"Bucks said last night you knew all this track work," remarked Callahan.
"I helped Hailey a little here when he rebuilt three years ago. The track was put in then as well as it ever can be put in. The fact simply is this, Callahan, we shall never be safe here. What must be done is to tunnel Sleepy Cat, get out of the infernal cañon with the main line and use this for the spur around the tunnel. When your message came last night, Morris and I took the chance to tell Mr. Brock so, and he is here this morning to see what things look like after a cloudburst. A tunnel will save two miles of track and all the double-heading."
"But, Glover, what's that got to do with this fruit? Confound your tunnel, what I want is a track. By heavens, if it's going to take three days to get one in we might as well dump a hundred cars of fruit into the river now—and Bucks is looking to you to save them."
"Looking to me?" echoed Glover, raising his brows. "What's the matter with Agnew?"
"Oh, hang Agnew!"
"If you like. But he is in charge of this division. I can't do anything discourteous or unprofessional, Callahan."
"You are not required to."
"It looks very much as if I am being called in to instruct Agnew how to do his work. He is a perfectly competent engineer."
"That point has been covered. Bucks had a long talk with Agnew over the wire last night. He is needed all the time at the Blackwood bridge and he is relieved here when you arrive. Now what's the matter with you?"
"Nothing whatever if that is the situation. I'd much rather keep out of it, but there isn't work enough here for two engineers.