t. Soon after the bank matter was settled, Tandy seemed quite at ease
again financially. He resumed his purchases of property along the line
of the proposed railway, but only along the eastern half of it. He
bought none in Cairo or within fifty miles of that city.

Two months later, after Duncan's campaign was over, and the elections
had been held, he and Barbara came back to the subject. Duncan told
Barbara of the queer provision that Tandy had persuaded the authorities
of two counties to put into their bond appropriation, and expressed his
curiosity to know the motive.

"He didn't do that thing just for fun, Guilford," the girl said, after
she had thought the matter over for twenty-four hours. "He has some
interest to serve."

"Of course. I'm very sure of that."

"We must find out what it is," said the girl, whose apprehension was
strongly aroused.

"But how, Barbara?"

"I don't know how, at present, but I'm trying to find out a way. I don't
know enough about the facts as yet to make a good guess. You must tell
me some things."

"Anything you like."

"Is there any other railroad that might be injured by this one? Any
road, I mean, that he might be interested in enough to make him want
this project defeated?"

"No, certainly not. On the contrary, he has a tremendous interest in the
building of our road. Of course his interests here in Cairo are
comparatively small, now that he is out of the bank, but as you know, he
has been buying property very heavily along our proposed line. Of
course, when the road is finished the towns along the line will grow,
and property there will go up. In view of that, he has been buying lots,
houses, and business buildings at all the places where principal
stations are likely to be located."

It was two or three days later when Barbara returned to the subject by a
somewhat indirect route.

"Tell me about Paducah, Guilford," she said to him suddenly.

He laughingly answered:

"Paducah is a thriving town in northwestern Kentucky. It lies on the
Ohio River about fifty miles above the mouth of that stream. It has a
small but ambitious population, and is a considerable market for the
sale of tobacco. That's about all I remember of what the gazeteer says
about the interesting burg."

"And you know that isn't what I want you to tell me. Are there any
railroads there?"

"One small one, running from the south, ends there, I believe, and the
Paducah people are trying to induce th