"I see. I see. A fine point. You have taught me something. By the

way, about the pass you spoke of--I suppose you understand the

importance of getting hold of a strategic point like that

to--a--forestall--competition?"

"I have hold of it."

"I do not mind saying to you, under all the circumstances, that there

has been a little friction with the Harrison people. Do you see? And,

for reasons that may suggest themselves, there may be more. They might

conclude to run a line to the coast themselves. The young man has, I

believe, been turned down----"

"I understood the--the slate had been--changed slightly," stammered

Glover, coloring.

"There might be resentment, that's all. Blood is loyal to us, I

presume."

"There's no taint anywhere in Morris Blood. He is loyalty itself."

"What would you think of him as General Manager? Callahan goes to the

river as Traffic Manager. Mr. Bucks, you know, is the new President;

these are his recommendations. What do you think of them?"

"No better men on earth for the positions, and I'm mighty glad to see

them get what they deserve."

"Our idea is to leave you right here in the mountains." It was hard to

be left completely out of the new deal, but Glover did not visibly

wince. "With the title," added Mr. Brock, after he knew his arrow had

gone home, "with the title of Second Vice-president, which Mr. Bucks

now holds. That will give you full swing in your plans for the

rebuilding of the system. I want to see them carried out as the

estimates I've been studying this winter show. Don't thank me. I did

not know till yesterday they were entirely your plans. You can have

every dollar you need; it will rest with you to produce the results. I

guess that's all. No, stop. I want you to go East with us next week

for a month or two as our guest. You can forward your work the faster

when you get back, and I should like you to meet the men whose money

you are to spend. Were you waiting to see Gertrude?"

"Why--yes, sir--I----"

"I'll see whether she's around."

Gertrude did not appear for some moments, then she half ran and half

glided in, radiant. "I couldn't get away!" she exclaimed. "He's

talking about you yet to Aunt Jane and Marie. He says you're charged

with dynamite--I knew that--a most remarkable young man. How did you

ever convince him you knew anything? I am confident you don't. You

must have taken him somehow aback, didn't you?"

"If you want to give your father a touch of asthma," suggested Glover,

"ask him how old I am; but he had me scared once or twice," admitted

the engineer, wiping the cold sweat from his wrists.




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