“I knew you would be,” said Gibbons, “You see, I have given up the real estate t [72] business clown at Waterville, and am turned stage driver. Of course, every man in this ‘ere country is lookin’ for promotion. I don’t reckon I’m any smarter than other people, but I’ve had my eye on this job for several months; but you can bet your life them other real estate agents didn’t know nothin’ about it. I tell you, pardner, it’s a mighty elevatin’ position to drive a six-horse team through these deep mountain gorges in all kinds of wind and weather. Had to give a mighty stout bond, too, for we handle all the express matter, and there’s a good deal of gold dust hauled down from this ‘ere camp.” Vance was glad to meet anyone, however slight the acquaintance had been, and in the course of their conversation Steve Gibbons confessed to him that he was “givin’ it to him just a leetle” in regard to the town lots which Vance had purchased of the Town Company. “You see,” said he, “the facts are, the Town Company of Waterville has made that ‘ere town, and are still makin’ it. It’s a mighty pert place, and is growin’ perter all the time.” Vance mentally wondered if all the “honest intentioned” fellows of Waterville would talk in the same way about the Town Company if they were occupying positions where their interests were no longer adverse to the Company’s. “Then you don’t think I paid too much for my lots?” asked Vance, looking up with a quizzical expression. “No,” said Steve Gibbons, “them lots are all right, pardner, and will make you a barrel if you hold on to ‘em. They sold ‘em to you cheap enough. That was just a leetle competition talk I was givin’ you that night down at Waterville. Business is business, you know, [73] when you are sellin’ town lots, and a man has got to talk for hisself. I really did want to sell you some lots, that’s a fact, ‘cause I wanted to rake in the commission; but it’s all over with now. I have throwed up the whole darned business of sellin’ lots since I was promoted. Old Dick Ballard,” said he, “is jest as prima facie as ever, and says his company is the finest drilled militia in the state. By the way,” he continued, “the Town Company has had a meetin’, and the people are feelin’ mighty good jess now’.” “How’s that?” asked Vance. “Oh,” replied Gibbons, “about once a month the Town Company have a meetin’, and pass resolutions, declar’ dividends and get up a new’ prospectus of different manufacturin’ enterprises that’s goin’ to be built thar; also, of colleges and state institutions that will be located at Waterville this comin’ year, and that always makes the people feel high-spirited for the next week or ten days, anyhow. Most of the people go on a spree after one o’ them encouragin’ meetin’s.” “I presume,” said Vance, “that Homer Winthrop is one of the leading spirits of the Company.”