"All night, you say, seh? Then we miss ouh Denver connections?"

"You can bet to win on that," was the curt reply.

"Damn!" said the ruddy-faced gentleman; and then in a lower tone: "I
beg your pahdon, my deah Virginia; I was totally unaware of your
presence."

Winton threw off his overcoat.

"If you will take a bit of help from an outsider, I think we needn't
wait for the wrecking-car," he said to the dubious trainmen. "It's
bad, but not so bad as it looks. What do you say?"

Now, as everyone knows, it is not in the nature of operative railway
men to brook interference even of the helpful sort. But they are as
quick as other folk to recognize the man in essence, as well as to
know the clan slogan when they hear it. Winton did not wait for
objections, but took over the command as one in authority.

"Think we can't do it? I'll show you. Up on the tank, one of you, and
heave down the jacks and frogs. We'll have her on the steel again
before you can say your prayers."

At the hearty command, churlish reluctance vanished and everybody lent
a willing hand. In two minutes the crew of the Limited knew it was
working under a master. The frogs were adjusted under the derailed
wheels, the jack-screws were braced to lift and push with the nicest
accuracy, and all was ready for the attempt to back the engine in