racks at some unguarded points. At the same time, sir, I feel
certain that we can get far more protection from Chief of Detectives
Fulsbee's men than from a man like Sheriff Grease."
"Reade?" returned President Newnham, "it is plain to be seen that
you lose no time in making your plans or in arranging to put them
into execution. I imagine you're right, for you've been right in
everything so far. So arrange with Mr. Fulsbee for whatever you
think may be needed."
"Thank you, sir," murmured Tom. Then he signaled Fulsbee to get
out of the tent, and followed that new official.
"Never hang around, Dave, after you've got what you want," chuckled
Tom. "Hello, Mr. Sheriff! This is just a line to tell you that
Fulsbee has a steady job with the company, and that he'll need
the services of at least forty men, all of whom must be voters
in this county. The pay will be seventy-five a month and keep, with
extra allowance for horses."
Sheriff Grease didn't look much more pleasant than he felt.
"Are you homeward bound---when you go?" continued Reade.
The sheriff nodded.
"Then you might spread the word that men are needed, and tell
the best men to apply to Dave Fulsbee, at this camp," suggested
Tom. "Be strong on the point that all applicants have to be voters
in this county."
"I will," nodded the sheriff, choking down his wrath by a great
effort. "Dave won't have any trouble in getting good men when
I spread the word. You're a mighty good fellow, Dave. I always
said it," added the sheriff. "I'm sorry I had to be rough with
you, but---but-----"
"Of course we understand here that orders from a political boss
have to be obeyed," Tom added good-naturedly. "We won't over-blame
you, Mr. Grease."
The sheriff rode away, Tom's smiling eyes following him.
"That touch about your having forty voters at your beck and call
must have stuck in the honorable sheriff's crop, Dave," chuckled
the cub chief engineer.
"I reckon it does," drawled Dave. "A man like Grease can't understand
that a man of my kind wouldn't ask any fellow working for him
what ticket he voted for on election day. You certainly hit the
sheriff hard, Mr. Reade. In the first place, six thousand a year
is a lot more money than the sheriff gets himself. Forty voters
are fully as many as he can control, for which reason Grease,
in his mind's eye, sees me winning his office away from him any day
that I want to do so."
Ere three days had pass
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