"
"No definite right of way?"
"Jest what I described."
"Capitalized for two hundred thousand, I see."
"Uh-huh!"
"Any stock for sale?"
"Not at the present writin'."
"At a price?"
"Wa-al, now--"
"Say a profit of twenty dollars a share."
"It'll pay dividends on more 'n that figger," said Scattergood,
"which," he added, "you know dum well."
"Yes," said Castle, "but for a quick turnover--and I'm not figuring
dividends altogether."
"Kind of got a bone to pick with McKettrick, eh?"
"Maybe."
"Tell you what I'll do," said Scattergood. "I'll sell you forty-nine per
cent of the stock at a hunderd and twenty. Stock to stand in my name
till the road's ready to operate, I don't want it known I've been
sellin' any.... Shouldn't be s'prised if you was able to pick up control
one way and another--but I hain't goin' to sell it to you."
"I see," said Castle, closing his eyes and squinting through a slit
between the lids. "It's a deal, Mr. Baines," he said, presently.
"Cash," said Scattergood.
"You'll find a certified check in the mail the day after I get the
proper papers."
Which transaction gave Scattergood another profit on the whole affair of
nineteen thousand six hundred dollars--this time a capitalization of the
spite of man toward man.
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