human
It didn't cost me any trouble, Vane replied.
gpt
We were coming to Vancouver, anyway.
human
It cost you some money--there were the tickets. Now I feel that I have to--
gpt
Nonsense! When you are married to Miss Blake, you can pay me back, if it will be a relief to you. When's the wedding to be?
human
In a couple of months, answered Drayton. He saw that it would be useless to protest.
gpt
I'm a clerk in the Winstanley mills, and as one of the staff is going, I'll get a move up then. We are to be married as soon as I do.
human
I wonder if the Clermont business keeps your hands full, Mr. Vane?
gpt
It doesn't. It's a fact I'm beginning to regret.
human
Well, he said,
gpt
--he smiled ruefully--
human
Go on,
gpt
It has struck me that pulping spruce--paper spruce--is likely to be scarce presently. The supply's not unlimited and the world's consumption is going up by jumps.
human
There's a good deal of timber you could use for pulp, in British Columbia alone,
gpt
Sure. But there's not a very great deal that could be milled into high-grade paper pulp; and it's getting rapidly worked out in most other countries. Then, as a rule, it's mixed up with firs, cedars and cypresses; and that means the cutting of logging roads to each cluster of milling trees. There's another point--a good deal of the spruce lies back from water or a railroad, and in some cases it would be costly to bring in a milling plant or to pack the pulp out.
human
That's obvious; anyway, where you would have to haul every pound of freight over a breakneck divide.
gpt
Then if one struck high-grade paper spruce--a whole valley full of it--with water power and easy access to the sea, there ought to be money in the thing?
human
Yes, Vane answered with growing interest;
gpt
I believe I could put you on the track of such a valley.
human
We'd better understand each other. Do you want to sell me your knowledge? And have you offered it to anybody else?
gpt
Kitty and I aren't going to find it easy to get along--rents are high in this city. I want to give her as much as I can; but I'm willing to leave you to do the square thing. The Winstanley people have their hands full and won't look at any outside matter, and the one or two people I've spoken to don't seem anxious to consider it. It's mighty hard for a little man to launch a project.
human
It is,
gpt
Then, Drayton continued,
human
He paused a moment.
gpt
Would you like to see him?
human
I'll go with you now, if it's convenient,