son," Tom advised, slipping
his handful of letters into his coat and tossing that garment to the
back of the room. "If Bellas has any grudge against me, I don't want to
stop him from making his last kick."

Tom took a step forward, his open hands hanging at his sides. He didn't
look by any means alarmed, though Bellas appeared to be about twice the
young chief engineer's size.

So prompt had been Reade's action that, for a moment, Bellas looked
astounded. Then, with a roar, he leaped forward, swinging both arms and
closing in.

Tom Reade had had his best physical training on the football gridiron.
He dropped, instantly, as he leaped forward, making a low tackle and
rising with both arms wrapped around Bellas's knees. Tom took two swift
steps forward, then heaved his man, head first, out through the open
doorway.

Bellas landed about eight feet away. He was not hurt, beyond a jolting,
and leaped to his feet, shaking both fists.

"Not unless you really insist upon it," smiled Tom, shaking his head.
"It's too warm for exercise to-day."

"You tricky little whipper-snapper!" roared Bellas, making an angry
bound for the doorway.

Tom met his angry rush. Both went down, rolling over and over on the
ground. Bellas wound his powerful arms about the boy, and would have
crushed him. Though Tom hated to do it, there was no alternative but to
choke the powerful bully. Bellas soon let go, dazed and gasping. Ere the
big fellow came to his senses sufficiently to know what he was about,
Reade had hoisted Bellas to one shoulder.

Down by the checker's hut the crowd of curious workmen gasped as they
saw Tom Reade jogging along with this great load over one shoulder.
Reaching the line, Tom gave another heave. Bellas rolled on the ground.
He was conscious and could have gotten up, but he chose to lay where he
had fallen and think matters over.

"Don't think I'm peevish, men," Tom called pleasantly. "I wouldn't have
done that if Bellas hadn't attacked me. I had to defend myself. Now,
while I'm here, does any man wish to make a claim for justice? Does any
man feel that he has been discharged unfairly?"

Three or four men answered, though none of the Mexicans was among the
number. When questioned as to whether they had spent the night among Jim
Duff's friends all the speakers admitted that they had. Tom then made
them the same explanation he had offered Bellas.

"That's about all that can be said, isn't it, men?" Tom asked in
co