mill in the world. This mill will give employment to hundreds of persons and is but the first of many benefits which will accrue to Socatullo County through the new railroad.
"So that's the game!" perceived Henry. "Bribing the whole community—blinding it with self-interest, as Scanlon and Quackenbaugh are blinded."
Now to blind a community eye seemed to Henry to be planting dynamite under every interest of a man like John Boland, all of whose enterprises were ultimately so dependent upon the good will of the people. Conscientiously, therefore, he determined to see Mr. Boland again, and for once was satisfied with the force of his argument; but it was evident that Old Two Blades listened with more self-control than patience.
"Nonsense!" he answered. "Snap out of it! Wake up! I am beginning to be annoyed with you, Henry!" There was a glitter in the recessed eyes and the thin lips clamped with just the faintest suggestion of a twenty-three-ton vault door closing noiselessly, yet closing—till the tick of time should open it again.
Henry gained a feeling that an immense and relentless personal force had manifested itself to him. Yet he, Henry, did not feel bitter against Mr. Boland. "It's Scanlon and Quackenbaugh," he accused. "They've got him fooled completely. He told me once he was entirely surrounded by liars. I told him I'd tell him the truth—always. I'm trying to now, and . . . he won't let me."
Henry had become a very much harried young man. He was not sleeping well. He was not working well. Even his love for Billie that had been everything to him—well, it was inevitable that she should notice.
