"I'm through with the Government, or rather they're through with me," was the reply. "They've fired me because I spoke my mind very plainly. They wanted me to do dirty work, and when I refused they gave me the G.B."
"They did? Well, that's too bad," was Abner's comment, as he stowed away a forkful of hay which had just been handed up. "Where are ye goin'?"
"I have accepted a good offer with the Morton & Griffin Cement Company, and will begin work with them in a few weeks. It is a far better position, for I shall not have to bother about grafters there. It is a big reliable concern, with fine opportunities for advancement."
"An' so they expected ye to do dirty work, did they?"
"Yes. You have no idea what they wanted me to do. Even in my report of your place here they asked me to say that the gravel was of little value for ballast."
"An' did ye?"
"Certainly not. I told them that it is the best I have ever seen, and so far as I could tell there is almost an unlimited supply."
"Good fer you, young man. I shan't fergit that. Jist fasten up that check-rein, will ye? Jerry'll have all the hay eaten up if we're not keerful."
"Have they been after you yet?" Royden asked, when they had moved to another bunch of hay.
"Oh, yes, they've been after me, all right," and Abner laughed.