Your name is to be
used."
"My name?"
"Yes, the men who are planning the thing say that it will be so evident
that you'd want the road to go this new way, that if you vote with the
Wachusett interest they'll swear you are bought."
"Swear I'm bought? Pooh! Tom Greenfield is too well known for that sort
of talk to hold water."
"But through your own town"--
Mrs. Sampson regarded her companion closely as she slowly pronounced
these words. They roused him like an electric shock.
"Through Feltonville?"
She nodded, compressing her lips, but saying nothing.
"Phew! This is a tough nut to crack. But are you sure that is to be
tried?"
"Yes; there is a scheme for a few monopolists to buy up mill privileges
and run factories at Feltonville; and they mean to make the road serve
them, instead of its being put where the public need it."
"So that's what Lincoln's been raking up in Boston," Greenfield said to
himself. "I knew he was up to some deviltry. Wants to sell off those
meadows he's been gathering in on mortgages."
"Of course you'll want to help your town," Mrs. Sampson said,
regretfully. "The men that voted for you'll expect you to do it; but
it's helping on a sly scheme at the expense of the state. I'm sorry
you've got to be on that side."
"Got to be on that side?" he retorted, starting up. "Who says I've got
to be on that side? we'll see about that before we get through.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167