saac D. Worthington gets his
franchise or not, or I wouldn't be telling you this. The two railroads
which don't want him to get it, because the Truro would eventually
become a competitor with them, are the Central and the Northwestern.
Alexander Duncan is president of the Central."

"Alexander Duncan!" exclaimed Wetherell. "He's the richest man in the
state, isn't he?"

"Yes," said Mr. Merrill, "and he lives in a big square house right here
in the capital. He ain't a bad fellow, Duncan. You'd like him. He loves
books. I wish you could see his library."

"I'm afraid there's not much chance of that," answered Wetherell.

"Well, as I say, there's Duncan, of the Central, and the other is
Lovejoy, of the Northwestern. Lovejoy's a bachelor and a skinflint.
Those two, Duncan and Lovejoy, are using every means in their power
to prevent Worthington from getting that franchise. Have I made myself
clear?"

"Do you think Mr. Worthington will get it?" asked Wetherell, who had in
mind a certain nocturnal visit at his store.

Mr. Merrill almost leaped out of his chair at the question. Then he
mopped his face, and winked very deliberately at the storekeeper. Then
Mr. Merrill laughed.

"Well, well," he said, "for a man who comes down here to stay with
Jethro Bass to ask me that!" Whereupon Mr. Wetherell flushed, and began
to perspire himself. "Didn't you hear Isaac D. Worthington's virtuous
appeal to the people at Brampton?" said Mr. Merrill.

"Yes," replied Wetherell, getting redder.

"I like you, Will," said Mr. Merrill, unexpectedly, "darned if I don't.
I'll tell you what I know about it, and you can have a little fun while
you're here, lookin' on, only it won't do to write about it to the
Newcastle Guardian. Guess Willard wouldn't publish it, anyhow. I
suppose you know that Jethro pulls the strings, end we little railroad
presidents dance. We're the puppets now, but after a while, when I'm
crowded out, all these little railroads will get together and
there'll be a row worth looking at, or I'm mistaken. But to go back to
Worthington," continued Mr. Merrill, "he made a little mistake with
his bill in the beginning. Instead of going to Jethro, he went to Heth
Sutton, and Heth got the bill as far as the Committee on Corporations,
and there she's been ever since, with our friend Chauncey Weed, who's
whispering over there."

"Mr. Sutton couldn't even get it out of the Committee!" exclaimed
Wetherell.

"Not an inch. Jethro s