Coming to a spot where a great gap of vacant land showed in the street-land which he had bought for the new offices of his railway combine--he stood and looked at it abstractedly.

Beyond it, a few blocks away, was the Sagalac, and beyond the Sagalac was Manitou, and a little way to the right was the bridge which was the symbol of his policy.

His eyes gazed almost unconsciously on the people and the horses and wagons coming and going upon the bridge.

Then they were lifted to the tall chimneys rising at two or three points on the outskirts of Manitou.
"They don't know a good thing when they get it," he said to himself.

"A strike--why, wages are double what they are in Quebec, where most of 'em come from! Marchand--" A hand touched his arm.