happier men in the world. How long have you been in this work on the
frontier, Mr. Hawkins?"

"About twenty years, sir."

"Then it must have angered you, many a time, to see the vultures and the
parasites fattening on the men who do the real work in life."

"It has," nodded the superintendent. "However, I haven't your gift with
the tongue, Mr. Reade, and I've never been able to lead men into the
right path as you did yesterday."

Over in the little village of tents where the idle workmen sat through
the forenoon there was some restlessness. These men knew that there was
nothing for them to do until the construction material arrived, and that
they were required only to report in order to keep themselves on the
time sheets. Having reported to their foremen and the checkers, they
were quite at liberty to go over into Paloma or elsewhere. A few of
them had gone. Some others had an uneasy feeling that they wouldn't like
to face the contempt in the eyes of the young chief engineer if he
happened to see them going away from camp.

"It's none of the business of that chap Reade," growled one of the
workmen.

"Of course it isn't," spoke up another. "He talked to us straight
yesterday, however, and showed us that it was our own business to keep
out of the tough places in Paloma. I've worked under these engineers
for years, and I never before knew one of them to care whether I had a
hundred dollars or an empty stomach. Boys, I tell you, Reade, has the