prevented from winning and deserving the friendship of the men who are
here working for us."

"Telegram for Mr. Reade," grinned the operator, again looking in at the
doorway.

After reading it, Tom passed over to Hawkins this message from General
Manager Ellsworth:

"Unable to judge merits of case at this distance. Will be with you
soon."

"That's all right," Reade declared.

"It looks all right," muttered Hawkins, who knew something about the
ways of railroads.

Up the track the whistle on a stationary engine blew the noon signal.

"Feel like eating, Harry?" Tom called to his chum, who had been mildly
dozing in a chair in one corner of the room.

"Always," declared Hazelton, sitting up and yawning.

"Are you going to eat in town this noon, or in camp?" Tom inquired of
the superintendent of construction.

Hawkins was about to answer that he'd eat in camp, when he suddenly
reconsidered.