John was full of a plan to organize a commission company, buy all of the wheat grown by the Golden Belt Wheat Company and make a profit off the wheat company for the commission company.

He had bargained with the traffic officers of the railroad company to accept stock in the commission company in return for rate concessions on the Corn Belt Railroad, which was within a few months' building distance of Sycamore Ridge.
As John unfolded his scheme, Bob eyed his partner almost without a word.

A devil back in some recess of his soul was thirsting for a quarrel.

But Bob's sane consciousness would not unleash the devil, so he replied:-- "No--you go ahead with your commission company, and I'll stick to the wheat proposition.

That and the bank will keep me going." The afternoon was late, and a great heap of papers of the bank and the company lay before them that needed their time.