“I guess that's so,” said the Honourable Hilary, “I was counsel for that road then. I read that letter. He says there isn't an engine on the division that could pull his hat off, up grade.”
Neither of the two gentlemen appeared to deem this statement humorous.
“What these incendiaries don't understand,” said Mr. Flint, “is that we have to pay dividends.”
“It's because they don't get 'em,” replied Mr. Vane, sententiously.
“The track slid into the water at Glendale,” continued Mr. Flint. “I suppose they'll tell us we ought to rock ballast that line. You'll see the Railroad Commission, and give 'em a sketch of a report.”
“I had a talk with Young yesterday,” said Mr. Vane, his eyes on the stretch of lawn and forest framed by the window. For the sake of the ignorant, it may be well to add that the Honourable Orrin Young was the chairman of the Commission.
“And now,” said Mr. Flint, “not that this Crewe business amounts to that” (here the railroad president snapped his fingers with the intensity of a small pistol shot), “but what's he been doing?”
“Political advertising,” said the Honourable Hilary.
“Plenty of it, I guess,” Mr. Flint remarked acidly. “That's one thing Tooting can't teach him. He's a natural-born genius at it.”
“Tooting can help—even at that,” answered Mr. Vane, ironically. “They've got a sketch of so-called Northeastern methods in forty weekly newspapers this week, with a picture of that public benefactor and martyr, Humphrey Crewe. Here's a sample of it.”