& A.promoters to finish and use as part of their own railway system.
These same politicians, by the way, were a handful of keen, unscrupulous men who derived their whole income from politics, and who had always been identified with movements that the better people of the state usually opposed.
Mr.Thurston and his assistant, Blaisdell, were now able to be up and to move about a little, but were not yet able to travel forward to the point that the construction force had now reached.
Neither Thurston nor Blaisdell was in fit shape to work, and would not be for some weeks to come.
Mr.Newnham, who had learned in these weeks to ride a horse, came along in saddle as Tom and Harry stood watching the field camp that was now being rapidly taken down by the few men left behind.
"Idling, as usual, Reade ?" smiled the president of the road.
"This time I seem to have a real excuse, sir," chuckled Tom.
"My work is finished.

There isn't a blessed thing that I could do, if I wanted to.

By tomorrow I suppose you will be paying me off and letting me go." "Let you go---before the road is running ?" demanded Mr.Newnham, in astonishment.

"Reade, have you noted any signs of my mind failing lately ?" "I haven't, sir." "Then why should you imagine that I am going to let my chief engineer go before the road is in operations" "But I was acting chief, sir, only of the field work." "Reade," continued Mr.Newnham, "I have something to tell you.
Thurston has left our employ.

So has Blaisdell.