“Who's going to stand for this? You or the old man? I hear he was in town last night.” “I stand for it, but of course he approves.” “I'll bet he approves,” and the assistant treasurer grinned. “This is the sort of thing that suits him right down to the ground.” “How about the hands? Do you know if they are members of any union?” “No, but there'll be lively times ahead for you. They are a great lot of kickers here.” “Wait until I get through. I haven't touched the shops yet; that's to come later. I'll skin closer before I'm done.” Oakley got up and lit his pipe. “The plant must make some sort of a showing. We can't continue at the rate we have been going. I suppose you know what sort of shape it would leave the town in if the shops were closed.” “Damn poor shape, I should say. Why, it's the money that goes in and out of this office twice a month that keeps the town alive. It couldn't exist a day without that.” “Then it behooves us to see to it that nothing happens to the shops or road. I am sorry for the men I am laying off, but it can't be helped.” “I see you are going to chuck Hoadley out of his good thing at the Junction. If he was half white he'd a gone long ago. He must lay awake nights figuring how he can keep decently busy.” “Is the list all right?” “Yes. No, it's not, either. You've marked off Joe Percell at Harrison. He used to brake for the Huckleberry until he lost an arm. His is a pension job.” “Put his name back, then. How do you think it's going to work?” “Oh, it will work all right, because it has to, but they'll all be cussing you,” with great good humor. “What's the matter, anyhow? Did the old man throw a fit at the size of the pay-roll?” “Not exactly, but he came down here with his mind made up to sell the road to the M. & W.” “You don't say so!” “I talked him out of that, but we must make a showing, for he's good and tired, and may dump the whole business any day.” “Well, if he does that there'll be no marrying or giving in marriage for me this summer. It will be just like a Shaker settlement where I am concerned.” Dan laughed. “Oh, you'd be all right, Holt. You'd get something else, or the M. & W. would keep you on.” “I don't know about that. A new management generally means a clean sweep all round, and my berth's a pretty good one.” In some manner a rumor of the changes Oakley proposed making did get abroad, and he was promptly made aware that his popularity in Antioch was a thing of the past. He was regarded as an oppressor from whom some elaborate and wanton tyranny might be expected. While General Cornish suffered their inefficiency, his easy-going predecessors had been content to draw their salaries and let it go at that, a line of conduct which Antioch held to be entirely proper. This new man, however, was clearly an upstart, cursed with an insane and destructive ambition to earn money from the road.