"Your newly made enemies have gotten after you quickly, Sir," commented
the superintendent grimly.
"Yes," nodded Tom. "And, of course, I can't follow any course that
isn't approved by the general manager. I'll wire him the truth and see
what he has to say. Operator!"
"Yes, Sir," replied the young man, turning and coming back.
"Wait for a message," directed Tom; then seated himself and wrote the
following reply:
"Ellsworth, General Manager.
"Have not interfered in any way with honest merchants of Paloma. Men
are at liberty to spend their money any way they choose. I did give the
men a talk about the foolishness of spending their wages in buying
liquor or in gambling. Result was that men banked about two thirds of
the total pay roll with the bank people you sent on pay train yesterday
at my request. Also drove off a gambler who tried to erect two tents on
railroad property in order to fleece the men more speedily.
"(Signed) READE,
"Chief Engineer."
"That will tell the general manager about the kind of merchants that
I've been injuring," smiled Tom, first showing the sheet to
Superintendent Hawkins and then handing it to the waiting messenger.
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