nded his tramp westward, stumbling
on aimlessly up the canyon over the unsurfaced embankment of the new
line.

Truth to tell, Virginia's messenger was not unwilling to spend a
little time alone with the immensities. To put it baldly, he was
beginning to be desperately cloyed with the sweets of a day-long Miss
Bessie, ennuye on the one hand and despondent on the other.

Why could not the Cousin Bessies see, without being told in so many
words, that the heart of a man may have been given in times long past
to another woman?--to a Cousin Virginia, let us say. And why must the
Cousin Virginias, passing by the lifelong devotion of a kinsman lover,
throw themselves--if one must put it thus brutally--fairly at the head
of an acquaintance of a day?

So questioning the immensities, the Reverend Billy came out after some
little time in a small upland valley where the two lines, old and new,
ran parallel at the same level, with low embankments less than a
hundred yards apart.

Midway of the valley the hundred-yard interspace was bridged by a
hastily-constructed spur track starting from a switch on the Colorado
and Grand River main line, and crossing the Utah right of way at a
broad angle. On this spur, at its point of intersection with the new
line, stood a heavy locomotive, steam up, and manned in every inch of
its standing-room by armed guards.

The situation explained itself, even to a Reverend Billy. The Rajah
had not been idle during the interval of dinner-givings and social
divagations. He had acquired the right of way across the Utah's line
for his blockading spur; had taken advantage of Winton's inalertness
to construct the track; and was now prepared to hold the crossing with
a live engine and such a show of force as might be needful.

Calvert turned back from the entrance of the valley, and was minded,
in a spirit of fairness, to pass the word concerning the new
obstruction on to the man who was most vitally concerned. But alas!
even a Reverend Billy may not always arise superior to his hamperings
as a man and a lover. Here was defeat possible--nay, say rather defeat
probable--for a rival, with the probability increasing with each hour
of delay. Calvert fought it out by length and by breadth a dozen times
before he came in sight of the track force toiling at the shale-slide.
Should he tell Winton, and so, indirectly, help to frustrate Mr.
Darrah's well-laid plan? Or should he hold his peace and thus,
indirectly a