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328 sat with chin drawn against his chest. His eyes still showed amazement and in their depths was a gleam that might have been admiration—as he would have admired while he planned to undo a man who had braved his wrath. Still, he did not speak and alter a moment Helen addressed Rowe.

"I don't want to sell. I want Mr. Taylor to give me the help I need so I will not be forced to sell. I have come to a parting of the ways. I can no longer go on with my present resources; the financial situation is against me. My property is not taking care of itself yet; obligations are due; I have suffered the loss of my water-power, which cuts off all my income and repairs mean an outlay of money at once."

"And you ask Mr. Taylor to help in this hair-brained adventure?"

"I ask his help in carrying my pine until the investment is ripe, so I may follow through a plan which has been followed for nearly fifty years and needs a few years more."

Rowe sat back with a whiff of amazement. He looked at Luke and smiled, but the old man did not respond. His eyes were still on the girl's face.

Rowe touched his bruised lips absently. "That's amusing," sardonically. "Quite amusing, Miss Foraker. Quite the most preposterous request I have ever heard made!"

"It is unusual, I understand. Mr Taylor seems to be my last chance. I—I don't care much about asking this of him," with a slight hesitancy.

"This is so amusing that it's interesting," said Rowe. "I take it you want a loan. How much—and for how long?"