"I didn't know there was to be an engine," said Kate.

"Engine!" exclaimed Harry, laughing. "That's a good one! I don't mean an
engineer of a steam-engine. What we want is a Civil Engineer; a man who
lays out railroad lines and all that kind of thing. I'm not right sure
that a Civil Engineer does plan out telegraph lines; but it don't make
any difference what we call the officer. He'll have to attend to putting
up the line."

"And do you think you can do it?" said Kate, "I should suppose it would
be a good deal harder to be Engineer than to be President."

"Yes, I suppose it will; but I've studied the matter. I've watched the
men putting up new wires at Hetertown, and Mr. Lyons told me all he knew
about it. It's easy enough. Very different from building a railroad."

"It must be a good deal safer to build a railroad, though," said Kate.
"You don't have to go so high up in the air."

"You're a little goose," said Harry, laughing at her again.

"No, I'm not," said Kate. "I'm Treasurer and Secretary of the--What
shall we call the company, Harry? It ought to have a name."

"Certainly it ought," said her brother. "How would 'The Mica Mine
Telegraph Company'--No, that wouldn't do at all. It isn't theirs. It's
ours."

"Call it 'The Loudon Telegraph Company,'" said Kate.