“Well,” said Morgan, with one of his characteristic shrugs, “I guess I’ll have to spruce up a bit, before he comes.”
“That is so, Morgan,” said Houston, kindly, “I wouldn’t want Mr. Blaisdell to see you as you look this morning; I’m too much a friend of yours myself for that.”
“Oh well, I’ll be all right before he gets here. Who’s going down to meet that fellow and his contraptions?”
“I sent Hayes down with two or three men, and a six-horse team, early this morning.”
“Good for you!” laughed Morgan, starting on his way, “You’d make a first-rate boss ’round here; guess I’ll have to give you a raise.”
Houston walked slowly down the road after Morgan left him, having apparently forgotten his haste. The story which Morgan had told him a few nights before, of his own life, had awakened his pity for the man as nothing else could have done. He felt that Morgan was in serious trouble, and in danger of losing his position, and that he was already where it would take very little to drive him to complete ruin. He resolved to seize the first opportunity that presented itself, to try to ascertain the cause of his trouble, and to assist him in any way that he possibly could.
On reaching the office, he found considerable work awaiting him, and for a while, all other thoughts were banished from his mind. About noon, a heavy rumbling and rattling attracted his attention, and, going to the door, he saw the slowly approaching team, winding from side to side of the steep, canyon road, the powerful horses straining and panting under the heavy load. Perched on the top of the load, under a wide-spread umbrella, and fanning himself with his straw hat, was Van Dorn, his face irradiated by a broad smile as he caught sight of Houston. Two of the men walked beside the team, blocking the wheels with rocks, as the horses were occasionally stopped to rest. As they came within speaking distance, Van Dorn sang out merrily:
“I say, Houston, this is what I call up-hill work; it has been a pretty hard pull all the way.”
“Yes,” said Houston, “particularly hard on you, judging by appearances.”
Van Dorn laughed, and proceeded to close his umbrella, while an expansive grin broke over the face of one of the workmen, trudging along the hot, dusty road. At the brow of the hill, the team again stopped to rest, and Van Dorn descended from his lofty position, Houston meanwhile giving instructions to the driver: