Page:Teeftallow-1926.djvu/331

"I told him to take his money an' go, that us Lanesburg folks could build our own road an' we wuzn't beholdin' to no little razor-backed banker from Arntown."

The crowd roared raucously at this. "You said it, Railroad!"

The magnate shook his fist and swung his mighty jowl.

"Yeh, an' I'll say more. You boys stick to me an' I'll finish this road if it takes the las' cent I can scrape an' the las' breath I can draw. I say you farmers in Lane County ain't goin' to be shut off from the markets of the worl' no longer. I say if the little two-by-fours of Arntown injoy a railroad, why in God's name shouldn't the broad-gague citizens of Lanesburg, the county seat, have the same advantages? Ain't we as good as they air? Ain't we better?"

Came a drawling cheer. "By God, we're with ye, Railroad!"

Railroad shook his big head. "Stay with me an' we'll have a express train whistlin' in the courthouse square. Don't let no silver-tongued orator turn you away from your own intrusts, boys. All the money I ever made I made workin' for you, an' damn near all you ever made, you made workin' for me." Laughter at this. "United we stan', divided we fall. Walk up, boys, sign the payroll, and begin to draw yore pay this minute, an' we'll build a railroad in spite of Perry Northcutt an' the devil! Come on up!"

At this the men looked at one another, and when Abner climbed the steps everybody followed him. Railroad Jones waved them into his office, where a clerk took their names on the payroll.

The magnate shook hands warmly with Abner. "I 'preciate this, Abner," he said in his closed voice. "I haven't seen you sence the night of the dance, what's the matter?"

"I—jest haven't been aroun'," said Abner awkwardly.

"Me an' Addy's been sorter expectin' you."

Here the conversation was interrupted by some of the men beginning to file out.