It was his first attempt at gallantry, and she flashed him a bright, approving glance. Then, as if suddenly checked by second thought, she frowned slightly and turned away. She had mapped out a course of action during the night in which it was her purpose to use this man if he proved amenable, but the success of her plan would depend largely on a continuance of their present friendly relations. In order, therefore, to forestall any possible change of base, she began to unfold her scheme in a business-like tone: "Yesterday you seemed to be taken by the fishing business." "I certainly was until you told me there were no cannery sites left." "There is one. When I came here a year ago the whole river was open, so on an outside chance I located a site, the best one available. When Willis Marsh learned of it, he took up all of the remaining places, and, although at the time I had no idea what I was going to do with my property, I have hung on to it." "Is that where we are going?" "Yes. You seemed eager yesterday to get in on a new chance, so I am taking you out to look over the ground." "What's the use? I can't buy your site." "Nobody asked you to," she smiled. "I wouldn't sell it to you if you had the money; but if you will build a cannery on it, I'll turn in the ground for an interest." Emerson meditated a moment, then replied: "I can't say yes or no. It's a pretty big proposition--two hundred thousand dollars, you said?" "Yes. It's a big opportunity. You can clean up a hundred per cent. in a year. Do you think you could raise the money to build a plant?" "I might. I have some wealthy friends," he said, cautiously. "But I am not sure." "At least you can try? That's all anybody can do." "But I don't know anything about the business. I couldn't make it succeed." "I've thought of all that, and there's a way to make success certain. I believe you have executive ability and can handle men." "Oh yes; I've done that sort of thing." His broad shoulders went up as he drew a long breath. "What's your plan?"