It was reasonable to assume, under the public as well as the private conditions named, that Senator Hanway's findings, and the Senate action he must urge and bring about, would knock the bottom out of Northern Consolidated.

It must fall to twenty by every rule of speculation.

Facing collection by the government of those claims for lands ravished and pine trees swept away, to say naught of losing original grants which were as its life-blood to Northern Consolidated, the value of the stock--to speak most hopefully in its favor--would be diminished by one-half.
The conspirators grew in confidence as they talked, and at the end looked upon Northern Consolidated as already in their talons.

They named the old gray buccaneer to manage for the pool.

The amount to be paid in by each of the eight members--for they counted Senator Hanway--was settled at five hundred thousand dollars.