e years to build up a concern like
this--not five. You're too fast for that lot."

"Ah! Perhaps I'd better go down and see them."

Semple gazed in astonishment, then concluded he had not made the other
sufficiently aware of the criticism as to himself and his affairs that
was now so widely spread.

"What's the object?" he blurted; "you've got all you want."

Clark shook his head. "You don't understand me--and these people don't
understand their own country,--that's all. They don't believe it
because they don't know it. They've never tried to know it. To
Toronto the district of Algoma is a howling wilderness where there's
good fishing and shooting. You may call Canadians pioneers, but some
of them are the stickiest lot imaginable. I'm an American, but I have
more faith in their country than they have."

"Just what do you propose to do?"

"What would you say was the most influential body of business and
financial men?"

"The Toronto Board of Trade--without question; bankers, and, by the
way, the president of your bank here is the president of the Board;
manufacturers, brokers, commission men,--oh, most every one who is
worth anything."

"Then I'd better go and talk to them. There ought to be some Canadian
money in this concern and there isn't a cent. The only thing we got in
Canada was one hundred and thirty thousand dollars--but that was
debt--St. Marys' debt--" laughed Clark. "We'll get some Canadian
directors, too; I don't know but that new blood would be good for us."

"Well," hazarded Semple, "I'd like to be there."

"You will. We'll go together as soon as it's arranged. You ought to
be there. They'll probably ask you to confirm what I assert." He
touched a bell and a moment later said to his secretary, "See Mr.
Bowers and ask him to get in touch with our Toronto solicitors at once.
I want them to arrange that I address the Toronto Board of Trade as
soon as convenient to that body. I'll speak of developments in
Northern Ontario. You understand that this will not be a suggestion
from me, but will come from them. Get the idea going in the Toronto
papers. You might let it be known that a special car will leave for
St. Marys the evening of the address--with the Company's guests--that's
all."

The door closed and he turned again to Semple. "I'm no prophet, but I
don't mind saying that a month from to-day your Conservative opposition
won't be so stiff necked. Man alive! it's nothing but i