Before Gretry’s desk the two men leaned over the litter of papers. The broker’s pencil was in his hand and from time to time he figured rapidly on a sheet of note paper.

“And,” observed Jadwin after a while, “and you see how the millers up here in the Northwest have been grinding up all the grain in sight. Do you see that?”

“Yes,” said Gretry, then he added, “navigation will be open in another month up there in the straits.”

“That’s so, too,” exclaimed Jadwin, “and what wheat there is here will be moving out. I’d forgotten that point. Ain’t you glad you aren’t short of wheat these days?”

“There’s plenty of fellows that are, though,” returned Gretry. “I’ve got a lot of short wheat on my books⁠—a lot of it.”

All at once as Gretry spoke Jadwin started, and looked at him with a curious glance.