counted nor foreseen. Be not too much stricken of amazement, therefore,
when now these cold ones, who would not have bought an American railroad
without counting the cross-ties and weighing every spike and fish-plate,
were ready to send millions adrift on a sightless invasion of Asia ten
thousand miles away. Besides, as the five with Mr. Harley laid out their
campaign, any question of Oriental danger was for the present put aside.

"The way to commence," said one of the five--one grown gray in first
looting companies and then scuttling them--"the way to commence is by
getting possession of Northern Consolidated. Once in control of the
railroad, we have linked the Pacific with the Great Lakes; after that we
can turn to the matter of subsidies for the two steamship lines, and the
appointment of those commissions to consider the Canadian Canal." Then,
turning to Mr. Harley: "You, of course, speak for Senator Hanway?"

Mr. Harley gave assurance that Senator Hanway, for what might be
demanded congressionally, would be with him. Then they laid their
plotting heads together over a conquest of Northern Consolidated.

Under the experienced counsel of the old gray scuttler of innocent
companies, this procedure was resolved upon. Northern Consolidated was
selling at forty-three. At that figure, over forty millions of dollars
would be required to buy the road. There was little or no chance of its
reaching a higher quotation during the coming ninety days; and ninety
days would bring them into February with Congress in session over two
months.

No, it was not the purpose of the pool to buy Northern Consolidated at
forty-three; those gifted stock ospreys knew a better plan. They would
begin with a "bear" movement against the stock. It was their belief, if