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The six final votes had been cast and cast solidly against Scattergood's bill. Scattergood was beaten, decisively, destructively beaten. Not only was he defeated here, but he was smashed where the damage was even more destructive in his prestige. He was a discredited political leader.... Lafe Siggins could not restrain a chuckle, for Scattergood had played into his hands.
He now owned a horse, and a buggy whose seat he more than comfortably filled. In the county seat Scattergood was not unknown, for various county officers had been helped to their place by his growing influence in his town notably the sheriff. There was little interest in the sale, and what interest there was Scattergood caused by his unexpected appearance. Nobody had imagined he would be present.
"You've got some kind of a proposition in mind," said Keith, who did the talking because he could keep his temper better than Crane. "What do you want?" "Make me an offer," said Scattergood. "We'll buy your provision company and give you a decent profit." "Don't sound enticin'," said Scattergood, reaching down and loosening his shoe.
"S'pose you'd been jest a drudge for Hopewell, all these years, Amarilla Scattergood?" "I might not have been a drudge," said Miss 'Rill, softly, flushing over her needlework. "At least my life and his would have been different." "Ye don't know how lucky you be," snapped her mother. "And this is all the thanks I git for tellin' Hopewell Drugg that he'd brought his pigs to the wrong market."
At the end of two weeks Scattergood appeared again in town, and went directly to Johnnie Bones's office. Scattergood now called his lawyer Johnnie. "Got 'em?" he asked. "Not all. There's a fifteen-thousand-acre strip cutting right across your horseshoe, from East to West Branch, and I couldn't touch it. I got all the rest.
Scattergood dropped out now and then with pockets full of stick candy, which he never delivered himself, but which he always handed to the minister or to Selina to be given anonymously after he was gone.
"Step into my private office," said Scattergood, motioning to a chair at his side, "and rest your legs." "I'm thinking of establishing a plant below," said the stranger. "A very considerable plant. In studying the situation it seems as if your railroad might be run as an adjunct to my business. I suppose it can be bought." "Supposing" said Scattergood, "is free as air."
And, young feller, if things turns out for me like I think they will, you're goin' to quit bein' a lawyer one of these days. I'm a-goin' to need you in my business. Come over to my store." At the store Scattergood spread his maps before the young man, and pointed to a certain spot. "There's about fifty different passels of timber in that crotch.
"Mebby so.... Mebby so." "Will you help me clear him, Mr. Baines?" "I'll help you find out the truth, Mary, if that'll keep you satisfied. Calculate I'd like to know the truth myself. Had a look at Asa's face a-layin' there by the road, and it interested me." "Did you see that?" Mary asked, with sudden excitement. "What?" asked Scattergood, curiously. "The mark.... Sometimes it showed plain.
"Now, Wangen, you and me has done consid'able business," said Scattergood, "and you hain't goin' to hold up a friend of mine." "If it was a personal thing, Mr. Baines; but I've got to do my best for my clients." "What's your proposition?" "Five thousand dollars apiece for the three strips." "It's an outrage," roared McKettrick. "I'll never be robbed like that."
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