"Why, for one thing, the very hopeful report of the new engineers who
have taken charge."

"Humph!" retorted Duff, as though that one word of contempt disposed of
the matter.

"Reade and Hazelton are very good engineers, are they not?" inquired
young Farnsworth.

"Humph! A pair of mere boys," sneered Jim Duff.

"Young fellows of about my age, you mean?" asked Farnsworth.

"Of your age?" repeated Duff, in a tone of wonder. "No! You're a man.
Reade and Hazelton, as I've told you, are mere boys. They're not of
age. They've never voted."

"Oh, I had no idea that they were as young as that," replied Clarence,
much pleased at hearing himself styled a man. "But these young
engineers come from one of the Colorado, railroads, don't they!"

"I wouldn't be surprised," nodded the gambler. "However, the Man-killer
is no task for boys. It is a job for giants to put through, if the job
ever can be finished."

"Then, if it's so difficult, why doesn't the road shift the track by two
or three miles?" inquired Clarence.

"You certainly are a newcomer here," laughed Duff easily. "Why, my son,