e
wild places with their deer, buffalo, panthers, trappers like
Slingerland, scouts, and desperadoes. It began to get such a hold on me
that I was wild. That might have been bad for me but for my work. I
did well. Allie, I ran lines for the U. P. that no other engineer could
run."

Neale paused, as much from the squeeze Allie suddenly gave him as for an
instant's rest to catch his breath.

"I mean I had the nerve to tackle cliffs and dangerous slopes," he
went on. Then he told how Larry Red King had saved his life, and that
recollection brought back his service to the cowboy; then naturally
followed the two dominating incidents of the summer.

Allie lifted a blanched face and darkening eyes. "Neale! You were in
danger."

"Oh, not much, I guess. But Red thought so."

"He saved you again!... I--I'll never forget that."

"Anyway, we're square, for he'd have got shot sure the day the Indian
sneaked up on him." Allie shuddered and shrank back to Neale, while he
hastily resumed his story. "We're great pards now, Red and I. He doesn't
say much, but his acts tell. He will not let me alone. He follows
me everywhere. It's a joke among the men.... Well Allie, it seems
unbelievable that we have crossed the mountains and the desert--grade
ninety feet to the mile! The railroad can and will be built. I wish I
could tell you how tremendously all this has worked upon me--upon all
the engineers. But somehow I can't. It chokes me. The idea is big. But
the work--what shall I call that?... Allie, if you can, imagine
some spirit seizing hold of you and making you see difficulties as
joys--impossible tasks as only things to strike fire from genius,
perils of death as merely incidents of daring adventure to treasure in
memory--well that's something like it. The idea of the U. P. has got me.
I believe in it. I shall see it accomplished.... I'll live it all."

Allie moved her head on his shoulder, and, looking up at him with eyes
that made him ashamed of his egotism, she said, "Then, when it's done
you'll be chief of engineers or superintendent of maintenance of way?"

She had remembered his very words.

"Allie, I hope so," he replied, thrilling at her faith. "I'll work--I'll
get some big position."

Next day ushered in for Neale a well-earned rest, and he proceeded to
enjoy it to the full.

The fall had always been Neale's favorite season. Here, as elsewhere,
the aspect of it was flaming and golden, but different from what he