"Pretty punk service the Company giving us on these car-lines. Nonsense toonly run the Portland Road cars once every seven minutes. Fellow gets mightycold on a winter morning, waiting on a street corner with the wind nipping athis ankles."

"That's right. The Street Car Company don't care a damn what kind of a dealthey give us. Something ought to happen to 'em."

Babbitt was alarmed. "But still, of course it won't do to just keep knockingthe Traction Company and not realize the difficulties they're operating under,like these cranks that want municipal ownership. The way these workmen hold upthe Company for high wages is simply a crime, and of course the burden fallson you and me that have to pay a seven-cent fare! Fact, there's remarkableservice on all their lines--considering."

"Well--" uneasily.

"Darn fine night," Babbitt explained. "Spring coming along rapid."

"Yes, it really is real spring now."