“We couldn’t do it in half an hour. Might be missing something,” Terry explained. “There’ll be plenty grub here.”
“I’ll stay,” Virgie declared. “I don’t want to miss anything, either.”
The busy Pat had glimpsed them with the corner of an eye.
“Work hard, boys,” he urged. “The Heroines o’ the U. Pay. are watchin’ yez. A fine big doughnut to the crew that lays the last pair o’ rails in the eight miles!”
The construction-train emptied. The two mothers returned on it to Bryan. The three-mile stake had been passed, and the four-mile stake was drawing nearer. General Casement had been looking at his watch. He was right at end of track, all the way on.
“Time!” he barked.
“Toime, men,” echoed Pat.
They instantly quit work and straightened up wearily. The general tucked his watch into his pocket.
“Three and three-quarter miles, and we’ll better that this afternoon,” he said, to his party. “I’ll win my thousand dollars, gentlemen. We’ll finish out our eight miles, and I’ve another thousand to say so.”
“Golly!” George blurted. “He’s bet a thousand dollars on it.”