Harry was so amazed at this statement, that he could hardly find words
with which to express himself.

"Why, that would give us a regular, first-class telegraph line!" he
exclaimed.

"Certainly," said Mr. Martin, "and that's the only kind of a line that
is really worth anything."

"I don't know what to think about it," said Harry. "I didn't expect you
to propose anything like this."

"Well," said Mr. Martin, rising, "I must be off. I had only a few
minutes to spare, but I thought I had better come and make you this
proposition. I think you had better lay it before your Board of Managers
as soon as possible, and if you will take my advice, as a business man,
you'll accept our offer."

So saying, he bid Harry good-by, took off his hat to Kate, who was still
looking out of the window, mounted his horse, and rode away.

There was a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Crooked Creek
Telegraph Company that afternoon. It was a full meeting, for Harry sent
hasty messengers to those he called the "out-lying members."

A more astonished body of officials has seldom been seen than was our
Board when Harry laid the proposition of Mr. Martin before it.

But the boys were not so much amazed that they could not jump at this
wonderful opportunity and in a very short time it was unanimously voted