"How the deuce did you manage it?"
"We organize the Interurban Telephone Company, and bid for the
franchise--that's all."
"A dummy company!" cried Tallant. "Why, it's simple as ABC!"
Dickinson smiled. He was tremendously relieved, and showed it.
"That's true about all great ideas, Tallant," he said. "They're simple,
only it takes a clever man to think of them."
"And Jason agrees?" Tallant demanded.
I nodded again. "We'll have to outbid the Automatic people. I haven't
seen Bitter yet about the--about the fee."
"That's all right," said Leonard Dickinson, quickly. "I take off my hat
to you. You've saved us. You can ask any fee you like," he added
genially. "Let's go over to--to the Ashuela and get some lunch." He had
been about to say the Club, but he remembered Mr. Tallant's presence in
time. "Nothing's worrying you, Hugh?" he added, as we went out, followed
by the glances of his employees.
"Nothing," I said....