"You may, in addition to your other duties, act as a sort of
office assistant and secretary to Phil. I shall make only one
request of you. Write to me every night, giving a full account
of the day's doings, with any suggestions or questions that Phil
may ask you to make, and enclose this with the report sheet.
You understand, Phil, that your regular detailed reports go
to the car behind you. The one that comes to me is a
brief summary."

"I understand."

"Have you the route?"

"No, sir."

"Perhaps it is in the desk. Yes; here it is. Now and then we
shall have to make changes in it, of which I shall advise you,
in most instances, by telegraph. Wire me every morning as to
your whereabouts so I may keep in touch with you."

"You may depend upon me, sir."

"I know it."

For the next half hour Mr. Sparling and Phil were deeply engaged
in poring over the books, the contracts and the innumerable
details appertaining to the work of an advance car.

"There, I guess we have touched upon most everything. Of course
emergencies will arise daily. Were it not for those anyone could