“N-never told you to buy anything, did I—Ed?”
“No,” answered Mr. Batch, “you haven't. I don't know what the devil's got into you.”
“D-done all the payin' without consultin' me, hain't you, Ed?”
“Yes; I have. What are you driving at?”
“D-done it if I hadn't b'en here, wouldn't you?”
“Yes, and more too,” said Mr. Batch.
“W-wouldn't make much difference to you if I wasn't here—would it?”
“Great Scott, Jethro, what do you mean?” cried the railroad president, in genuine alarm; “you're not going to pull out, are you?”
“W-wouldn't make much odds if I did—would it, Ed?”
“The devil it wouldn't!” exclaimed Mr. Balch. “If you pulled out, we'd lose the North Country, and Peleg, and Gosport, and nobody can tell which way Alva Hopkins will swing. I guess you know what he'll do—you're so d—d secretive I can't tell whether you do or not. If you pulled out, they'd have their bill on Friday.”