"Tom, is that business?"
"It is the modern definition of it."
"What's goin' to happen up yonder in Indiany?"
"If I knew, I'd be a good bit easier in my mind. What I'm hoping is that the rumpus will be big enough to make 'em turn the contract our way."
Caleb stopped short.
"My God!" he ejaculated. "Where's your heart, Buddy? Would you take the chance of sendin' these fellows to jail for the sake of gettin' that contract?"
"Cheerfully," said Tom. "They're rascals; I could have bought them if I'd had money enough; and the other fellow did buy them."
The old man resumed his monotonous tramp up and down the room. The hardness in Tom's voice unnerved him. After another interval of silence he spoke again.
"I wish you hadn't done it, son. It's a dirty job, any way you look at it."
Tom shrugged.