Of all those who had been amazed when Jethro Bass suddenly emerged from his retirement and appeared in the capital some months before, none were more thunderstruck than certain gentlemen who had been to Coniston repeatedly, but in vain, to urge him to make this very fight. The most important of these had been Mr. Balch, president of the "Down East" Road, and the representatives of two railroads of another state. They had at last offered Jethro fabulous sums to take charge of their armies in the field--sums, at least, that would seem fabulous to many people, and had seemed so to them. When they heard that the lion had roused and shaken himself and had unaccountably come forth of his own accord, they hastened to the state capital to renew their offers. Another shock, but of a different kind, was in store for them. Mr. Balch had not actually driven the pack-mules, laden with treasure, to the door of the Pelican House, where Jethro might see them from his window; but he requested a private audience, and it was probably accidental that the end of his personal check-book protruded a little from his pocket. He was a big, coarse-grained man, Mr. Balch, who had once been a brakeman, and had risen by what is known as horse sense to the presidency of his road. There was a wonderful sunset beyond the Capitol, but Mr. Balch did not talk about the sunset, although Jethro was watching it from behind the curtains. "If you are willing to undertake this fight against consolidation," said Mr. Balch, "we are ready to talk business with you." "D-don't know what you're going to, do," answered Jethro; "I'm going to prevent consolidation, if I can." "All right," said Balch, smiling. He regarded this reply as one of Jethro's delicate euphemisms. "We're prepared to give that same little retainer." Jethro did not look up. Mr. Balch went to the table and seized a pen and filled out a check for an amount that shall be nameless. "I have made it payable to bearer, as usual," he said, and he handed it to Jethro. Jethro took it, and absently tore it into little pieces, and threw the pieces on the floor. Mr. Balch watched him in consternation. He began to think the report that Jethro had reached his second childhood was true. "What in Halifax are you doing, Bass?" he cried. "W-want to stop this consolidation, don't you--want' to stop it?" "Certainly I do." "G-goin' to do all you can to stop it hain't you?" "Certainly I am." "I-I'll help you," said Jethro. "Help us!" exclaimed Balch. "Great Scott, we want you to take charge of it." "I-I'll do all I can, but I won't guarantee it--w-won't guarantee it," said Jethro. "We don't ask you to guarantee it. If you'll do all you can, that's enough. You won't take a retainer?" "W-won't take anything," said Jethro. "You mean to say you don't want anything for your for your time and your services if the bill is defeated?"