“That’s true. I am going to speak plainly now, Wolf. We are beaten; but we don’t intend to remain beaten for any great length of time. The prosperity of Middleport depends greatly upon the Lake Shore Railroad, and I intend to make that a success if it costs me all I am worth. I shall build a bridge at the foot of the lake, so that I can go into Ucayga without the aid of a ferry-boat. A Lightning Express is going through from Middleport to the station at Ucayga in three-quarters of an hour. So far I am determined.”
“That will not help your case much, so far as through travel is concerned.”
“Considerable, Wolf. We shall save fifteen minutes.”
“But we shall still beat you by half an hour.”
“Very true; but I don’t intend to stop here. I shall either build a steamer equal or superior to the Ucayga, to run between Hitaca and Middleport, or I shall run the railroad to the head of the lake.”
“Will it pay?”
“I think it will, but, though Wimpleton and I have always quarreled of late years, I am willing to be fair. I have a plan, which I will state to you. If Wimpleton will run the Ucayga from Hitaca to Middleport in connection with the railroad, I will take off my boats. This will be a fair thing for both of us. You may state the case to him. If he agrees to it, all right; if not, I shall make my next move.”
This, then, was what the major was driving at, and I was to be the ambassador between the rivals. I was willing to do the best I could, but I proposed that Tommy and Waddie should meet and discuss the matter. The little magnate of Middleport promptly and indignantly refused to meet the other little magnate. I promised to report the next day on my mission. As I was leaving, I invited Mrs. Toppleton and Grace to make a trip with me up or down the lake. Somewhat to my surprise, at the suggestion of the major, they accepted the invitation for that day. We crossed the lake, and I assure the reader I took every pains to make my guests happy.
Neither Waddie nor his father was on board again that day; but the latter went up to Hitaca with me in the afternoon. Cautiously approaching the subject I stated Major Toppleton’s proposition. The colonel would hardly listen to it, much less accept it. He swore, and abused his great rival. He would have nothing to do with Toppleton. He would sink the Ucayga before he would help the railroad to a single passenger. He was very savage, and, before he had finished, poured out the vials of his wrath upon me for mentioning the subject.
The next day I reported the result of my mission; and Major Toppleton was quite as savage as the colonel had been. He swore, too, and declared that he would run the Ucayga off the route before another summer.