Page:The Plutocrat (1927).pdf/74

 don't know. You've pretty well covered the list, Mr. Tinker; I don't know of anybody on board you've left out; but when you think it over, most o' the gentlemen you've named are like me, either retired or turned the management of their businesses over to other people, except Smith, of course. He's pretty active in the G. L. and W. still, and it would be a bad thing if this boat went down with him on board. As you say, there's a lot of money represented; but if this steamer did ram into something in a fog and go to the bottom, everything back home would go on just about the same, and I don't believe the public would know much difference—except for T. H. Smith and yourself maybe. He'd be the only headliner in the papers, anyhow."

"What!" Tinker exclaimed. "Why, James T. Weatheright"

"Yes, I admit there might be front-page stuff about Weatheright; but it wouldn't be heavy. Weatheright turned the worsted business over to his sons more than five years ago."

"Look here! Look here!" Tinker was not satisfied. "I don't want to blow my own horn; but I'd like to say right here and now, my town would know the