Зима тревоги нашей

           "Let’ssayIovercamemyscruples.Whathaveyouinmind?"

           "Haveyouanyideawhathermother’sworth?"

           "No—butitseemssubstantial."

           Hecleanedhisglasseswithgreatcare."WhatIsayisboundtobeinconfidence."

           "Ofcourse."

           "FortunatelyIknowyouarenotatalker.NoHawleyeverwas,exceptperhapsyourfather.Now,IknowasabusinessmanthatNewBaytownisgoingtogrow.Ithaseverythingtomakeitgrow—aharbor,beaches,inlandwaters.Onceitstarts,nothingcanstopit.Agoodbusinessmanowesittohistowntohelpitdevelop."

           "Andtakeaprofit."

           "Naturally."

           "Whyhasn’titdeveloped?"

           "Ithinkyouknowthat—themossbacksonthecouncil.They’relivinginthepast.Theyholdbackprogress."

           Italwaysinterestedmetohearhowphilanthropicthetakingofaprofitcanbe.Strippedofitsforward-looking,good-of-the-communityclothing,Mr.Baker’splacewasjustwhatithadtobe.Heandafewothers,averyfew,wouldsupportthetown’spresentadministrationsuntiltheyhadboughtorcontrolledallthefuturefacilities.ThentheywouldturnthecouncilandtheTownManageroutandletprogressreign,andonlythenwoulditbediscoveredthattheyownedeveryavenuethroughwhichitcouldcome.Frompuresentiment,hewaswillingtocutmeinforasmallshare.Idon’tknowwhetherornothehadintendedtoletmeknowthetimetable,orwhetherhisenthusiasmgotthebetterofhim,butitdidcomethroughthegeneralities.ThetownelectionisJulyseventh.