"I
fought this all out with myself some years back. I feel that I have
fitted myself into the one thing that is worth while for me."
"I know," said Orde. "Don't hurry. Think it over. Take advice. I have a
notion you'll find this--if its handled right, and works out right--will
come to much the same thing."
He rode along in silence for some moments.
"I want to be fair," he resumed at last, "and do not desire to get you
in this on mistaken premises. This will not be a case of experiment, of
plaything, but of business. However desirable a commercial theory may
be, if it's commercial, _it must pay_! It's not enough if you don't lose
money; or even if you succeed in coming out a little ahead. You must
make it pay on a commercial basis, or else it's as worthless in the
business world as so much moonshine. That is not sordid; it is simply
common sense. We all agree that it would be better to cut our forests
for the future; but _can it be done under present conditions?_"
"There is no question of that," said Bob confidently.
"There is quite a question of it among some of us old fogies, Bobby,"
stated Orde good-humouredly.
Pages:
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916