e curb-stone fellows down-stairs; the hunt will be up, and
every feeder the Pacific Southwestern system has will be sending its
quota of gold-seekers to the new field. That isn't what you were going
to say, I know; but it is what is going to happen. Mr. Colbrith, it's
the chance of a century for the Pacific Southwestern company, and you
are deliberately trying to fire the one man who can make the most of
it."

The president's lack of sense of humor made it hard for him at times. He
was sitting very erect in the straight-backed hotel chair when he said:
"Mr. Ford, there are occasions when your conceit is insufferable. Do you
imagine for a moment that you are the only engineer in the United States
who can build railroads, Sir?"

"Oh, no."

"Then perhaps you will be good enough to explain your meaning?"

"It was a poor attempt at a jest," said the young man, rather lamely.
"Yet it had the truth behind it, in a way. I predict that this is the
beginning of one of the biggest mining rushes the world ever saw. We are
within one hundred and forty miles of Copah with a practicable railroad;
we are within twelve miles with a track which must be made practicable
while the band plays. If you discharge your entire engineering corps at
this crisis--"

"I beg your pardon," interrupted the president crustily. "I have not
asked your force to resign."

"Not meaning to, perhaps," countered the young man, maliciously
rejoicing in the hope that he had found one vulnerable link in the
president's coat of mail. "But if I go, the entire department will go.
Every man in it is my friend, as well as my subordinate; and they know
very well that if they shouldn't go, your new chief would fire them and
put in his own men."

"Ha!" said the president, straightening up again. "Am I to understand
that you are threatening me, Mr. Ford."

"No, indeed; I am only stating a fact. But it is a pretty serious fact.
Let us suppose, for the sake of the argument, that my prediction comes
true; that within thirty-six or forty-eight hours Saint's Rest is packed
with people trying to get to Copah. Your new chief, if you shall have
found him, will hardly be in the saddle. When he comes he will have to
reorganize the department, break in new men, learn by hard knocks what I
have been learning in detail--"

Mr. Colbrith thrust out a thin lip of obstinate determination.

"And if he does, your hypothetical rush will simply have to wait, Mr.
Ford. We have the