Come to think of it, they said something about it up at the office,"--he
was apparently speaking to himself, and Max quietly waited,--"Brown said
something about the C. & S. C. having got in the way a little down here,
but I didn't think much about it at the time."

"What could they do?" Max asked.

"A lot, if they wanted to. But that ain't what's bothering me. They
haven't any connection with the G.&M., have they?"

"No"--Max shook his head--"no, not that I know of."

"Well, it's funny, that's all. The man behind those orders that the
section boss talks about is the general manager; and it's my notion that
we're likely to hear from him again. I'll tell you what it is. Somebody--I
don't know who, but somebody--is mighty eager to keep this house from
being finished by the first of January. After this I wish you'd keep your
eyes open for this section boss. Have you had any trouble with the men?"

"No, only that clerk that we laid off today, he 'lowed he was going to
make trouble. I didn't say anything about it, because they always talk
like that."

"Yes, I know. What's his name?"

"Briggs."

"I guess he can't hurt us any."

Bannon turned back to his work; and Vogel disappeared in the shadows along