"Maybe. But, gentlemen, I guess we kin do business. I jest bought the only means of transportin' goods, wares, and merchandise into Coldriver. Beginnin' now, rates for freight goes up. I've studied the law, and there hain't no way to pervent me. I kin charge what I want for freighting and what I want will be so much not a one of you kin do business.... And I'll put in groceries and what not, myself. Gittin' my freight free, I calc'late to under-sell you quite consid'able.... Kin we do business?" The enemy went into executive session. They surrendered. Scattergood pocketed a check for five hundred dollars, and came into possession of a fine stock of hardware at fifty cents on the dollar. Likewise, he owned the stage line and franchise, controlling the only right of way by which a railroad could reach up the valley. It had required politics, marrying and giving in marriage, and patience, to accomplish it, but it was done. That evening Mrs. Hooper and Mrs. Pettybone, childhood friends, long separated by the feud, stopped to speak to Scattergood. "Nobody knows how we appreciate what you done Minnie and me," said Mrs. Pettybone. "Blessed is the peacemaker," said Mrs. Hooper. "Thankee, ladies. I don't mind bein' a peacemaker any time--when I kin do it at a profit." "It's always done at a profit, Mr. Baines, if you read the Good Book. This day you laid up a treasure in heaven." "Trouble with depositin' profits in heaven," said Scattergood, very soberly, "is that you got to wait so tarnation long to draw your int'rest." CHAPTER V HE MAKES IT ROUND NUMBERS "It's a telegram from Johnnie Bones," said Scattergood Baines to his wife, Mandy, as he tore open the yellow envelope and read the brief message it contained. "Telegram!" said Mandy. "Why didn't he write? Them telegrams come high.... Huh! Jest one word--'Come.' Costs as much to send ten as it does one, don't it?" "Identical," said Scattergood. "Then," said Mandy, sharply, "if he was bound to telegraph why didn't he git his money's worth?" "I calc'late he thought he said a plenty," Scattergood replied. "Johnnie he don't like to put no more in writin' that's apt to pass from hand to hand than he's obleeged to.... Mandy, looks like we better start for home." "What d'you s'pose it kin be?" Mandy asked, already busy laying clothing in their canvas telescope. "Mostly telegrams announces death or sickness." "I kin think of sixty-nine things it _might_ be," said Scattergood, "but I got a feelin' it hain't none of 'em." "We shouldn't of come away on this vacation," said Mandy. "Johnnie Bones is too young a boy to leave in charge." "Johnnie Bones is a dum good lawyer, Mandy, and a dum far-seein' young man. I don't calc'late Johnnie's done us no harm. Hain't no hurry, Mandy. We can't git a train home for five hours."