gh rapidly if there is any way of doing
it. Shall engage extra engineers in this state. Hope to be able
to show you, on arrival, things moving at speed."

(Signed) Reade, "Acting Chief Engineer."

Then Tom shoved both despatches under his chum's eyes. Naturally
Hazelton read the one from New York first.

"Whew! The president seems to trust you," murmured Harry.

"No; he doesn't," Tom retorted. "He doesn't know anything about
me. His wire shows that he knows and trusts Mr. Thurston, the
man who picked me out for this job."

Then Tom wrote a second despatch, addressed to the State University.
It ran as follows:

"Have heard that your university has party from engineering school
in field this summer. Can you place me in immediate wire communication
with professor in charge of party? Have practical work to offer
students."

This also Tom showed briefly to his chum. Then, picking up the
two telegrams, Tom stepped outside, turning them over to the rider.
"Ask your operator to rush both of these, the one to New York
going first."

As the pony's hoofs clicked against the gravel, Reade stepped
inside the tent.

"What are you going to do with the State University students?"
asked Harry curiously.

"Put 'em at work on the smaller jobs here," Tom answered. "At
least, as many of them as the professor will vouch for."

Three hours later Tom received an answer to his local despatch.
It was from Professor Coles, sixty miles away, in camp with a
party of thirty engineering students. The professor asked for
further particulars. Tom wired back:

"Can use your entire lot of students in practical railroad work,
if they want experience and can do work. Will you bring them
here with all speed and let us try them out? For yourself, we
offer suitable pay for a man of your attainments. Students engaged
will be paid all they are worth."

"Gracious, but you're going in at wholesale! What will President
Newnham say to you for engaging men at such a wholesale rate!"

"By the time he reaches here," replied Tom in a tone that meant
business, "either he will see results that will force him to
approve---or else he'll give me my walking papers."

"Now, what shall we do?" inquired Hazelton.

"Nothing. It's nearly time for the field force to be back in camp."

"We'd better work every minute of the time," urged Harry.

"We're going to take things more easily after this," Tom yawned.

"Is that what you mean by hustl