opened the door. "I'm on to you,
Carrigan. You're backing Bryant and will finish the ditch. We'll just
sit tight on our bonds and stock."

Pat watched him go.

"I hate to make money for men like them," he remarked to the engineer,
"but I guess I can't help it, because I'll not let you down, Lee, for
a matter of cash payment. I'll advance what's necessary and take a
company note. Maybe you're wondering why I let you sweat all this
time? Because you needed the experience. You laid down too easy. All
the time that you were thinking the game was up, I was waiting for
you to grab my leg and begin to pull. But you never did."

"You had done too much for me already, Pat; and though I supposed you
were well-fixed I had no idea you were wealthy. The thought you might
risk twenty thousand dollars----"

"Why not? I know this project better than any banker; it's sound, it's
about completed," the old man interrupted. "All that's necessary is to
take a long breath and push hard for three weeks more. Sometimes I
think you have the making of a fair engineer, Lee, but you discourage
me dreadfully when I try to picture you as a financier. I'm afraid
you'll wind up like one of these bondholders of Gretzingers, just
piffling."

Lee went to stand at the window, so that Carrigan could not see his
face. Emotion had unmanned him. He would not have even Pat know how
strongly he was moved by this act of magnanimity.

"Well, I better be getting back to the ditch," said the contractor,
presently.

CHAPTER XXVI

A week later the long-belated big storm appeared at hand. McDonnell
telephoned Bryant one morning, a morning in February now, that the
weather forecast predicted blizzard conditions sweeping down the Rocky
Mountain region from the Northwest. A mile of excavation yet remained
to do. Lee at once sent Saurez and other Mexicans abroad in the native
settlements with offers of double wages and this drew the most
indolent back to camp again. They were flung into the night shift,
which toiled with increased vigour at news of the impending storm. For
two days and nights the desperate effort was pushed while the sky
continued clear, with the crews of both camps attacking the iron earth
and steadily forging closer.

Bryant scarcely slept during that time, or ate. Toward morning, when
the night shift went off, he would cast himself down fully dressed and
drawing the blankets to his chin sleep restlessly for two or three
hours, the