Ryder repeated his observation, and the man began to grin. "Think I'm dealing in coal? You've struck the wrong man, boss." "I represent the hotel," said Ryder. "I understand the railroad furnishes Pinewood Inn with fuel." "But not that coal," said the station master. "That was shunted off here yesterday because the old scrapheap they called an engine hitched to Number Three couldn't pull her load over the rise to Blandins. That coal is billed to a factory up there. I couldn't touch that coal if I wanted to." "Then put me in communication with the supervisor of this division and I'll tell him the hotel must have coal. We're all out. The manager has lit out over night and left the bins empty and the guests will freeze if we don't get coal. I'll pay for it right here, and you'll find that my check is good." "Oh, I ain't doubting that," said the agent. "I guess you're Mr. Ryder. I've heard tell of you. You near bought out Cal Crabtree's store last night, they say. But if you was the Angel Gabriel I couldn't sell you a hodful of that coal--nossir! Neither could the Super. It's not the road's coal, I tell you." "The road, then, is merely acting as carrier?" "That's right, Mister. The Lossing Soap Factory is going to get that coal." "I want that coal," said John Ryder persuasively. "Can't help it. If I should sell you a pound of it, I'd be li'ble to arrest for larceny, or burglary, or somethin'. Yes, sir!" "If you can't sell it, I shall have to take it." The station agent laughed. He laughed loudly. In fact he was still holding his sides and hee-hawing when Ryder walked away. The latter went directly to Crabtree's store. "Old man," he said to the storekeeper, and accepting without a qualm one of Crabtree's "two-fors" and lighting it, "what do teamsters ask here for carting a load of coal?" "They git fifty cents a ton." "I want you to get me every man who owns a horse and wagon, and will work, to cart coal from the spur track yonder to the hotel. Let 'em weigh out and in on your scales. I'll give a dollar a ton providing they get to work quickly and stick to it." "My soul and body! Where'll you git the coal?" gasped the storekeeper. "I haven't _got_ it. But I am going to _take_ it. It's there on the spur, and the hotel needs it. Can't let the women and children suffer. Do you notice that the thermometer is going down?" "But what'll the railroad folks do?" "You find me enough men and they won't do anything. We'll have what coal we need before they can send a gang up here from the Junction--even if they wish to. This is a case of necessity and Necessity, as our school-books used to tell us, knows no law!" "By jinks!" exclaimed Crabtree. "They'll call on the constable." "Where is he? Who is he?" "Why, he--he kinder thought to go fishin' today. The sun didn't jes' rise to suit him. But he can git out now if he steps right smart, before anybody can tell him he's likely to be called on."