ation, property
belonged only to the man who held the legal title to it. The gentlemen
representing this new railroad were the first to assume legal title to
this town site; they had taken all necessary steps, and intended to
hold this town site in the courts as their own. Their expenses would
be very large, and they proposed to be repaid. They felt that their
holdings in the valley would warrant them in going ahead rapidly with
their plans of development. They had bought some few claims in the
coal-fields, had filed on others for themselves, and had taken over
other and abandoned claims on both sides of the valley. Their
disposition was not to be hostile. They hoped, after the preliminary
organization of the town government should have been completed, to have
the unanimous ratification of all their actions. They felt most
friendly, most friendly indeed, toward the hardy citizens of this
remote community. They proposed to help them all they could. He felt
it a distinguished privilege for himself to be the man to take the
first steps for the organization of the new commercial metropolis of
Coalville.

But it was distinctly to be understood by all that the gentlemen whom
he represented did not propose to entertain, and would not tolerate,
any interference with their plans. He begged, in conclusion, to
present to them, with the request for a respectful and intelligent
hearing, that able, that distinguished, that benevolent gentleman, well
known in financial circles of the East, Mr. John Ellsworth of New York,
who would now address them.

Barkley sat down, and, with customary gesture of the orator, passed his
handkerchief across his brow. Then he gazed up, surprised. The
applause was long in coming. He straightened in his chair. The
applause did not come at all. The men of Heart's Desire sat hard and
grim, each silent, each looking straight ahead, nor asking any counsel.

Ellsworth felt the chill which lay upon the audience, and understood
its meaning. He stood before them, a rather portly figure, clean,
ruddy, well clad, fully self-possessed, and now, by intent,
conciliatory. With hands behind his back, he told a certain funny
little story with which he had been wont to conquer, at least in social
gatherings. No ripple came in response. The eyes of the men of
Heart's Desire looked as intolerably keen and straight at him as they
had at his predecessor. He could feel them plainly in the gloom beyond.