Thomas Greenfield. Mr. Irons had answered, as she had expected him
to, that she had presented no bill. To this her reply was ready. She
was prepared to state what would satisfy her. She explained that she
felt the delicacy of her position, since, if any consideration passed
to her directly from the corporation, it was sure to be known, and
unpleasant comment made. She had in her possession, she continued,
certain stock, of which the market value was somewhere between two and
two and a half, which, it struck her, might serve admirably to veil the
generosity which had been promised her. Her proposition, in brief, was
that Irons should take her three thousand shares of stock at four
dollars, the difference between this and the market value, of course,
being refunded to him by the company.
"By Gad! you're a cheeky one!" had been Iron's comment, more expressive
than elegant, when the widow had laid her scheme wholly before him.
The railroad matter had, however, been settled to the satisfaction of
the syndicate. Mr. Greenfield's support of the Wachusett scheme at the
hearing had been of the utmost importance, especially as Mrs. Sampson
had been able to persuade "Honest Tom" that a perfectly fair
proposition made to him by Mr. Staggchase was in the nature of a high-
handed bribe. This proposition had been presented in a somewhat
scandalous light, and in the face of it Hubbard had induced his
associates to throw up the whole Feltonville scheme.
Pages:
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360