There was a person at the latter place who understood telegraphy, and he attended to the business at that end of the line, while Mr.Lyons worked the instruments at the Hetertown station, which was in the same building with the regular telegraph line.
It was agreed that the Mica Company should keep an account of all messages sent by them over the line, and should credit the Crooked Creek Telegraph Company with the amount due in payment, after deducting necessary expenses, hire of operators', and six per cent.

on the capital advanced.
Everything having been arranged on this basis, the extended line went into operation, without regard to the amount of water in the creek, and old Miles carried no more telegrams to Hetertown.
The telegraph business, however, became much less interesting to Kate and the boys.

It seemed to them as if it had been taken entirely out of their hands, which was, indeed, the true state of the case.

They were the nominal owners and directors of the line, but they had nothing to direct, and very vague ideas about the value of the property they owned.
"I don't know," said Tom Selden, as he sat one afternoon in Mr.Loudon's yard, with Harry and Kate, "whether we've made much by this business or not.

Those mica people keep all the accounts and do all the charging, and if they want to cheat us, I don't see what's to hinder them." "But you know," said Harry, "that we can examine their accounts; and, besides, Mr.Lyons will keep a tally of all the messages sent, and I don't believe that he would cheat us." "No; I don't suppose he would," said Tom; "but I liked the old way best.
There was more fun in it." "Yes, there was," said Kate; "and then we helped old Lewston and Aunt Judy.