m Galveston for nobody knows where; health trip--doctor's
orders--Leckhard said. I sent Frisbie over to be acting manager of the
system, pending the president's--er--recovery from _his_ sudden illness.
Leckhard says the New York people are burning the wires trying to get
word to Mr. Colbrith."

"They may go on burning them," said Adair calmly. "Uncle Sidney isn't
going to quit until he owns a good half of the Copah district--or gets
his armature burned out. And if he were ready to quit, we shouldn't let
him. But how are things working out on the extension?--that is what
interests me."

"Bully!" was the enthusiastic reply. "We're spending money like water;
paying anything that's asked; and even then the men come and go like a
torchlight procession. But we are keeping the surfacing gangs neck-full
the entire length of the line, and Leckhard has already organized his
regular train service over the first hundred miles. That puts us on an
even footing with the Transcontinental at Jack's Canyon, and the tide is
fairly turned our way. When we lay the rails into Copah,--which will be
the day after to-morrow, if nothing pulls in two,--the first through
passenger train, with the '01' in tow, will be right behind us. Does the
report satisfy you?"

"Your word fits it: it's bully."

"Then I want my reward. When am I to be allowed to chase in and pay my
respects to your--er--aunt, and--and Miss Alicia?"

Adair laughed.

"My--er--aunt!" he mocked. "Much you care about Aunt Hetty. And I've a
thing or two to say about Alicia. Who gave you leave to fall in love
with my little sister, I'd like to know?"

"She did," retorted Ford brazenly. "Don't tell me you are going to try
to kick it over at this late day. You can't, you know."

Adair tilted his hat to the back of his head and thrust his hands into
his pockets.

"I'm no such wild ass of the prairies," he declared. "But, my good
friend, you don't come into town till you bring your railroad with you.
I know how it will be: you'd linger for just one more last fond
farewell, and about that time Uncle Sidney would drop in on you
unexpectedly. Then there'd be a family row, after which my Pacific
Southwestern stock wouldn't be worth a whoop. No; you wait till I get
Uncle Sidney safely where I want him--properly in the nine-hole, and
then I'll flag you in."

The chance for which the golden youth was waiting and working climaxed
on the day the extension rails came down the hill-side