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           "

           "Canyougiveusthenamesofalltheownerssince?"

           "No,sir.Wehadafireintheoldcourthouse,aboutthreeyearsago,andalltheoldrecordsaregone.Idon’tknowwhereyoucouldtracethemnow."

           "Youdon’tknowhowthisMarkYontshappenedtoacquirethefactory?"

           "Yes,Iknowthat.HeboughtitfromMayorBascomofRome.HowMayorBascomhappenedtoownit,Idon’tknow."

           "WhereisMayorBascomnow?"

           "Stillthere,inRome."

           "Thankyouverymuch,"saidRearden,rising."We’llcallonhim."

           Theywereatthedoorwhentheclerkasked,"Whatisityou’relookingfor,sir?"

           "We’relookingforafriendofours,"saidRearden."Afriendwe’velost,whousedtoworkinthatfactory."

           MayorBascomofRome,Wisconsin,leanedbackinhischair;hischestandstomachformedapear-shapedoutlineunderhissoiledshirt.

           Theairwasamixtureofsunanddust,pressingheavilyupontheporchofhishouse.Hewavedhisarm,theringonhisfingerflashingalargetopazofpoorquality.

           "Nouse,nouse,lady,absolutelynouse,"hesaid."Wouldbejustawasteofyourtime,tryingtoquestionthefolksaroundhere.There’snofactorypeopleleft,andnobodythatwouldremembermuchaboutthem.