"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.