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He sunk a great deal more than any of us believed in his ranch, when he resolved to turn off most of the tenants and farm the ranch himself. Then the fight he made against the Railroad in the Courts and the political campaign he went into, to get Lyman on the Railroad Commission, took more of it. The money that Genslinger blackmailed him of, it seems, was about all he had left.
Genslinger, his hat on the back of his head, ranged the train from cab to rear-lights, note-book in hand, interviewing, questioning, collecting facts for his extra. As Annixter descended finally to the platform, the editor, alert as a black-and-tan terrier, his thin, osseous hands quivering with eagerness, his brown, dry face working with excitement, caught his elbow.
Genslinger, after pocketing the Governor's hush money, had "sold him out." Keast, one quiver of indignation, made his way back upon the stage. The Leaguers were in wild confusion. Half the assembly of them were on their feet, bewildered, shouting vaguely. From proscenium wall to foyer, the Opera House was a tumult of noise.
"Oh, we know all about that," answered Genslinger, smiling. "You thought you were electing Lyman easily. You thought you had got the Railroad to walk right into your trap. You didn't understand how you could pull off your deal so easily. And your people elected him saved the Railroad all the trouble of campaigning for him. And you can't make any counter charge of bribery there.
Genslinger rubbed his chin reflectively. "Well," he answered, "you can have a chance to prove it before the Grand Jury, if you want to." "My character is known all over the State," blustered Magnus. "My politics are pure politics. My "
Genslinger, as he feared, had not yet put in appearance, but the janitor of the building gave Presley the address of the editor's residence, and it was there he found him in the act of sitting down to breakfast. Presley was hardly courteous to the little man, and abruptly refused his offer of a drink. He delivered Magnus's envelope to him and departed.
"By the way," observed Osterman, "I passed Genslinger by the gate as I came in to-night. Had he been here?" "Yes, he was here," said Harran, "and " but Annixter took the words out of his mouth. "He says there's some talk of the railroad selling us their sections this winter." "Oh, he did, did he?" exclaimed Osterman, interested at once. "Where did he hear that?"
"You needn't think," observed the clerk, "that just because you are dealing with the Railroad you are going to work us." Genslinger came in, accompanied by Delaney. S. Behrman and the clerk, abruptly dismissing the man with the door-closing machine, put themselves behind the counter and engaged in conversation with these two. Genslinger introduced Delaney.
"From the circulars and pamphlets," answered Harran, "that the railroad issued to us when they opened these lands. They are pledged to that. Even the P. and S. W. couldn't break such a pledge as that. You are new in the country, Mr. Genslinger. You don't remember the conditions upon which we took up this land." "And our improvements," exclaimed Annixter.
"Say," he hazarded, "how about this? I make out "We've told you what our rates are, Mr. Dyke," exclaimed the clerk angrily. "That's all the arrangement we will make. Take it or leave it." He turned again to Genslinger, giving the ex-engineer his back. Dyke moved away and stood for a moment in the centre of the room, staring at the figures on the envelope.
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