"That's all right. I reckon you
would have done as much for me. Sam Killen isn't the man to throw
his friends down."
"That's right," returned the other with a sudden valiant infusion
of courage. "I stand pat. I'm not going to lie down before the
Transcontinental. Not on your life, I ain't."
They were walking toward the outer door as Killen's speech
overflowed. "The Transcontinental doesn't own this state yet. No,
sir! Nor Frome and Merrill either. We'll show 'em--"
The valor of the big voice collapsed like a rent balloon. For the
office door had opened to let in Big Tim O'Brien. His shrewd eyes
passed with whimsical disgust over Killen and rested on Farnum.
The situation made for amusement, since Jeff knew that Big Tim had
heard over the transom enough to show that Killen's vote had been
recaptured for Hardy.
"You've stumbled on a red hot Hardy ratification meeting. Did you
come to get into the bandwagon while there is time, Tim?" Jeff
asked with twinkling eyes.
"No sinking ship for mine. I guess I wouldn't ratify yet a while
if I were youse, Farnum."
He stood aside to let the editor of the _World_ pass. Jeff
laughed. "Go to it, Tim.
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