Come close and listen to what I have to say---but only in your ear." There followed some moments of whisperings Try as he would, Reade could not make out a word of what was being said until at last Bad Pete muttered audibly, in a low, hoarse voice: "You're not doing that on your own account, Black ?" "No, Pete; I'm not." "Then you must really be working for the road that wants to steal the charter away---the W.C.

& A. ?" "Perhaps so, Pete.

You don't need to know that.

All you have to know is what I want done.

I'm a business man, Pete, and money is the soul of business.