4 TOM SWIFT'S ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
directors' room of the H. & P. A. that has not
seeped out and aided the enemy in foreseeing our
moves."
"The enemy?" repeated Mr. Swift, with mild surprise.
"That's it exactly! The enemy!" replied Mr. Bartholomew shortly. "The H. & P. A. has got the fight of its life on its hands. We had a hard enough time fighting nature and the elements when we laid the first iron for the road a score of years ago. Now I am facing a fight, that must grow fiercer and fiercer as time goes on until either the H. & P. A. smashes the opposition, or the enemy smashes it."
"What enemy is this you speak of?" asked Tom, much interested. "The proposed Hendrickton & Western. A new road, backed by new capital, and to be offi- cered and built by new men in the construction and railroad game.
"Montagne Lewis-you've heard of him, I pre- sume-is at the head of the crowd that have bought the little old Hendrickton & Western, lock, stock and barrel. "They have franchises for extending the road. In the old days the legislatures granted blanket franchises that allowed any group of moneyed men to engage in any kind of business as side is-
