Mather sat thoughtful for a while. "I may understand," he asked at length, "that your proposition amounts to approval of my former course as president of the street-railway?"
They assured him that it did.
"I should pursue," he next said, "the same policy. In place of Mr. Ellis's subway bill, which was this morning thrown out of the legislature, I should at once introduce another."
"Different in plan?" some one inquired.
"Quite," Mather answered, smiling. "Having no real estate to condemn at high prices, I have no desire for the privilege of eminent domain."
"Have you any objection," they asked him, "to serving in these two positions in such quick succession?"
He smiled again. "Are you sure you can elect me to either?"
"Suppose we can?" returned Mr. Fenno.
"Supposing you can," began Mather—then stopped to think.