"Do that from the first profits of the mill," he suggested.
"I'm no good at 'counting chickens before they're hatched,'" said
Kate. "Besides, the first profits from the mill, as you very well
know, if you would ever stop to think, must go to pay for logs to
work on, and there must always be a good balance for that purpose.
No. I reserve enough from my money to fix the home I want; but I
shall wait to do it until the mill is working, so I can give all
my attention to it, while you are out looking up timber."
"Of course I can do all of it perfectly well," he said. "And it's
a MAN'S business. You'll make me look like fifty cents if you get
out among men and go to doing a thing no woman in this part of the
country ever did. Why, it will look like you didn't TRUST me!"
"I can't help how it will look," said Kate. "This is my last and
only dollar; if I lose it, I am out for life; I shall take no
risk. I've no confidence in your business ability, and you know
it. It need not hurt your pride a particle to say that we are
partners; that I'm going to build the mill, while you're going to
bring in the timber. It's the only way I shall touch the
proposition. I will give you two hundred dollars for the deed and
abstract of the ravine. I'll give your mother eight hundred for
the lot and house, which is two hundred more than it is worth.
I'll lay away enough to rebuild and refurnish it, and with the
remainder I'll build the dam, bridge, and mill, just as quickly as
it can be done. As soon as I get my money, we'll buy timber for
the mill and get it sawed and dried this winter. We can be all
done and running by next June."
"Kate, how are you going to get all that land sold, and the money
in hand to divide up that quickly? I don't think it ever can be
done. Land is always sold on time, you know," he said.
Kate drew a deep breath. "THIS land isn't going to be sold," she
said. "Most of the boys have owned their farms long enough to
have enabled them to buy other land, and put money in the bank.
They're going to form a pool, and put in enough money to pay the
girls the share they have agreed to take; even if they have to
borrow it, as some of the younger ones will; but the older ones
will help them; so the girls are to have their money in cash, in
three months. I was mighty glad of the arrangement for my part,
because we can begin at once on our plans for the mill."