergood gave an office address and hung up the receiver. "They'll be here in a minnit," he said to Mr. Linderman, and he was not exaggerating greatly as to the time required to bring the gentlemen to him. "Know Mr. Linderman--Crane and Keith?" said Scattergood. "Come in and set." "What do you want with pulp company stock?" Crane demanded. "Paper the kitchen. Maybe, if I kin git enough, I'll paper the parlor. Lack five hunderd shares for the parlor. Got'em with you?" "No, and we're not going to get them." "Um!... Paid for 'em, didn't I? Got a receipt?" "What's Linderman doing in this?" Mr. Linderman leaned forward a little. "I'm in a legitimate business transaction--something quite foreign to you gentlemen's notions of doing business. I came into it to make a profit, but mostly to teach you fellows a lesson in decent business methods. I don't like you. I don't like your ways. If you like your ways you must expect to pay for the pleasure you get out of them.... Mr. Baines is waiting for delivery of the stock he bought." "I suppose you know we haven't got it?" "I do." "We can't deliver." "Yes, you can. Go out in the open market and buy. Now, I own a few shares, for instance. I might sell." The faces of Messrs. Crane and Keith did not picture lively enjoyment. They were caught. If it had been Scattergood alone they might have wriggled out of it, they thought, for they had scant respect for his sagacity, but Linderman--well, Linderman was not to be trifled with. "How much?" said Crane. "You need five hundred shares. Par is a hundred, is it not? I will part with mine for three hundred. First, last, and only offer. In ten minutes the price goes up to three fifty, and fifty for each five minutes after that." "It's robbery ..." Mr. Crane spluttered, and made uncouth sounds of rage. "Now you know how the other fellow has been feeling. Seven minutes left...." Four more minutes sped before the surrender came. "Certified check," said Mr. Linderman. "My messenger will go to the bank for you." The check was drawn for a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and Crane and Keith settled back sullenly. "You can retain your bonds. I believe you have about a quarter of a million dollars' worth of them. Glad to have you finance the mill for me. It will, of course, go ahead under my direction," said Linderman. "I guess I can iron out the difficulties you gentlemen have arranged for, and there will be no receivership. That will relieve Mr. Baines, who has a considerable contract with the company." Mr. Crane swore softly. Scattergood heaved himself to his feet. "One other leetle matter, Crane. There's the Plumm farm. Kind of exercised about that, hain't you? Stayed up in the country a week to look after it--while I was dickerin' down here.... Like to buy that farm?"