“You still hope to find her?  You still imagine some of this riffraff Benton gang made off with her?”

“Yes.”

“Son, it’s scarcely possible,” said Lodge, earnestly.  “Anderson claims the Sioux got her.  We all incline to that....  Oh, it’s hard, Neale....  Love and life are only atoms under the iron heel of the U. P. R....  It’s too late now.  You can’t forget—­no—­but you must not risk your life—­your opportunities—­your reputation.”

Neale turned away his face for a moment and was silent.  An engine whistled; a bell began to ring; some train official called to General Lodge.  The chief held up his hand for a little more delay.

“I’m off,” he said rapidly.  “Neale, you’ll go out to Number Ten and take charge.”

That surprised and thrilled Neale into eagerness.

“Who are the engineers?”

“Blake and Coffee.  I don’t know them.  Henney sent them out from Omaha.  They’re well recommended.  But that’s no matter.  Something is wrong.  You’re to have full charge of engineers, bosses, masons.  In fact, I’ve sent word out to that effect.”

“Who’s the contractor?” asked Neale.

“I don’t know.  But whoever he is he has made a pile of money out of this job.  And the job’s not done.  That’s what galls me.”

“Well, chief, it will be done,” said Neale, sharp with determination.

“Good!  Neale, I’ll start east with another load off my shoulders....  And, son, if you throw up a bridge so there’ll be no delay, something temporary for the rails and the work-train, and then plan piers right for Number Ten—­well—­you’ll hear from it, that’s all.”  They shook hands.

“I may be gone a week or a month—­I can’t tell,” went on the chief.  “But when I do come I’ll probably have a trainload of directors, commissioners, stockholders.”

“Bring them on,” said Neale.  “Maybe if they saw more of what we’re up against they wouldn’t holler so.”

“Right....  Remember, you’ve full charge and that I trust you implicitly.  Good-by and good luck!”

The chief boarded his train as it began to move.  Neale watched it leave the station, and with a swelling heart he realized that he had been placed high, that his premonition of advancement had not been without warrant.

The work-train was backing into the station and would depart westward in short order.  Neale hurried to his lodgings to pack his few belongings.  Larry was lying on his cot, fully dressed and asleep.  Neale shook him.

“Wake up, you lazy son-of-a-gun!” shouted Neale.

Larry opened his
eyes.  “Wal, what’s wrong?  Is it last night or to-morrow?”

“Larry, I’m off.  Got charge of a big job.”

“Is thet all?” drawled
Larry, sleepily.  “Why, shore I always knowed you’d be chief engineer
some day.”

“Pard—­sit up,” said Neale, unsteadily.  “Will you stay sober—­and watch—­and listen for some news of Allie? ...  Till I come back to Benton?”