ffairs--too busy to quarrel."

"There's no use of me and you backin' and fillin'!" shouted the old
man. "You know me and I know you. You think you're goin' to tote your
material up over this lake and build that railroad across my carry at
Poquette?"

"Yes, that's what I am going to do."

Ward shot out his two great fists.

"Naw, ye ain't!" he howled.

Parker turned and consulted his steam-gage and water indicator. Then he
rang the bell.

"All aboard!" he shouted. "First train for Poquette."

A nervous little laugh went round at his quiet jest, and twoscore men
boarded the sleds. For the first time in his roaring, reckless and
quarrelsome life Colonel Gideon Ward found himself in the presence of
a man who defied him scornfully and facing an obstacle that promised
ridiculous defeat.

The titter of the crowd spurred his rage into fury. He took his whip
between his teeth, and grasping the hand-rods, was about to lift himself
into the cab. Parker put his gloved hand against the old man's breast.

"Not without an invitation, Colonel Ward," he said. "Our party is made
up."

"Don't want to ride in your infernal engine!" bellowed Ward, "I'm goin'
to hoss-whip you, you--"

"Colonel Ward, you know the legal status of the Poquette Carry Railroad,
don't you?"

"I don't care--"

"If you don't know it, then consult your counsel. You are on the
property of the Poquette Railroad Company. I order you off. There's
nothing for you to do but to go."

Eyes as fiery as Ward's own met the colonel. The pressure on his breast
straightened to a push. He fell back upon the snow.

The next moment Parker pulled the throttle. The spike-spurred
driving-wheels whirred and slashed the ice and snow until the "bite"
started the train, and then it moved away up the long road, leaving Ward
screaming maledictions after it.

"Well," panted the fireman, "that'll be the first time Colonel Gid Ward
was ever stood round in his whole life!"

"I'm sorry to have words with an old man," said Parker, "but he must
accept the new conditions here."

"This is new, all right!" gasped the fireman, with an expressive sweep
of his hand about the little cab.

Parker was watching his new contrivance with interest. His steering-gear
was rude, being a single runner under the tender with tiller attachment,
but it served the purpose. The road was so nearly a straight line that
little steering was necessary.

The snow on the lake road was solid, and the s