e
not going to interfere any further with any form of amusement that is
brought to the camp evenings by outsiders."

"Is that proposition number two, sir?" queried the young chief engineer.

"It is."

"Then please don't misunderstand me, sir," Reade begged, respectfully,
"but it is declined, as is proposition number one."

"Do you mean to say that you are going to go on with your fool way of
doing things?"

"Yes, sir---until I am convinced that it is a fool way."

"But I've just told you that it is," snapped Mr. Bascomb.

"Then I say it very respectfully, sir, but pardon me for replying that I
don't consider the evidence very convincing. I have shown you why I must
have good order in the camp, and I have told you that I do not propose to
allow gambling or any other disorderly conduct to go on within camp limits.
I can't agree to these things, and then hope to win out by keeping the cost
of the work within the appropriation."

"Do you feel that you'll keep within the appropriation by making enemies
who deliberately blow up our masonry?" glared Mr. Bascomb.

"I doubt if there will be any more expense in that line, sir. I intend
to have such a watch kept over the wall as to prevent any further mischief
of the kind."

"Watchmen are an item of expense, aren't they?" snorted the president.

"Yes, sir; but next to nothing at all as compared with the mischief they
can prevent."

"I have already told you how to prevent the mischief, Reade. Stop all of
your foolish nonsense and let the men have their old-time pastimes."

"I can't do it, sir."

"Have you paper, pen and ink here?" thundered Mr. Bascomb. "If so, bring
them."

Tom quietly obeyed.

"Reade," again thundered the president of the Melliston Company, "I have
had as much of your nonsense as I intend to stand. You are out of here,
from this minute. Take that pen and sign your resignation!"

CHAPTER VII

TOM ISN'T AS EASY AS HE LOOKS

"I don't believe I'll do that, sir," murmured Tom, putting down the pen.

"You don't, eh?"

"No, sir."

"Oh, then you'd rather wait and be forced out?"

"How about the contract, sir, between your company and Reade & Hazelton?
Contracts can't be broken as lightly as your words imply."

"I'll break that contract, if I set out to," declared Mr. Bascomb, purpling
with half-suppressed rage. "I've every ground for breaking the contract.
You're running things with a high hand here, and disorganizing all our