"Do you know what that means?" cried Denny, growing excited--"red tape. Do you know what red tape means? Delay, bother, no satisfaction, tire you out, get you out, throw you out! They catch weasels asleep, though, ha! ha! when they try it on two old war-horses like Tim and me!"
Big Denny hugged himself in the enjoyment of some pleasing idea not yet fully expressed.
"Here's the program," he went on: "the inspector came to Forgan. He'd got hold of the smashed roundhouse wall incident, and he had hold of the freight smash-up to-day. Said an example must be made, system must be preserved, at least a report to headquarters, and an investigation."
"What did Mr. Forgan say?" inquired Ralph.
"Listened--solemnly, didn't say a word."
"Oh!"
"Until Bardon asked him bluntly to lay you off."
"And then?"
"Refused--point-blank. Bardon left in a huff, with a threat; Tim gave me my point. I followed him. Well, soon as he gets back to Springfield he's going to get an order over Forgan's head to lay you off."
"Can he do it?"