What I need an' need bad is an engineer
that can do his part of the day's work."
"Look here!" cried Conniston, hotly. "We all have to begin some time,
don't we? You had your first job, didn't you? And I'll bet you didn't
fall down on it, either! It's up to you. If you think I'm no good, all
right. If you give me my work to do I'll do it."
"It _ain't_ up to me. The Old Man sent you over. You go to work in the
mornin'. If I was doin' it I wouldn't put you on. I don't say you
won't make good--I'm just sayin' I wouldn't take the chance. I'll stop
here for you at four o'clock in the mornin'." He swung about from
Conniston and toward Garton. "How're they comin', Tommy?"
All of the curt brusqueness was gone from his tone, the keen, cold,
measuring calculation from his eye. With the compelling force of the
man's blunt nature the whole atmosphere of the room was altered.
"First rate, Bat," Tommy answered, cheerfully. "How's the work
going?"
"Good! The best day I've had in two weeks. We get to work on those
seven knolls to-morrow. You remember--Miss Argyl calls 'em Little
Rome."
"What have you decided? Going to make a detour, or--"
"Detour nothin'. I'm goin' right straight through 'em. It'll take
time, all right. But in the end we'll save. I'll cut through 'em in
four days or four an' a half."
"And then--it's Dam Number One?"
Truxton swore softly.
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