passed over."

"It does, in a sense," Kerr agreed.

"Then I think I know why you came," said Festing, who pondered for a
few moments. He had courage and decision, and it was his habit to face
a crisis boldly. "Now," he resumed, "I'm going to ask your opinion of my
prospects if I stay on the road?"

"Your record's good. You're sure of a post, so long as there's any
construction work going on."

"A post of a kind! Not the best kind, where a man would have a chance of
making his mark?"

"Well," said Kerr, "I think that's what I meant. The headquarters
bosses don't know us personally, and judge by a man's training and the
certificates he's got. Of course, in spite of this, talent will find its
way, and sometimes one gets there by a stroke of luck."

Festing smiled, rather bitterly. "I have no marked talent, and haven't
found it pay to trust to luck. In fact, my only recommendations are a
kind of practical ability and a capacity for hard work. I got on the
road by doing chores and fought my way up."

"You are practical," Kerr agreed. "It's your strong point, but I've
thought it sometimes kept you back."

He paused when Festing looked at him with surprise, but resumed in a
thoughtful voice: "When your job's in front of you, you see what must be