"
Mr. Poundstone had given no such assurance, but for some reason he
did not feel equal to the task of contradicting this pleasant fellow.
Ogilvy continued: "At the proper time we shall apply for the
franchise. It will then be time enough to discuss it. In the meantime
the N. C. O. plans a public dedicatory ceremony at the first breaking
of ground, and I would be greatly honoured, Mr. Mayor, if you would
consent to turn the first shovelful of earth and deliver the address
of welcome upon that occasion."
The Mayor swelled like a Thanksgiving turkey. "The honour will be
mine," he corrected his visitor.
"Thank you so much, sir. Well, that's another worry off my mind."
With the tact of a prime minister Buck then proceeded deliberately to
shift the conversation to the weather and asked a number of questions
anent the annual rainfall. Then he turned to crops, finance, and
national politics and gradually veered around to an artistic word-
picture of the vast expansion of the redwood-lumber industry when the
redwood-belt should be connected by rail with the markets of the
entire country. He spoke of the magic effect the building of such a
line would have upon the growth of Sequoia. Sequoia, he felt
convinced, was destined to become a city of at least a hundred
thousand inhabitants; he rhapsodized over the progressive spirit of
the community and with a wave of his hand studded the waters of
Humboldt Bay with the masts of the world's shipping.
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