The Road Builders

things were going on with some regularity. Scribner rode in late on the second afternoon, and toward the end of the eve

dnight the two young engineers tacitly put

n, after a silence, "I don't

e, puffed a moment, and slowly nodded. "Same h

e ownership of a rai

ve-barrelled bluff, you can give the other

course." They w

Scribner. Both dropped

said Yo

of a wa

e. Lost

again. Now, what

t's step out an

in front of the tent, they coul

" said Scribner, "horse gal

an completed, "when

ast, too,-where Bo

him. Heard of

ne. Wish he wa

Carhart can

who's got the cards. There'll come a time when both sides'll have to lay down their hand

he cards. He didn't look like a los

"you can bet he'll 'see' D

s that hor

n-looks

-Good evening,

ou, boys?

iffany. He's up

d. "What the devil! You don't

at Red Hills, you kn

-- he

ce to hold the west

round. He bore unmistakable evidences of long and hard riding. Even in that d

e bit drappie, ha

" Young Van replie

down a drink which would have done credit to the hardiest Highlander of them all. "Now

r the three men were back

hrough, Mr. Tiffan

f McGraw and a bundle of warrants and a hundred and fifty men-more, I guess, by this time. Just another thimbleful o' that- Thanks! We've got Bourke blocked at Barker Hills, all right.

fee hasn't got the

on't know such a heap about that part of it. I was telling you-I'll take a nip o' that. Thanks!-I was tel

ou fin

got those splinters handling cross-ties in the dark. And about the middle of th

se off and rode around south of the station. Had some sandwiches in my pocket, but didn't

d up to two and

't answer."- Tiffany paused with this, and looked grimly from one to the other of the young men. Then he drew a big

all ready for you, Mr. Tiffan

Paul Carhart. I wonder if you boys know what it means to have the opportunity to work with that man-eh? He had u

each other. "Then those rails didn't co

. And what does he do? Why he comes down and walks off with the old Paradise Southern-rails, ties, everything. He never even tells Peet and me. It's up to him, he thinks, and if he makes good, nobody can kick." Tiffany was grinning again. "Yes, sir," he continued, "Paul Carhart just naturally confiscated the Paradise Southern, and it was th

ht," said

ith you as far as my division to-morrow, Mr.

tent. They could hear him throwing off his clothes and getting into bed. An

d at his companion. "I think this," he replied: "I wouldn't miss

t make much difference one way or the other," he replied, and

sleep and swear, came slowly down the slope into the camp, where Flint was hovering midway between the present and the hereafter. He found the chief of c

, how goes

. How much

ous li

we are," said he. "The trestle is fifty to a hundred and fifty feet high, from ridge to ridge. Flagg h

ffany, "I see. I've bee

r and only a quarter of a mile away from him. His line of retreat lies through the hollow between the two knolls, where the track is to run. Now if I put fifty or a hundred men on each knoll, I can command h

occupied the

I've been watching t

Commodore put such

ad man. He's the sort General Carring

e valley, at the point where the trestle met the rising ground, they could see lights, some of them m

He has got possession of our grade over there-we can't deny that. We've either got to giv

made a pretty play. And as a play-as a b

!" Tiffan

ht-and close in across Flagg's rear, hold a line from kno

h, why didn't John stand him off in the first place! Then he c

iffany followed his example. The moon was rising behind them, and the valley and the trestle and the rude int

estion. But the question of who gets to Red Hills first is another thing altogether. The spectacle of Jack Flagg and a well-armed regiment of d

four had found him on a cot-the other nights had been passed on the ground. In the resulting physical depression his mind had taken to dwelling on the empty chamber in his revolver-he wished he knew more of what

still looking out there over the valley. "Wil

ot," said

vernor calls out the state troops, and th

. I'm going to ge

ur men on thos

es

then

going to R

ny sat up. There was

laughed a lit

cealed the eyes behind them. The lower part of the face was perhaps a trifle leaner than formerly. The mouth was composed.

mmodore

ad harder than anybody but you ever shoved one before and hired the rascals that shot John Flint,-him playing for the bigg

t hesitated,-"

If it was Bourke, it would be different; but these Durfee men are mad. The Commodore was never treated this way in his life before

nk he'll talk to me. But there's one thing I'

nto the game. I can't stand this lo

firewood. I came pretty near being held up altogether for wa

can you

aiting for me of

ted. "North

rt no

cate getting it that you can'

l I've got all the cards in my hand, and this is the last one. As to going myself,

ffany, gruffly, rising. "Want to

ng." While he spoke, he was watching Tiffany, and he was amused to see t

to begin your mili

up. "Not until I get back here with

d marched off to the cot w

chief who knew what was soon to be doing kept their own counsel. The others knew nothing, but there was a sort of tingling electricity in the air which had got into every man of the lot. This much they knew; Mr. Carhart was very quiet and considerate and businesslike, but he had a streak of blue in him. And it is the streak of blue in your quiet, considerate leader which makes him a leader indeed in the eyes and hearts of those who are to follow him. Not that there were any heroics in evidence, rather a certain grim quiet, from one end of the wago

, spoke, "That was hard luck, Mr. Carhart

f replied, and fell

suggested by him of the long nose. "Hard luck, eh?" he was thinking. "It's the first time in my life I

ge timbers and all the many materials used in building a railroad. "The end of the track," or rather "Mr. Bourke's camp," which marked the beginning of the end, lay some dozen miles farther west. Out there, men swarmed by the hundred, for work had by no means been discontinued on the H. D. & W. But here at "Durfee" there wer

lumber piles, or dropped silently to the ground and lay there watching. Out on the track a deep-chested, hard-faced man, who might perhaps have answered to the name of "Dimond," took up a post of observation. On that side of the circle nearest the station and the huts, two men who had the manner of some authority moved cautiously about. Both wore spectacles and one had a

m pastoral serenity these night enjoyments of his had passed through various disquieting stages into positive discord. They finally awoke him, and even assumed an air of waking r

He decided to drop his stick and draw his revolver. But this action, which he immediately undertook, was interrupted by a pair of strong arms which gripped him from behind. And a

ng, boys," sai

then could have bitten his tongue out, for the speaking eyes of the incapac

nd hovered in a crowd about the last dozen wagons until all danger of an attack was past. And later on, when they were something more than halfway back to Mr. F

week had been of an exhausting nature. But Tiffany, who had slept the sleep of the righteous throughout the night of the raiding expedition, took hold of th

good man to command one knoll," sai

and experienced. I'll take Byers to Red Hills with me. We can start out at nine, say. Each party will have to make a wide circuit

boats to ferry

t on the river. You take the down party, Tiffany, with Haddon; I'll go up with Dimond. Then

Carhart and Byers were the only ones to ride. The men lay or sat on the rocks and on the ground there behind the brow of the ridge, and talked soberly. Before long an inquisitive bridgeman counted a hundred and twenty of them, and still they were coming silently through the hollow. After a time Dimond appeared, then Haddon and Byers walking together, and, after a long wait, Tiffany and Carhart themselves. Then the five leaders grouped for a consultation. Those near by could see that Carhart was laying down the code that was to g

iffany," said

ough grip. "Good luck, Paul," he said something huskily. And then he cleared his throat. "Good luck!" he said again, and went

est ridge, and turned south along the farther slope. After twenty minutes of advancing cautiously he sent Dimond to follow th

ll ahead here?"

nd n

ers, you wait here

managed. But the distance was not very great, and it took but a quarter of an hour or so. Then they found themselves on the summit, and made themselves comfortable among the rocks, spreading out so that they could command every approach. Carhart took Dimond to the top of the southeasterly slope and pointed out to him the knoll opposite, the hollow b

s,

hind the rocks. Mr. Haddon will do the same. After that if they try to rush you, shoot. The men from camp will be working out across the trestle and up the hill at the same time

s,

other side-where we can't be seen from

er

and flash

across the hollow, but no res

h it

Dimond, extinguished it, and handed it back. "Don't light this again for any purpose

right

night,

e hillside, slowly descending.

y!" came in B

m it would take, but that he should at some time be riding, booted and spurred, with a weight of responsibility on his shoulders, a fine atmosphere of daring about him, and the feeling within of a king's messenger, t

tomed to see about headquarters; he found in it no suggestion of the resourceful, energetic chief on whom he had come to rely as older men rely on blind forces. This was the face of a nervous, dispirited man of the name of Carhart, a man riding a small horse, who, after accomplishing relentlessly all that man could accomplish, had reached the point where he could d

hardly conscious of what he was doing, t

ying, as if he did not hear

l at Red Hills. The time had come to

unted, patted the quivering shoulder of his little horse, and then han

end. He had never seen either before; but one, the nearer, with the florid countenance and the side whiskers, he knew at once for Commodore Durfee. He paused on the steps, and tried to make out

ntable. He changed his mind. Hot and dusty as he was, dres

Dur

urned slowly

" he i

ad it, turned it over, read it again, hesitated, then handed it to the General, saying

ome interest, and looked up. He said no

talk to me?"

ou pl

talk a

he man who was the x in this very equation with which he was struggling, was a very great opportunity. Just why, he could hardly have said; and

t the La Paz River. Another party has attacked our line back at Barker Hills. This second party is commanded by Mr. Bourke, who is in charge of the construction work on your H. D. & W. I care not

with something of a difference between their expressions. Whether the General was amused or merely interested it would have been difficult for any but one who was accustome

me," he replied shortly. "I

face. "Then," he said, in that same measured voice, "if you kn

rtly, this time, for he added, "I guess two hundred arme

t he said nothing. And then General Carrington unexpectedly took a hand. "See here," he said with the

dden thirty miles to talk with Mr. Durfee and he sees fit to treat me like a d-

an by that?" as

, after a moment's thought,

ed that gentleman.

to call off

are a d-n foo

e got something up your sleeve, M

to Durfee. And Durf

see, across our right of way. Of course, everybody knows that he was sent there for a huge bluff, everybody thinks that I wouldn't dare make real war of it. Flagg opened u

hat?" asked Carr

hn

him

chance that

n pursed

oad were planning to find it impossible to deliver our materials, we took up the rails and ties of the Paradise Southern and brought them out to the end of the track. In fact, we have our materials and

ose not," s

cessary to m

is,

you should think it worth while to forestall us. Possibly you thought I would send a force back to Barker Hills. But I didn't-I broug

comes next, eh?"

t where I am in authority, I shan't hesitate to strike back. It isn't for me to say which side would profit by making it necessary for the governor and his militia to take hold, but I will say that if the governor does seize the road, he will find Mr. De Reamer in possession from Sherman to Red Hills. I am prepared to lose a hundred-two hundred-men in making that g

gton. "Did I understand you to say that you have

rtainly enough f

ing. Even to fir

"Even to firewood," he r

all. Carhart woke him, and engaged a room, where, after eatin

alking around from the stable, they found

Carhart!"

ng, sir," s

er. "Would you be willing t

tain

nice e

er

re-I'm sorry I can't say much for

g. Carhart, Byers, Dimond, and T

s eyes glowing through his spectacl

Carhart. "And g

uld hardly believe their eyes. Then they roused. One lost his head and fired. But Dimond, his eyes blazing, swearing under his breath, handed his rifle to Carhart and went running and leaping down the hillside. When he

y large rock on either hillside concealed a man and a rifle. Here and there certain rocks faile

n unavailing search for representatives of the clergy at La Paz and at Red Hills, it was decided to bury the i

hand; and after them came the men. The grave was ready. The laborers and the skilled workmen stood shoulder to shoulder in a wide circle, baring their heads to the sun. Carhart opened the book and slowly turned t

at my Redeemer liveth.... Yet in my flesh shall I see God.... We brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing

nced from one to another of the lustful, weak, wicke

ption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glo

ing hidden behind each of these animal faces, something deeper than the motives whi

all be raised incorruptible, and we shall be chan

about for his brother. But it seemed that the same impulse had co

hink you've been sort of a d

is brother was scowling, was not even extending his hand, and yet he knew h

once was the silence broken, when Gus said, with some slight hesitat

ut replying. Then, "No," he finally got out, "guess I'll take a little vacation." He paused, still look