“Disguised, of course, but intended to give the men less confidence in me. Now, I'm not going to stand any more of this sort of thing!”
He was conscious he had brought his remarks to a decidedly lame conclusion.
“And I'll tell you one thing, Mr. Oakley, I'm editor of the Herald, and I don't allow any man to dictate to me what I shall print. That's a point I'll pass on for myself.”
“You know the situation. You know that the general will dispose of his interests here unless they can be made self-sustaining; and, whether you like him or not, he stands as a special providence to the town.”
“I only know what you have told me,” sneeringly.
Oakley bit his lips. He saw it would have been better to have left Ryder alone. He felt his own weakness, and his inability to force him against his will to be fair. He gulped down his anger and chagrin.
“I don't see what you can gain by stirring up this matter.”
“Perhaps you don't.”
“Am I to understand you are hostile to the road?”
“If that means you—yes. You haven't helped yourself by coming here as though you could bully me into your way of thinking. I didn't get much satisfaction from my call on you. You let me know you could attend to your own affairs, and I can attend to mine just as easily. I hope you appreciate that.”