Watson and the clerk, Dave had been
rather surprised because William Jarvey had not shown himself,
because on the train he had said he was behindhand; and they had
naturally supposed he would come to the offices without delay. Just as
they were preparing to leave they heard an angry discussion going
on in Mr. Watson's private office, and they heard the voices of the
superintendent and the man they had met on the train.

"I gave you strict orders to come right back, Jarvey," they heard Mr.
Watson say. "You knew we were waiting for those blue-prints."

"I was delayed," growled William Jarvey in return. "You see, there
were some things about the prints--"

"I don't want any excuses," broke in Mr. Watson. "The blue-prints were
all right and were waiting for you. You took a day off simply to go
and have a good time. Now I want to warn you for the last time. If
such a thing happens again I'll discharge you."

CHAPTER XXIII

AT THE ENGINEERING CAMP

"I can understand now why that man Jarvey spoke against Mr. Watson,"
remarked Dave, as he and his chum walked along the main street of San
Antonio. "Mr. Watson evidently has no use for a fellow who doesn't
attend to business."

"I think he's all right, Dave," returned Roger. "Of course, he's
business clean through. But that is what you've got to expect from a
man who holds such a position."

"Exactly, Roger. The fellow who takes his own time and does things
about as he pleases has no place in the modern business world."

The two youths had received full instructions regarding what they were
to do. They were to take a train westward early in the morning for a
small place known as Molona, situated but a short distance from the
Rio Grande. There they were to report to Mr. Ralph Obray. Mr. Watson
had asked them regarding what they had brought along in the way of
baggage, and on being questioned had advised them to purchase several
other things before starting for the engineering camp.

"This is certainly an odd sort of place--quite different from a New
England town," was Dave's comment, as he and his chum went from one
shop to another in San Antonio in quest of the things they wished to
buy.

"Seems to me that it has quite a Mexican flavor to it," remarked
Roger. "Just see all the big hats and the fringed trousers."

Now that they had come so far the chums were eager to get to the camp,
and they could scarcely wait until the following morning. They found a
comf