Tom ran to his chum, who was holding an American by the arm. Mr. Prenter
had hold of another.

"Two more of Evarts's bootleggers, eh?" muttered Reade. "Let me see."

On one of the men he found a bottle of liquor. On the other no liquor was
discovered.

"Did Evarts pay you fellows a salary, or commission?" Tom demanded.

"Commiss---" began one of the bootleggers, then stopped himself with a
vocal jerk. "Evarts? I don't even know who he is."

"Yes, you do," chuckled Tom Reade. "You were on the point, too, of telling
us that he paid you a commission on your sales, instead of a weekly wage.
Now, my men, I've looked you well over and shall know you again. If I find
you in camp, hereafter, you'll be dealt with in a way that you don't like.
Savvy? Comprenay? Understand? Now---git!"

"Now, men, get back to your camp," shouted Tom. "To-morrow I'll try to
find time for a good and sociable talk with all of you. Try to enjoy your
few leisure hours all you can, but remember that the men who can't get
along without liquor and gambling are the kind of men we don't want here.
Any man who is dissatisfied can get his pay from Mr. Renshaw tonight or
to-morrow morning. For those who stood by us I have every feeling of
respect and gratitude. Those who thought to fight us---or some of
them---will have better sense by tomorrow. We don't want to impose on
any man here, but there are some things that we shall have to stop doing.
Good night, men!"

Engineers, superintendent and foremen now left the men, going towards their
barracks.

"I've a little job for you, Peters, if you don't mind going back into the
camp," suggested Tom.

"It's not to go back and fight, single-handed, is it?" Mr. Peters asked,
with a smile.

"Nothing like it," Tom laughed. "Peters, we have plenty of really good men
among our laborers, haven't we?"

"Scores and scores of 'em, sir---among all three kinds of the men, negroes,
Italians and Portuguese."

"I wish you would go back, then, and pick out two of each race---six men
in all. They must be honest, staunch and able to hold their tongues."

"Do you want them for fighting, sir?" asked Peters.

"Not a bit of a fight in it. I want them to use their eyes and report
to me."

"Going to employ spotters on the camp?" asked Mr. Prenter, quickly.

"Not a single spot!" Tom declared with emphasis. "I haven't any use for
information turned in by spotters."

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Reade