"Well," said Lewiston, tentatively, after awhile.
"Well, Lewiston," said the other, "I can't take that wheat of yours at any better than sixty-
two."
"It's the Chicago price that does it, Lewiston. Truslow is bearing the stuff for all he's
worth. It's Truslow and the bear clique that stick the knife into us. The price broke again
this morning. We've just got a wire."
"Good heavens," murmured Lewiston, looking vaguely from side to side. "That--that
ruins me. I can't carry my grain any longer--what with storage charges and--and--
Bridges, I don't see just how I'm going to make out. Sixty-two cents a bushel! Why, man,
what with this and with that it's cost me nearly a dollar a bushel to raise that wheat, and
now Truslow--"
He turned away abruptly with a quick gesture of infinite discouragement.
He went down the stairs, and making his way to where his buckboard was hitched, got in,
and, with eyes vacant, the reins slipping and sliding in his limp, half-open hands, drove
slowly back to the ranch. His wife had seen him coming, and met him as he drew up
before the barn.
"Emmie," he said as he got out of the buckboard, laying his arm across her shoulder,
"Emmie, I guess we'll take up with Joe's offer. We'll go to Chicago. We're cleaned out!"
II. THE BULL--WHEAT AT A DOLLAR-TEN
...----and said Party of the Second Part further covenants and agrees to merchandise
such wheat in foreign ports, it being understood and agreed between the Party of the
First Part and the Party of the Second Part that the wheat hereinbefore mentioned is
released and sold to the Party of the Second Part for export purposes only, and not for
consumption or distribution within the boundaries of the United States of America or of
Canada.
"Now, Mr. Gates, if you will sign for Mr. Truslow I guess that'll be all," remarked
Hornung when he had finished reading.
Hornung affixed his signature to the two documents and passed them over to Gates, who
signed for his principal and client, Truslow--or, as he had been called ever since he had
gone into the fight against Hornung's corner--the Great Bear. Hornung's secretary was
called in and witnessed the signatures, and Gates thrust the contract into his Gladstone
bag and stood up, smoothing his hat.
