“Shall hustle job through rapidly if there is any way of doing it. Shall engage extra engineers in this state. Hope to be able to show you, on arrival, things moving at speed.”
(Signed) Reade, “Acting Chief Engineer.”
Then Tom shoved both despatches under his chum’s eyes. Naturally Hazelton read the one from New York first.
“Whew! The president seems to trust you,” murmured Harry.
“No; he doesn’t,” Tom retorted. “He doesn’t know anything about me. His wire shows that he knows and trusts Mr. Thurston, the man who picked me out for this job.”
Then Tom wrote a second despatch, addressed to the State University. It ran as follows:
“Have heard that your university has party from engineering school in field this summer. Can you place me in immediate wire communication with professor in charge of party? Have practical work to offer students.”
This also Tom showed briefly to his chum. Then, picking up the two telegrams, Tom stepped outside, turning them over to the rider. “Ask your operator to rush both of these, the one to New York going first.”
As the pony’s hoofs clicked against the gravel, Reade stepped inside the tent.
“What are you going to do with the State University students?” asked Harry curiously.