“Do you mean that?” he asked wonderingly.

“I mean it,” said Kate.

“After stealing my plan, and getting my land for nothing, you’d throw me out entirely?” he demanded.

“You entreated me to put all I had into your plan, you told me repeatedly the ravine was worth nothing, you were not even keeping up the taxes on it until I came and urged you to, the dam is used merely for water, the engine furnishes the real power, and if you are thrown out, you have thrown yourself out.  You have had every chance.”

“You are going to keep your nephew on the buying job?” he asked

“I am,” said Kate.  “You can have no job that will give you a chance to involve me financially.”

“Then give me Milton’s place.  It’s so easy a baby could do it, and the wages you have promised him are scandalous,” said George.

Kate laughed.  “Oh, George,” she said, “you can’t mean that!  Of all your hare-brained ideas, that you could operate that saw, is the wildest.  Oh course you could start the engine, and set the saw running —­ I could myself; but to regulate its speed, to control it with judgment, you could no more do it than Polly.  As for wages, Milton is working for less than he got in Hartley, because he can be at home, and save his hack fare, as you know.”

George went over to Jim Milton, and after doing all he could see to do and ordering Milton to do several things he thought might be done, he said casually:  “Of course I am boss around this shack, but this is new to me.  You fellows will have to tell me what to do until I get my bearings.  As soon as we get to running, I’ll be yard-master, and manage the selling and shipping.  I’m good at figures, and that would be the best place for me.”

“You’ll have to settle with Mrs. Holt about that,” said Jim Milton.

“Of course,” said George.  “Isn’t she a wonder?  With my help, we’ll soon wipe the Hartley mills off the map, and be selling till Grand Rapids will get her eye peeled.  With you to run the machinery, me to manage the sales, and her to keep the books, we got a combination to beat the world.”

“In the meantime,” said Jim Milton dryly, “you might take that scoop shovel and clean the shavings and blocks off this floor.  Leave me some before the engine to start the first fire, and shovel the rest into that bin there where it’s handy.  It isn’t safe to start with so much loose, dry stuff lying around.”

George went to work with the scoop shovel, but he watched every movement Jim Milton made about the engine and machinery.  Often he dropped the shovel and stood studying things out for himself, and asking questions.  Not being sure of his position, Jim Milton answered him patiently, and showed him all he wanted to know; but he constantly cautioned him not to touch anything, or try to start the machinery himself, as he might lose control of the gauge and break the saw, or let the power run away with him.