d over, to
the division master-mechanic, who looked to the local foreman to finish
the job in time to win the subsidy.

The best months of the year went by before work was begun. Frost came,
and the few men tinkering about were chilled by the autumn winds that
were wailing through the shutterless doors and glassless windows.
Finally the foreman sent the Englishman to M. to help put up the
machinery. He was a new man, and therefore was expected to take signals
from the oldest man on the job,--a sort of straw-boss.

The bridge boss--the local head of the wood-workers--found the
Englishman gazing about, and the two men talked together. There was no
foreman there, but the Englishman thought he ought to work anyway; so he
and the wood boss stretched a line for a line-shaft, and while the
carpenter's gang put up braces and brackets the Englishman coupled the
shaft together, and in a few days it was ready to go up. As the young
man worked and whistled away one morning, the boss carpenter came in
with a military-looking gentleman, who seemed to own the place. "Where
did you come from?" asked the new-comer of the machinist.

"From England, sir."

"Well, anybody could tell that. Where did you come from when you came
here?"

"From E."

"Well, sir, can you finish this job and have steam up here on the first
of January?"

The Englishman blushed, for he was embarrassed, and glanced at the wood
boss. Then, sweeping the almost empty shop with his eye, he said
something about a foreman who was in charge of the work. "Damn the
foreman," said the stranger; "I'm talking to you."

The young man blushed again, and said he could work twelve or fourteen
hours a day for a time if it were necessary, but he didn't like to make
any rash promises about the general result.

"Now look here," said the well-dressed man, "I want you to take charge
of this job and finish it; employ as many men as you can handle, and
blow a whistle here on New Year's morning--do you understand?"

The Englishman thought he did, but he could hardly believe it. He
glanced at the wood boss, and the wood boss nodded his head.

"I shall do my best," said the Englishman, taking courage, "but I should
like to know who gives these orders."

"I'm the General Manager," said the man; "now get a move on you," and
he turned and walked out.

It is not to be supposed that the General Manager saw anything
remarkable about the young man, save that he was six feet and had a