"There's no good," he resumed, "in you and me getting
into each other. The best thing we can do is
to control all the good stuff, agree on a price, and
divide the take."

Gordon carefully considered this new proposal.
It seemed to him palpably fair. "All the papers
would have to be made together," he added; "what's
for one's for the other."

Now that the deal was fully exposed Valentine
Simmons was impatient of small precautions.
"Can't you see how the plan lays?" he demanded
irritably. "We'll draw up a partnership. Don't get
full and talk," he added discontentedly. It was
evident that he keenly resented the absence of Pompey
Hollidew from the transaction.

"A thing like this," he informed the other, "ain't
put through in a week. It will be two or three years
yet before the company will be ready for construction."

Minor details were rehearsed, concluded. Two
weeks later Gordon signed an agreement of partnership
with Valentine Simmons to purchase collectively
such timber options as were deemed desirable,
and to merchandise their interests at a uniform price
to the railroad company concerned.

[[220]]

p219 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p220w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p221

v?