Josephine, the week-old baby Mrs. Aydelot had gone to see one day nine years ago, had grown into a big, black-eyed, rosy-cheeked girl who lorded it over every other child in the neighborhood. And every other child submitted except Leigh Shirley, who had a quiet habit of going straight ahead about her affairs in a way that vexed the pretty Jo not a little. From the first coming of Leigh among the children Jo had resented her independence. But, young as they all were, she objected most to Thaine Aydelot's claiming Leigh as his playmate. Thaine was Jo's idol from earliest memory. "What's the row here?" Todd Stewart, Junior, broke in. "You mustn't fuss or you'll all have to go in and listen to Darley Champers and I'll play out here by myself." Todd was a young-hearted, half-grown boy now, able to work all day in the hayfield or to romp like a child with younger children in the evening. He was half a dozen years older than Thaine and Jo, a difference that would tend to disappear by the end of a decade. "We'll be good, Toddie, if you'll let us stay and you'll play with us," the children entreated, and the game began, with Thaine between Leigh and Jo. When Asher Aydelot joined the group inside Darley Champers rapped on the desk and called the men to order. "Gentlemen, let's have a businesslike proceeding," he said. "Who shall preside at the meeting?" "I move Jim Shirley be made chairman. He's the best looking man here," Todd Stewart said, half seriously. The motion carried and Jim, looking big and handsome and kindly as always, took the chair. "I'll ask Mr. Champers to state the purpose of the meeting," he said. "Gentlemen," Champers began with tremendous dignity, "I represent the firm of the Champers Town Company, just chartered, with half a million dollars' capital. Gentlemen, you have the finest valley in Kansas." The same was said of every other valley in Kansas in the fat years of the boom. But to do Darley justice, he had never made a finer effort in his life of many efforts than he was bent on making tonight. "And this site is the garden spot of it all," he continued. "The elevation, the water power at the deep bend of Grass River (where at that moment only a trace of water marked the river's grassy right of way), the fine farming land--everything ready for a sudden leap into prosperity. And, gentlemen, the A. and T. (Arctic and Tropic) North and South Railroad will begin grading down this very stream inside of thirty days. A town here this year will be a city next year, a danged sight bigger city than Careyville will ever be. Why, that town's got its growth and is beginning to decay right now. The A. and T. will miss it comin' south, by ten mile."