[CHAPTER X]
WHAT TOOK PLACE AT RED HILLS
The last spike in the western extension of the Sherman and Western was driven by no less a personage than President De Reamer himself. In the circle of well-dressed men about him stood General Carrington and a score of department heads of the two lines. The thirty miles of track between the La Paz and Red Hills was laid, without unusual incident, in twenty days—a brilliant finish to what had been a record-breaking performance.
There was to be a dinner at the Frisco Hotel. Everybody knew now that General Carrington had promised to be there and to speak a felicitous word or two welcoming the new C. & S. C. connection. After the spike-driving, Mr. De Reamer, a thin, saturnine figure, could be seen moving about through the little crowd. Once, it was observed, he and General Carrington drew aside and talked in low, earnest tones. The reporters were there, of course, and to these the president was urbane. They had gathered at first about the General, but he had waved them off with a smiling “Talk with my friend De Reamer there. He deserves whatever credit there may be in this thing.” And next these keen-eyed, beardless men of the press bore down in a little group on Carhart, Tiffany, and Young Van, who were standing apart. Tiffany was the first to see them approaching.
“Not a word, boys,” he said in a low voice.
“Why not?” asked Young Van. “I don’t know of anybody who deserves more credit than you two.”
“Not a word,” Tiffany repeated. “It would cost me my job. Mr. De Reamer’s crazy mad now because so much has been said about Paul here. I don’t care to get into it,—just excuse me.”
The reporters were upon them. “Is that Mr. Tiffany?” asked one, indicating the retreating figure.
Carhart nodded.
“Is it true, Mr. Carhart,” asked another, “that he came out and fought under you at the La Paz?”