When Ben returned with DuBois, Mr. Havens regarded the Englishman quizzically for a moment before speaking.
“I didn’t expect you to return at this time,” he said.
“I couldn’t have kept him away with a cannon,” Ben cut in. “You see,” the boy continued, “when we got to Field, I had to get a whole lot of folks out of bed. The clatter of the motors had already awakened about half the town, and I had to wake up the rest.”
“I don’t see why!” said Mr. Havens.
“Well,” Ben explained, “I had to wake up the express agent to get the hand-bag nailed up in a peach of a hard wood box, and locked up in his safe. Then I had to wake up a couple of men to induce the telegraph operator to come to his office. He said he wanted to sleep.”
“Why didn’t you let him sleep?” asked Mr. Havens.
“I did let him sleep, after I kicked his window in, until I got the two husky men from a miners’ camp to pull him out of bed.”
“You must have made quite a sensation in that little burg.”
“Don’t you know,” cut in the Englishman, “I never felt so conspicuous in all me life.”
“We were conspicuous, all right!” laughed Ben. “Well,” he continued, “the operator bucked on working the wire after we got into the office, but after DuBois held a private conversation with him in the corner he set to work like he enjoyed being waked up nights.”