“Put ’em at work on the smaller jobs here,” Tom answered. “At least, as many of them as the professor will vouch for.”
Three hours later Tom received an answer to his local despatch. It was from Professor Coles, sixty miles away, in camp with a party of thirty engineering students. The professor asked for further particulars. Tom wired back:
“Can use your entire lot of students in practical railroad work, if they want experience and can do work. Will you bring them here with all speed and let us try them out? For yourself, we offer suitable pay for a man of your attainments. Students engaged will be paid all they are worth.”
“Gracious, but you’re going in at wholesale! What will President Newnham say to you for engaging men at such a wholesale rate!”
“By the time he reaches here,” replied Tom in a tone that meant business, “either he will see results that will force him to approve—-or else he’ll give me my walking papers.”
“Now, what shall we do?” inquired Hazelton.
“Nothing. It’s nearly time for the field force to be back in camp.”
“We’d better work every minute of the time,” urged Harry.
“We’re going to take things more easily after this,” Tom yawned.
“Is that what you mean by hustling?”