“Lee, pray let me enlighten you and Senator Dunn,” said Warburton, sonorously, “and terminate this awkward interview ...  When the last spike is driven out here—­presently—­Mr. Neale will be chief engineer of maintenance of way of the Union Pacific Railroad.”

24

So for Neale the wonderful dream had come to pass, and but for the memory that made all hours of life bitter his cup of joy would have been full.

He made his headquarters in Benton and spent his days riding east or west over the line, taking up the great responsibility he had long trained for—­the maintaining of the perfect condition of the railroad.

Toward the end of that month Neale was summoned to Omaha.

The message had been signed Warburton.  Upon arriving at the terminus of the road Neale found a marvelous change even in the short time since he had been there.  Omaha had become a city.  It developed that Warburton had been called back to New York, leaving word for Neale to wait for orders.

Neale availed himself of this period to acquaint himself with the men whom he would deal with in the future.  Among them, and in the roar of the railroad shops and the bustle of the city, he lost, perhaps temporarily, that haunting sense of pain and gloom.  Despite himself the deference shown him was flattering, and his old habit of making friends reasserted itself.  His place was assured now.  There were rumors in the air of branch lines for the Union Pacific.  He was consulted for advice, importuned for positions, invited here and there.  So that the days in Omaha were both profitable and pleasurable.

Then came a telegram from Warburton calling him to Washington, D.C.

It took more than two days to get there, and the time dragged slowly for Neale.  It seemed to him that his importance grew as he traveled, a fact which was amusing to him.  All this resembled a dream.

When he reached the hotel designated in the telegram it was to receive a warm greeting from Warburton.

“It’s a long trip to make for nothing,” said the director.  “And that’s what it amounts to now.  I thought I’d need you to answer a few questions for me.  But you’ll not be questioned officially, and so you’d better keep a close mouth ...  We’ve raised the money.  The completion of the U.P.R. is assured.”

Neale could only conjecture what those questions might have been, for the director offered no explanation.  And this circumstance recalled to mind his former impression of the complexity of the financial and political end of the construction.  Warburton took him to dinner and later to a club, and introduced him to many men.

For this alone Neale was glad that he had been summoned to the capital.  He met Senators, Congressmen, and other government officials, and many politicians and prominent men, all of whom, he was surprised to note, were well informed regarding the Union Pacific.  He talked with them, but answered questions guardedly.  And he listened to discussions and talks covering every phase of the work, from the Credit Mobilier to the Chinese coolies that were advancing from the west to meet the Paddies of his own division.