ppropriation, a fact that excused many curves.

Late in June the last rails were laid and the ballasting, such as it
was, was well under way.

The "terminal stations," as the engineer jocosely called them, were neat
little structures of logs, and there was a log roundhouse, where the
Stump Dodger retired in smutty and smoky seclusion when its day's toil
was finished.

So the engineer prepared for the day of opening, and requested the state
railroad commissioners to make their final inspection of the road. The
three officials gravely travelled from end to end of the line in the
secondhand P. K. & R. coach, the only passenger-car of the road, and
after some jocular remarks, issued a certificate empowering the Poquette
Carry Road to convey passengers and collect fares. Then, after a
telegraphic conference with his employers, Parker announced the day for
the formal opening of the road.

At first he had not intended to make any event of this. His idea had
been that, after the commissioners authorized traffic, he would
merely arrange a time-table instead of the irregular service of the
construction days, and would start his trains, observing the care that
had been promised in seasons of drought.

But his foreman of construction--none other than Big Dan Connick, who
had chosen railroad work under Parker instead of the usual summer labor
on the drive--came to him at the head of a group of men.

"Mr. Parker," he said, "we represent the men who have been building this
road. We represent also our old friends of the West Branch drivin' crew
of a hundred men, who are twenty miles up-river and are hankerin' for
a celebration. We represent all the guides between Sunkhaze and
Chamberlain, and every man of 'em is glad that this carry has been
opened up. The whole crowd respectfully insists that seein' as how this
is our first woods railroad up here, it's proper to have a celebration.
If ye don't have the official opening we shall take it as meanin' we
ain't worth noticin'."

There was no denying such earnestness as that nor gainsaying the
propriety of the demand. Parker made his principals understand the
situation. And the result was that they themselves set the opening date,
and promised to be on hand with a party of friends.

The rolling-stock of the Poquette Railroad consisted of the Stump
Dodger, four flat cars designed especially for the transportation
of canoes and bateaux, three box cars for camp supplies and general
fr