--came
over from Copah last night. What are they for?"

"I don't know. Another of the president's little surprises, I suppose.
We'll know when he sends for me."

The expected summons came at that precise moment, transmitted by
Penfield. Mr. Colbrith would like to see Mr. Ford in his private
state-room in the Nadia. The secretary had a sheaf of telegrams in his
hand, and wished to be directed to the wire office. Frisbie took him in
charge, and Ford went to obey the summons.

The president was sitting very erect in his swing chair when the young
engineer let himself into the box-like compartment, and his voice was at
its thinnest when he said: "Be seated, Mr. Ford."

Ford sat down on the divan-couch, and the president plunged at once into
business.

"Some time ago, you advised me, as chairman of the executive committee,
that you had decided upon a change of route, Mr. Ford," he began
raspingly. "What were your reasons for making the change?"

"I stated them in my letter of advice," said Ford; "economy in
construction and greater safety in operating, as against a slight
increase in the length of the line."

"Twelve miles, I believe you said: that is a very considerable increase,
I should say. The great eastern companies are spending millions of
dollars, Mr. Ford, to shorten their lines by half-mile cut-offs."

Ford had his reply ready.

"The conditions are entirely different. It will be many years before a
fast through service is either practicable or profitable over the
extension; and when it comes to that, we shall still have the short line
from Denver to Green Butte by forty-two miles. But I explained all this
at the time, Mr. Colbrith, and I understood that I had the executive
committee's approval of the changed route."

"Qualifiedly, Mr. Ford; only qualifiedly. Yet you have gone ahead in
your usual impetuous way, abandoning the short line through the canyon
and building the detour. Your motive for haste must have been a very
strong one--very strong."

"It was. I am not here to kill time."

"So it appears. But I am here, Mr. Ford, to consider carefully, and to
investigate. We shall go first over this route you have abandoned. I
wish to see for myself the difficulties you have so painstakingly
described."

Ford shrugged.

"I'm quite at your service, of course. But you will find it a hard trip.
Indeed, if we drive, we shall have to cross the river and take the other
side. The canyon on this side is imp