"But how are we to get rid of Tandy?"

"Ask him to resign, and kick him out if he doesn't. But listen! We've no
time to waste. We'll reorganize this company--making it a real railroad
company to build the road, instead of being the mere projecting company
it is now. You and I and Duncan will put all the money we can spare into
it, and we'll make every man in Cairo who's got anything beyond funeral
expenses put it in. All the subscriptions already made to the inducement
fund we'll convert into permanent stock subscriptions. Then, with the
county, city, and town subscriptions in hand, we'll have about four
millions of our stock subscribed. We must have twelve millions of stock
in all. It is for you, Duncan, to find the rest in New York. You must
see capitalists and persuade them to go in with us, as subscribers,
either to the stock or to the construction bonds that we'll issue. You
are to use your own judgment and we'll back you up."

"What are you going to do with Temple?"

"Make him chief engineer to the company, and set him at work surveying
and locating the line at once. It's now three o'clock. You must go and
pack your trunk, Duncan. I'll telegraph you in New York, telling you
everything you need to know. Take your copy of our private cipher code
with you, in case we should have confidential communications to make.
Go, now. I'll smooth your way by telegraphing our correspondents in New
York, and the officers of the Fourth National, asking them to help you.
Stafford, you'd better go home, now. You're getting along in life, you
know, and need your sleep." Stafford was about ten years younger than
Hallam.

So ended a conference that was destined, by the success or failure of
its purpose, to decide the fate of a great enterprise and the future of
a thriving city--to say nothing of the career of a brilliant young man.

XXXIII

AT CRISIS

It was December now, and winter had set in early. Temple found it
exceedingly difficult to secure the assistant surveyors, rodmen,
chainmen, and the rest, whose services were absolutely necessary, but by
dint of hard work, he at last completed the organization of his several
engineering corps, and set to work surveying the line, locating it,
establishing grades, and the like.

Hurry it as he might, the work was very slow, because of the bad
weather, but at least it went forward, and early in January gangs of men
were sent into each county to make a show, at least, of cons