"
"What do you mean?" protested Montague. "Do you suppose they're not
enemies?"
"I certainly do suppose it," said Bates.
"But, man! I can give you positive facts that prove they are."
"For every fact that you bring," laughed the other, "I can bring
half a dozen to show you they are not."
"But that is perfectly absurd!" began Montague.
"Hush," said Bates, and he waited while the string jerked.
"I-c-e," spelled Rodney.
"That's Cummings--another dead one," said Bates. "My Lord, but they
did him up brown!"
"Who did it?" asked Montague.
"Waterman," answered the other. "The Steamship Trust was competing
with his New England railroads, and now it's in the hands of a
receiver. Before long you'll hear that he's gathered it in."
"Then you think this last smash-up was planned?" said he.
"Planned! My Heavens, man, it was the greatest gobbling up of the
little fish that I have ever known since I've been in Wall Street!"
"And it was Waterman?"
"With the Oil Trust. They were after young Stewart. You see, he beat
them out in Montana, and they had to buy him off for ten million
dollars.
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