rd. You see, I didn't------"

"Expect anything from me," Hulton suggested with dry amusement. "You
were acting for Featherstone, but were willing to do me a favor!
Anyhow, you can regard the thing as a plain business proposition. I
get a number of advantages, besides good interest."

"Then I'll accept the main terms now, because I can promise for
Featherstone," Foster replied. "If any alteration's needed, we can
talk about it afterwards."

He left the office with a thrill of satisfaction. With Hulton's help,
he and Lawrence could extend their operations and control a very
profitable trade. Featherstone had told him he must wait a year, but
by this stroke of luck he had made good when only a month had gone.
Still, it was characteristic that he finished his day's work before he
went to the hotel where the others were staying.

Featherstone frankly expressed his pleasure at the news, and afterwards
Foster and Alice went out and stopped at the bridge on the outskirts of
the town. There was a moon in the clear sky and the night was calm.
The snow was crisp, but patches of uncovered wood showed where it had
melted off the bridge, and the southern slope of the river bank was
nearly bare. In the stream, fissured ice drifted down a wide, dark
channel; one felt that spring was coming.

Behind the town, somber pines rolled back across the rocky wilderness;
in the foreground, dazzling arc-lamps flung their blue reflections on
the ice, and the lights of the Hulton factory ran far up in gleaming
rows. Civilization had reached the spot and stopped for a time. The
scene held harsh contrasts between man's noisy activities and the
silent austerity of the wilds.

"It's a grim country," Foster said. "But one gets fond of it."

Alice put her hand in his. "I think I shall love it; I'm not afraid,
Jake. There's something in the clear air and sunshine that makes one
brave. Then it's virgin country; waiting for you and the others to
make good use of."

Foster nodded. "Something of a responsibility! Our efforts are crude
yet and the signs of our progress far from beautiful, but we'll do
better by and by. Well, I'm glad you're not daunted, though I don't
think I really feared that." He paused for a moment with a smile of
deep content. "To-day has banished my last anxiety; I'm a wonderfully
lucky man!"

"Not altogether lucky, Jake, I think. Character counts for more than
fortune, and you really won success by the stu