was already called " the old way," by hand. Then he formally announced that a stock company would be formed in Bidwell and that every one would have a chance to get into it. He printed an article in the weekly paper in which he said that many offers had come to him to take his project to the city or to other and larger towns. " Mr. McVey, the celebrated in- ventor, and I both want to stick to our own people," he said, regardless of the fact that Hugh knew noth- ing of the article and had never been taken into the lives of the people addressed. A day was set for the beginning of the taking of stock subscriptions, and in private conversations Steve whispered of huge profits to be made. The matter was talked over in every household and plans were made for raising money to buy stock. John Clark agreed to lend a certain per- centage on the value of the town property and Steve secured a long-time option on all the land facing Tur- ner's Pike clear down to Pickleville. When the town heard of this it was filled with wonder. " Gee," the loiterers before the store exclaimed, " old Bidwell is going to grow up. Now look at that, will you? There are going to be houses clear down to Pickle- ville." Hugh went to Cleveland to see about having one of his new machines made in steel and wood and in a size that would permit its actual use in the field. He returned, a hero in the town's eyes. His silence made it possible for the people, who could not entirely forget their former lack of faith in Steve, to let their minds take hold of something they thought was truly heroic. In the evening, after going again to see the machine in the window of the jewelry store, crowds of young
