never was accurate in geographical expressions.
Besides, he is shifty and would probably cover his tracks by telling
me to report progress when I got to Panama."

A clerk opened the outer office door. "Mr. Dancing asks if he can see
you, Mr. McCloud."

"Tell him I am busy."

Bill Dancing, close on the clerk's heels, spoke for himself. "I know
it, Mr. McCloud, I know it!" he interposed urgently, "but let me speak
to you just a moment." Hat in hand, Bill, because no one would knock
him down to keep him out, pushed into the room. "I've got a plan," he
urged, "in regards to getting these hold-ups."

"How are you, Bill?" exclaimed the man in the easy chair, jumping
hastily to his feet and shaking Dancing's hand. Then quite as hastily
he sat down, crossed his knees violently, stared at the giant lineman,
and exclaimed, "Let's have it!"

Dancing looked at him in silence and with some contempt. The
trainmaster had broken in on the superintendent for a moment and the
two were conferring in an undertone. "What might your name be,
mister?" growled Dancing, addressing with some condescension the man
in the easy chair.

The man waved his hand as if it were immaterial and answered with a
single word: "Forgotten!"

"How's that?"

"Forgotten!"

"That's a blamed queer name----"

"On the contrary, it's a very common name and that is just the
trouble: it's forgotten."

"What do you want, Bill?" demanded McCloud, turning to the lineman.

"Is this man all right?" asked Dancing, jerking his thumb toward the
easy chair.

"I can't say; you'll have to ask him."

"I'll save you that trouble, Bill, by saying that if it's for the good
of the division I am all right. Death to its enemies, damme, say I.
Now go on, William, and give us your plan in regards to getting these
hold-ups--yes."

Dancing looked from one man to the other, but McCloud appeared
preoccupied and his visitor seemed wholly serious. "I don't want to
take too much on myself--" Bill began, speaking to McCloud.

"You look as if you could carry a fair-sized load, William, provided
it bore the right label," suggested the visitor, entirely amiable.

"--But nobody has felt worse over this thing and recent things----"

"Recent things," echoed the easy chair.

"--happening to the division that I have. Now I know there's been
trouble on the division----"

"I think you are putting it too strong there, Bill, but let it pass."

"--there's been differences; misunders