ssibly it was not because these
standards were different in kind, but that they were lamentably
deficient in size. He began to see that here was the man not only great,
but large; many-sided, of vast sympathies, who understood with equal
intelligence, the human nature in an habitual drunkard, the ethics of
a masterpiece of painting, and the financiering and operation of ten
thousand miles of railroad.

"I had never looked at it in just that light," repeated Presley. "There
is a great deal in what you say."

"If I am to listen," continued Shelgrim, "to that kind of talk, I prefer
to listen to it first hand. I would rather listen to what the great
French painter has to say, than to what YOU have to say about what he
has already said."

His speech, loud and emphatic at first, when the idea of what he had to
say was fresh in his mind, lapsed and lowered itself at the end of his
sentences as though he had already abandoned and lost interest in that
thought, so that the concluding words were indistinct, beneath the grey
beard and mustache. Also at times there was the faintest suggestion of a
lisp.

"I wrote that poem," hazarded Presley, "at a time when I was terribly
upset. I live," he concluded, "or did live on the Los Muertos ranch in
Tulare County--Magnus Derrick's ranch."

"The Railroad's ranch LEASED to Mr. Derrick," observed Shelgrim.

Presley spread out his hands with a helpless, resigned gesture.

"And," continued the President of the P. and S. W. with grave intensity,
looking at Presley keenly, "I suppose you believe I am a grand old
rascal."

"I believe," answered Presley, "I am persuaded----" He hesitated,
searching for his words.

"Believe this, young man," exclaimed Shelgrim, laying a thick powerful
forefinger on the table to emphasise his words, "try to believe this--to
begin with--THAT RAILROADS BUILD THEMSELVES. Where there is a demand
sooner or later there will be a supply. Mr. Derrick, does he grow his
wheat? The Wheat grows itself. What does he count for? Does he supply
the force? What do I count for? Do I build the Railroad? You are dealing
with forces, young man, when you speak of Wheat and the Railroads, not
with men. There is the Wheat, the supply. It must be carried to feed
the People. There is the demand. The Wheat is one force, the Railroad,
another, and there is the law that governs them--supply and demand. Men
have only little to do in the whole business. Complications may arise,
condit