"You're Scotch, all right, Morrison. You're canny! You're for yourself and
the main chance. Now let me tell you! You caught us foul two years ago
because you jumped the newspapers into coming out with broadsides about a
thing they didn't understand. Their half-baked scare stuff made the state
think somebody was trying to steal the whole water-power."

"According to that general franchise bill, as it was framed, somebody
was!"

"Morrison, in the last two years the people have been educated to
understand that broad-gaged consolidation of water-power is what we must
have."

"You have put out good propaganda. That fellow you have hired is a mighty
fine press-agent," admitted Morrison, smiling ingenuously.

"And the men who get in the way and try to trig development this year will
be ticketed before an understanding public for what they are," declared
Despeaux.

"Try me as a part of the public, and see whether I'll understand! Ticketed
as what, Brother Despeaux?"

"As profiting dogs in the manger of manufacturing, sir!"

There were expostulatory murmurs in the group.

"We're rather non-committal as a body on this matter, Despeaux," protested
a committeeman. "We're waiting to be shown. In the mean time, we don't