extension of the telegraph line. As soon as the assent of the Board of
Managers to the scheme had been communicated to them, they sent a note
to Harry suggesting that he should, in the name of his company, get the
written consent of owners of the lands over which the line would pass to
the construction of said line on their property. This business was soon
settled, for none of the owners of the farms between the mines and
Hetertown, all of whom were well acquainted with Mr. Loudon (and no man
in that part of the country was held in higher estimation by his
neighbors), had the slightest objection to the boys putting up their
telegraph line on their lands.

When Harry had secured the necessary promises, the construction of the
line was commenced forthwith. The boys had very little trouble with it.
Mr. Martin got together a gang of men, with an experienced man to direct
them, and came down with them to Akeville, where Harry hired them; and
finding that the foreman understood the business, he told him to go to
work and put up the line. When paydays came around, Harry gave each man
an order for his money on the Mica Mine Company, and their wages were
paid them by Mr. Martin.

It was not very long before the line was constructed and the instruments
were in working order in Hetertown and at the mica mines. There was a
person at the latter place who understood telegraphy, and he attended to
the business at that end of the line, while Mr. Lyons worked the
instruments at the Hetertown station, which was in the same building
with the regular telegraph line.

It was agreed that the Mica Company should keep an account of all
messages sent by them over the line, and should credit the Crooked Creek
Telegraph Company with the amount due in payment, after deducting
necessary expenses, hire of operators', and six per cent. on the capital
advanced.

Everything having been arranged on this basis, the extended line went
into operation, without regard to the amount of water in the creek, and
old Miles carried no more telegrams to Hetertown.

The telegraph business, however, became much less interesting to Kate
and the boys. It seemed to them as if it had been taken entirely out of
their hands, which was, indeed, the true state of the case. They were
the nominal owners and directors of the line, but they had nothing to
direct, and very vague ideas about the value of the property they owned.

"I don't know," said Tom Selden, as he sat o