Brandon of the Engineers

"I suppose I may congratulate you on your recent promotion? You certainly

deserve it," Kenwardine remarked with an ironical smile. "I imagine your

conscientiousness and energy are unusual, but perhaps at times rather

inconvenient."

"Thanks!" said Dick. "How did you hear about the matter?"

"In Santa Brigida, one hears everything that goes on. We have nothing

much to do but talk about our neighbors' affairs."

Dick wondered whether Kenwardine meant to hint that as his time was

largely unoccupied he had only a small part in managing the coaling

business, but he said: "We are hardly your neighbors at the camp."

"I suppose that's true. We certainly don't see you often."

This seemed to indicate that Kenwardine did not know about Dick's recent

visit. He could have no reason for hiding his knowledge, and it looked as

if Clare did not tell her father everything.

"You have succeeded in keeping your young friend out of our way,"

Kenwardine resumed. "Still, as he hasn't your love of work and sober

character, there's some risk of a reaction if you hold him in too hard.

Jake's at an age when it's difficult to be satisfied with cement."

Dick laughed. "I really did try to keep him, but was helped by luck. We

have been unusually busy at the dam and although I don't know that his

love for cement is strong he doesn't often leave a half-finished job."

"If you work upon his feelings in that way, I expect you'll beat me; but

after all, I'm not scheming to entangle the lad. He's a bright and

amusing youngster, but there wouldn't be much profit in exploiting him.

However, you have had some accidents at the dam, haven't you?"

Dick was immediately on his guard, but he answered carelessly: "We broke

a crane-drum, which delayed us."

"And didn't a truck fall down the embankment and do some damage?"

"It did," said Dick. "We had a big molded block, which cost a good deal

to make, smashed to pieces, and some others split. I had something of an

escape, too, because I was standing under the block."

He was watching Kenwardine and thought his expression changed and his

easy pose stiffened. His self-control was good, but Dick imagined he was

keenly interested and surprised.

"Then you ran a risk of being killed?"

"Yes. Jake, however, saw the danger and warned me just before the block

fell."

"That was lucky. But you have a curious temperament. When we began to

talk of the accidents, you remembered the damage to Fuller's property

before the risk to your life."

"Well," said Dick, "you see I wasn't hurt, but the damage still keeps us

back."

"How did the truck run off the line? I should have thought you'd have

taken precautions against anything of the kind."