"Name's Scattergood Baines. Figger to build a railroad. Want to see you about it," said Scattergood, succinctly. "Not interested. Busy. Get out," said Castle. Scattergood dropped the secretary, and lumbered up to the president's desk. He leaned over it heavily. "I've come to see you about this here thing," he said, quietly. "Either you'll talk to me about it _now_, or I'll have to sort of arrange so that you'll come to _me_, askin' to talk about it, later. Now you kin save both our time." Castle regarded Scattergood with eyes that seemed to burn with unnatural nervous energy--it was a brief scrutiny. "Clear out," he said to his secretary. "Sit down," to Scattergood. "Obleeged," said Scattergood. "I'm figgerin' on buildin' a railroad down Coldriver Valley from Coldriver to connect with the G. and B. narrow gauge. Carry freight and passengers. Want you to agree about train service, freight transfer, buildin' a station, and sich matters." Here was a man who could get down to business, President Castle perceived, and who could state his business clearly and to the point. "I know the valley. Been talking about it. Where do you come in?" "I calculate to build the road." "For Crane and Keith?" "Eh?" "They're the men backing it, aren't they? In to see me about it last week." Crane and Keith! Scattergood's career in the valley had been one of warfare with Crane and Keith. He had beaten them with his dam and boom company; he had beaten them in certain stumpage operations. Now they were after his railroad and his valley. "Um!..." he said, and reached down mechanically to loosen his shoe. Here was need for careful thought. "I gave them all necessary information," said the president. "Don't concern me none," said Scattergood. "This here is to be _my_ railroad, and I'm the feller that's goin' to own and run it. Crane and Keith hain't in it at all." "You're too late. The G. and B. has agreed to handle their freight and to stop passengers at their station. Tentatively agreed to lease and operate the road when built.... Good morning." "I calculate there's room for argument," said Scattergood. "I own right consid'able of that right of way." "Railroad can take it under the right of eminent domain," said the president. "Kin one railroad take from another one?" asked Scattergood, a bit anxiously. "No." "Um!... Wa-al, you see, Mr. Castle, I got me a charter to build this railroad. Legislature up and give me one." "Makes no difference. We've made an agreement with Crane and Keith which _stands_. You can't build your road, whatever you've got. Frankly, we won't tolerate a road there that we don't control. Good morning." "That final, Mr. President?" "Absolutely." "If I was to build in spite of you I calc'late you'd fix things so's runnin' it wouldn't do much good to me, eh? Stop no trains for me, and sich like?" "Exactly."