"The pay-master is busy, and Doc Gray has a surgical case," he said, "so I'll cash your time-checks. Get me the box, will you, Sis?"
He had avoided Eliza's eyes upon entering, and he avoided them now, but the girl's throat was aching as she hurried into her bedroom and hastily replaced the rolls of greenbacks she had removed from the tin box.
When he had finished paying off, Dan said, brusquely:
"Now we mustn't have any loafing around town, understand?"
"We can't get back to-night," said one of the men.
"Oh yes, you can. I ordered an engine out."
"We hear—there's talk about quitting work," another ventured. "Where's O'Neil?"
"He's in the States buying a steamship," answered Dan, unblushingly. "We can't get stuff fast enough by the regular boats."
"Good! That sounds like business. We don't want to quit."
"Now hurry! Your parlor-car is waiting."