egion, though ruled by another state, and
things are going badly there. If you could get across and see what
could be done, we would pay an extra fee."

Singleton lighted a cigar and leaned back in his chair with a
thoughtful expression, and for a minute or two they left him alone.
They were keen business men, but they knew that their usual methods
would not serve them with this shabbily-dressed, self-possessed
botanist.

"Well," he said at length, "your suggestion rather appeals to me, but
there's the difficulty that another matter claims my attention. Though
it isn't strictly in my line, I've been asked to go out to Canada and
assist in the production of a variety of wheat that will ripen quickly;
in fact, I was looking up some information bearing on the matter when
you came in. It's a remarkably interesting subject."

They were clever enough to see that this was not an attempt to enhance
the value of his services; the man was obviously a botanical
enthusiast, and Nevis showed signs of attention. He had once or twice
thought that something might be made out of Canadian land companies.

"One could imagine that," he said. "I understand that it's a matter of
high importance."

"The development of the whole northern portion of the prairie country
depends on the success of the experiments that are being made,"
Singleton went on. "Their summers are hot but short; if they can get a
grain that ripens early, they can cultivate vast stretches of land that
are now, from economic reasons, uninhabitable, and it would make
farming a more prosperous business in other tracts. Crops growing in
the favored parts are occasionally frozen. It's a coincidence that a
day or two ago I got a letter inquiring about that kind of wheat from a
friend in Canada who is, as it happens, farming with a cousin of
Lansing's." Then he laughed. "All this, however, has nothing to do
with the object of your visit. Give me a few more minutes to think it
over."

There was silence except for the rattle of wheels outside while he
smoked half a cigar; then he turned to his companions.

"I'll go out and undertake your work. I believe you're acting wisely,
and that Lansing will be sorry after a while that he threw away his
interest in the scheme."

They discussed the details of the project and then the business men
went away, satisfied. Shortly afterward Singleton took a letter out of
a paper rack, and when he had read it he leaned back in h