Ellsworth. "But why did you go to such trouble
to get the men to start new bank accounts and thus send most of their
money out of town?"
"May I answer that question, sir, by asking another?" asked Reade
respectfully. "Did you wish the men to spend it in Paloma?"
"I don't care a hang what they do with it," retorted the general manager
half peevishly. "It's their own money."
"It was you, Mr. Ellsworth, whom I wired yesterday morning, asking that
you send down a representative of a savings bank who could open accounts
with such of the men as desired."
"Yes, and I sent you a couple of bank men. I didn't have any idea,
however, that you'd get the whole town of Paloma by the ears."
"I haven't, sir. I assure you of that. I've hurt only a few parasites
--a flock of human vultures. The decent people of the town don't side
with them."
"I wish I could be sure that we haven't offended the town as a whole,"
mused Mr. Ellsworth, "The good will of the people along our line is a
great asset.
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