asking."

"I guess I'll go look 'em up myself. Where can I find anybody that knows
anything?"

"The division offices are at Blake City. That's only about twenty miles.
You could save time by talking over the 'phone."

"Not me," said Bannon. "In a case like this I couldn't express myself
properly unless I saw the fellow I was talking to."

Sloan laughed. "I guess you're right. But I'll call up the division
superintendent and tell him you're coming. Then you'll be sure of finding
him."

Bannon shook his head. "I'd find him with his little speech all learned.
No, I'll take my chances on his being there. When's the train?"

"Nine-forty-six."

"That gives me fifteen minutes. Can I make it?"

"Not afoot, and you ain't likely to catch a car. I'll drive you down. I've
got the fastest mare in Pottawatomie County."

The fact that the G.&M. had been rescued from its poverty and was about to
be "developed" was made manifest in Blake City by the modern building
which the railroad was erecting on the main street. Eventually the
division officials were to be installed in office suites of mahogany
veneer, with ground glass doors lettered in gold leaf. For the present, as