“I don’t see that we can do anything—being away out here.”
“Then I’m not going to stay here—I’m going home,” announced Dave firmly.
“What!”
“Yes, Roger. I’m going home. Why, you don’t suppose I could stay here and work with such a thing as this on my mind! This looks to me as if Jessie and Laura had been abducted—or something of that sort.”
“Well, if you go, Dave, I’ll go too!” cried the senator’s son. “If anything has happened to Laura——” He did not finish, but his face showed his concern.
“Do you want to send any more telegrams?” questioned the station agent. “If you don’t, I’ll lock up.”
“I think I will,” answered Dave. “They’ll want to know whether this telegram was received.” And then, after he and Roger had consulted for a moment, they sent the following:
“Second telegram received. Both too worried to remain. Will come East as soon as possible.
“Dave and Roger.”
Having listened to the operator sending the message off, the two young civil engineers lost no time in leaping into the saddle and setting off for the construction camp. They rode at as rapid a gait as possible, and on that stony trail there was but little chance for conversation.