that was all. Elliott's
own reports on the work are so tinged with his eternal optimism, so
colored by what you aptly termed his romantic zest for the game, that I
wanted your own opinion concerning the possibility of the East Coast
Company finishing that railroad in time to fulfil their contracts. No
hurry about it; but that's my house over yonder. You were just one
place too far north to find me."

He turned to face Caleb. There was a flood of questions upon the
latter's lips. Caleb wanted to seize the boy by the shoulder, and spin
him around toward the light and stare and stare into his face; but he
waited because he found much that was hugely diverting in Dexter's
bland ignorance, which had even accepted Steve's presence there as a
case of misdirection.

"I suppose you know what this early morning call presages, Cal?"
Allison challenged.

Before Caleb could reply Steve knew what the answer was to be. The
request found him already at the door, grinning broadly.

"Would you--would you mind finding Miss Sarah, Steve?" Caleb asked.
"Will you tell her, please, that we are to be subjected to
another--neighborly imposition!"

Steve's going left Allison frowning a little.

"We've played this farce through a hundred times, Cal," he murmured,
"and it wasn't according to formula--that last remark of yours. But,
do you know, just for a minute it sort of reminded me of
something--something that seems to have happened before, and I can't
recall just what."

He shook his head and led the way to a chair.

"It wasn't our nonsense that affected me, either," he finished. "I
believe it was O'Mara himself who . . . but I didn't know that you were
acquainted with him, Cal. Have you known him long?"

"Um-m-m--yes!" Caleb weighed his reply. "Quite some time, I think I
might say."

He shook with scarcely suppressed laughter, but Allison ignored his
senseless mirth.

"I'd like to claim that boy as my own discovery," he avowed, "but I
can't--not without fear of successful contradiction on Elliott's part.
And in point of service it isn't fair to call him a boy, either, though
I suppose both of us are old enough to be his father. He's Elliott's
find. Elliott suggested him as the one man for this job, when I
consolidated with the Ainnesley crowd and they took up the contract to
move the Reserve timber from Thirty-Mile and the valleys above.
Elliott knew of him, but I've been looking up his record pretty
closely, sinc