“Let me see the latest reports,” urged Mr. Newnham.
“Certainly, sir, if you’ll come into the head-quarters tent.”
Leading the way into the tent where Harry Hazelton and his draughting force were at work, Tom announced:
“Gentlemen, Mr. Newnham, president of the S.B. & L., wishes to look over the reports and the maps with me. You may lay off until called back to work.”
As the others filed out of the tent, Tom made Harry a sign to remain. Then the three went over the details of what the field survey party was doing.
“From all I can see,” remarked President Newnham, “you have done wonderfully well, Reade. I can certainly find no fault with Tim Thurston for recommending that you be placed in charge. Thurston will certainly be jealous when he gets on his feet again. You have driven the work ahead in faster time than Thurston himself was able to do.”
“It’s very likely, sir,” replied Tom Reade, “that I have had an easier part of the country to work through than Mr. Thurston had. Then, again, the taking on of the engineer student party from the State University has enabled us to get ahead with much greater speed.”
“I wonder why Thurston never thought to take on the students,” murmured Mr. Newnham.
Bang! sounded an explosion, a mile or two to the westward.
“I didn’t know that you were doing any blasting, Reade,” observed the president of the S.B. & L.