like to have a man like Morrison here called any hard names."

"Oh, I don't mind being called a watch-dog, boys! That's what I am. So you
think I'm wholly selfish, do you, Despeaux?"

"The water-power franchises of this state were grabbed away from the
people years ago, like the timber-lands were, by first-comers, and the
state got nothing! The waters belong to the people. The people have a
right to realize on their property! Morrison, considering what kind of a
free gift you had handed to you, you've got to be careful about the
position you take in these enlightened days when the people propose to
profit from their own. It's mighty easy to shift public opinion these
days!"

"Yes, I have seen tons of sand shifted in no time by a stream from a
squirt-gun," confessed Morrison, placidly.

"And that leaves it a fifty-fifty break between us on the name-calling
proposition," rejoined Despeaux, "I'll bid you a kind good day!" He strode
away and his group trailed him.

A deprecating committeeman turned back, however. "I know you are honest,
Morrison. But a lot of us are beginning to think that the general policy
in the state regarding outside capital has been a bit too conservative.
These are new times."

"Very!" said the mayor, pleasantly. "They're creaking about as loud as
Squire Despeaux's new shoes." There was a snarl of ire from the shoes
every time the retreating chairman lifted a foot. "I hope they won't pinch
us, Doddridge! Good day!" He sat down at his desk.