"I know, of course, that the W.C.
& A.haven't left a stone unturned to defeat our efforts in getting our road running within the limits set in the charter.

However, the W.C.

& A.people are crazy to send armed assassins against us in the field in this fashion.

No matter, now, whether we finish the road on time, this rascally work by the opposition will defeat their hopes of getting the charter away from us." "It might prevent them from doing so, sir," Tom rejoined quietly, "if you were able to prove that the scoundrels who fired on our engineering parties this morning were really employed by the W.C.
& A.railroad crowd." "Prove it ?" snorted the man from Broadway.

"Who else would have any interest in blocking us ?" "Would that statement go in court, or before a legislature ?" Tom pressed.
"No, it wouldn't," President Newnham admitted thoughtfully.