ewell.

Welton had been listening amusedly, and puffing away at his cigar in
silence.

"Well," said he when Baker had gone. "How do you like your friend?"

"He's certainly amusing," laughed Bob, "and mighty good company. That
sort of a fellow is lots of fun. I've seen them many times coming back
at initiation or Commencement. They are great heroes to the kids."

"But not to any one else?" inquired Welton.

"Well--that's about it," Bob hesitated. "They're awfully good fellows,
and see the joke, and jolly things up; but they somehow don't amount to
much."

"Wouldn't think much of the scheme of trying Baker as woods foreman up
in our timber, then?" suggested Welton.

"Him? Lord, no!" said Bob, surprised.

Welton threw back his head and laughed heartily, in great salvos.

"Ho! ho! ho!" he shouted. "Oh, Bobby, I wish any old Native Son could be
here to enjoy this joke with me. Ho! ho! ho! ho!"

The coloured porter stuck his head in to see what this tremendous
rolling noise might be, grinned sympathetically, and withdrew.

"What's the matter with you!" cried Bob, exasperated. "Shut up, and be
sensible."

Welton wiped his eyes.

"That, son, is Carleton P. Baker. Just say Carleton P. Baker to a
Californian."

"Well, I can't, for four days, anyway. Who is he?"

"Didn't find out from him, for all his talk, did you?" said Welton
shrewdly. "Well, Baker, as he told you, graduated from college in '93.
He came to California with about two thousand dollars of capital and no
experience. He had the sense to go in for water rights, and here he is!"

"Marvellous!" cried Bob sarcastically. "But what is he now that he is
here?"

"Head of three of the biggest power projects in California," said Welton
impressively, "and controller of more potential water power than any
other man or corporation in the state."

Welton enjoyed his joke hugely. After Bob had turned in, the big man
parted the curtains to his berth.

"Oh, Bob," he called guardedly.

"What!" grunted the young man, half-asleep.

"Who do you think we'd better get for woods foreman just _in case_
Baker shouldn't take the job?"

II

All next day the train puffed over the snow-blown plains. There was
little in the prospect, save an inspiration to thankfulness that the
cars were warm and comfortable. Bob and Welton spent the morning going
over their plans for the new country. After lunch, which in the manner
of trans-continental travellers they stret