ttered a derisive shout.

"A protest! That's good, that is. When the P. and S. W. objects to rates
it don't 'protest,' m' son. The first you hear from Mr. Shelgrim is
an injunction from the courts preventing the order for new rates from
taking effect. By the Lord," he cried angrily, leaping to his feet, "I
would like to know what all this means, too. Why didn't you reduce our
grain rates? What did we elect you for?"

"Yes, what did we elect you for?" demanded Osterman and Gethings, also
getting to their feet.

"Order, order, gentlemen," cried Magnus, remembering the duties of his
office and rapping his knuckles on the table. "This meeting has been
allowed to degenerate too far already."

"You elected us," declared Lyman doggedly, "to make an average ten
per cent. cut on grain rates. We have done it. Only because you don't
benefit at once, you object. It makes a difference whose ox is gored, it
seems."

"Lyman!"

It was Magnus who spoke. He had drawn himself to his full six feet. His
eyes were flashing direct into his son's. His voice rang with severity.

"Lyman, what does this mean?"

The other spread out his hands.

"As you see, sir. We have done our best. I warned you not to expect too
much. I told you that this question of transportation was difficult.
You would not wish to put rates so low that the action would amount to
confiscation of property."

"Why did you not lower rates in the valley of the San Joaquin?"

"That was not a PROMINENT issue in the affair," responded Lyman,
carefully emphasising his words. "I understand, of course, it was to
be approached IN TIME. The main point was AN AVERAGE TEN PER CENT.
REDUCTION. Rates WILL be lowered in the San Joaquin. The ranchers around
Bonneville will be able to ship to Port Costa at equitable rates, but so
radical a measure as that cannot be put through in a turn of the hand.
We must study----"

"You KNEW the San Joaquin rate was an issue," shouted Annixter, shaking
his finger across the table. "What do we men who backed you care about
rates up in Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties? Not a whoop in hell. It was
the San Joaquin rate we were fighting for, and we elected you to reduce
that. You didn't do it and you don't intend to, and, by the Lord Harry,
I want to know why."

"You'll know, sir--" began Lyman.

"Well, I'll tell you why," vociferated Osterman. "I'll tell you why.
It's because we have been sold out. It's because the P. and S. W. have
had their