felt intuitively that it would be the greatest possible
relief to all three of these men if she would go away.

But now a curious struggle as of a divided allegiance was holding her.
Of course, she wanted Mr. Somerville Darrah to win. Since he was its
advocate, his cause must be righteous and just. But against this
dutiful convincement there was a rebellious hope that Winton would not
allow himself to be beaten; or, rather, it was a feeling that she
would never forgive him if he should.

So it was that she stood with face averted lest he should see her eyes
and read the rebellious hope in them. And in spite of the precaution
he both saw and read, and made answer to the Rajah's ultimatum
accordingly.

"Do your worst, Mr. Darrah. We have some twenty miles of steel to lay
to take us into the Carbonate yards. That steel shall go down in spite
of anything you can do to prevent it."

Virginia waited breathless for her uncle's reply to this cool
defiance. Quite contrary to all precedent, it was mildly
expostulatory.

"It grieves me, seh, to find you so determined to cou't failure," he
began; and when the whistle of the upcoming Carbonate train gave him
leave to go on: "Constable, you will find transpo'tation for yourself
and one in the hands of the station agent. Misteh Winton, that is your
train. I wish you good-morning and a pleasant journey. Come, Virginia,
we shall be late to ouh breakfast."

Winton walked back to the station at the heels of his captor,
cudgeling his brain to devise some means of getting word to Adams.
Happily the Technologian, who had been unloading steel at the
construction camp, had been told of the arrest, and when Winton
reached the station he found his assistant waiting for him.

But now the train was at hand and time had grown suddenly precious.
Winton turned short upon the marshal.

"This is not a criminal matter, Mr. Biggin: will you give me a moment
with my friend?"

The ex-cowboy grinned. "Bet your life I will. I ain't lovin' that old
b'iler-buster in the private car none too hard." And he went in to get
the passes.

"What's up?" queried Adams, forgetting his drawl for once in a way.

"An arrest--trumped-up charge of trespass on that mining claim up
yonder. But I've got to go to Carbonate to answer the charge and give
bonds, just the same."

"Any instructions?"

"Yes. When the train is out of sight and hearing, you get back over
there and drive that track-laying for every foot