“They'll have to. We'll make them. We mustn't let them think we are weakening.”
“You don't appreciate the feeling of intense hostility they have for me.”
“Of course the murder of that man—what was his name?”
“Ryder, you mean.”
“Was unfortunate. I don't wonder you have some feeling about going back.”
Dan smiled sadly.
The vice-president was wonderfully moderate in his choice of words. He added: “But it is really best for the interest of those concerned that you should go and do what you can to bring about a settlement.”
“It would be the sheerest idiocy for me to attempt it. The town may go hungry from now till the end of its days, but it won't have me at any price.”
“I always told Cornish he should sell the road the first opportunity he got. He had the chance once and you talked him out of it. Now you don't want to stand by the situation.”
“I do,” said Oakley, rising. “I want to see an understanding reached with the men, and I am going to do what I can to help along. You will please to consider that I have resigned. I don't for the life of me see how you can expect me to show my face in Antioch,” and with that he stalked from the place. He was thoroughly angry. He heard Holloway call after him: