"'Of course,' I says, 'the directors have to have their luxuries.
You taxed us for yer new house an' yer automobile an' yer
daughter's education, an' they're taxin' you for their steam-yachts
an' private cars an' racin' stables. You can't expect to do all
the taxin'. The wholesalers learnt about the profits that you an'
others like ye was makin', an' they concluded that they needed a
part of 'em. Of course they had to have their luxuries, an'
they're taxin' you--they couldn't afford to have 'em if they
didn't. Don't complain.'

"'I'll come out all right,' he says. 'I'm goin' to raise my whole
schedule fifteen per cent.'

"'The people won't stand it--they can't,' says I. 'You'll be
drownin' the miller. They'll leave you.'

"'It won't do 'em any good,' says he. 'Bill an' Eph will make
their prices agree with mine.'

"'Folks will go back to the land, as I have,' says I.

"'They don't know enough,' says Sam. 'Farmin' is a lost art here
in the East. You take my word for it--they'll pay our
prices--they'll have to--an' the rich folks, they don't worry about
prices. I pay a commission to every steward an' butler in this
neighborhood.'

"'I won't help you,' says I. 'It's wicked. You ought to have
saved your money.'