tain."

Ford swung up beside Hector, who had been listening. "You see what we're
in for, Hector. Start your headlight dynamo and let's go," he said; and
five minutes farther on, just as Penfield was about to make his fifth
scramble over the coal in the tender, the 1012 took the upward road with
a deafening whistle shriek as its farewell to Saint's Rest.

It was pocket-dark by the time the switch-stand at the basin siding
swung into the broad beam of the electric headlight. Ford got down from
the fireman's box and crossed over to the engineer's side to pilot
Hector.

"How's your track from this on?" inquired the big engineman gruffly.

"It is about as rough as it can be, and not ditch the steel trains.
You'll have to hold her down or we'll have results."

"What in the name o' thunder is the old man's notion of goin' to the
front with a picnic party and makin' a night run of it, at that, d'ye
reckon?"

"The Lord only knows. Easy around this curve you're coming to; it isn't
set up yet." The 1012 was a fast eight-wheeler from the main line, and
though the grade was a rising four per cent, the big flyer was making
light work of her one-car train.

Ford sat gloomily watching the track ahead as the great engine stormed
around the curves and up the grades. The struggle against odds was
beginning to tell on him. The building of this new line, the opening of
the new country, was the real end for which all the planning and
scheming in the financial field had been only the necessary
preliminaries. For himself he had craved nothing but the privilege of
building the extension; of rejoicing in his own handiwork and in the new
triumph of progress and civilization which it would bring to pass. But
little by little the fine fire of workmanlike enthusiasm was burning
itself out against the iron barriers of petty spite and malice thrown up
at every turn by North and the Denver junta of obstructionists.

He was at no loss to account for North's motive. It was no longer the
contemptuous disregard of a general manager for one of his subordinates
who had shown signs of outgrowing his job. It was a fight between
rivals--equals--and Ford knew that it must go on until one or the other
should be driven to the wall. Thus far, his antagonist had scored every
point. The MacMorroghs had been helped into the saddle and held there.
Mr. Colbrith had been won over; the authority given Ford by his
appointment as assistant to the president had been