“I’m Reade,” admitted Tom, stepping outside and receiving the envelope.  “Do you belong with the telegraph construction crowd?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the young horseman.

“How long before you expect to have the line up with the camp?”

“By tomorrow night, unless you move the camp forward again.”

“That’s good news,” nodded Reade.  “Wait until I see whether there is to be an answer to this message.”

Tom stepped inside, breaking the flap of the envelope.  From head to foot he trembled as his eyes took in the following message: 

“Reade, Acting Chief Engineer.

“Relying upon Thurston’s judgment, and from your satisfactory wire, conclude that Thurston chose right man for post.  Assume all responsibilities.  Advise New York offices daily as to condition of work, also condition Thurston and Blaisdell.  Spare no expense in their care.  Shall join you within five days.”

(Signed) “Newnham, President S.B. & L. R.R.”

Having read the telegram, Tom turned to pick up a sheet of paper.  After jotting down the address of President Newnham, he added: 

“Shall hustle job through rapidly if there is any way of doing it.  Shall engage extra engineers in this state.  Hope to be able to show you, on arrival, things moving at speed.”

(Signed) Reade, “Acting Chief Engineer.”

Then Tom shoved both despatches under his chum’s eyes.  Naturally Hazelton read the one from New York first.

“Whew!  The president seems to trust you,” murmured Harry.

“No; he doesn’t,” Tom retorted.  “He doesn’t know anything about me.  His wire shows that he knows and trusts Mr. Thurston, the man who picked me out for this job.”

Then Tom wrote a second despatch, addressed to the State University.  It ran as follows: 

“Have heard that your university has party from engineering school in field this summer.  Can you place me in immediate wire communication with professor in charge of party?  Have practical work to offer students.”

This also Tom showed briefly to his chum.  Then, picking up the two telegrams, Tom stepped outside, turning them over to the rider.  “Ask your operator to rush both of these, the one to New York going first.”

As the pony’s hoofs clicked against the gravel, Reade stepped inside the tent.

“What are you going to do with the State University students?” asked Harry curiously.

“Put ’em at work on the smaller jobs here,” Tom answered.  “At least, as many of them as the professor will vouch for.”

Three hours later Tom received an answer to his local despatch.  It was from Professor Coles, sixty miles away, in camp with a party of thirty engineering students.  The professor asked for further particulars.  Tom wired back: 

“Can use your entire lot of students in practical railroad work, if they want experience and can do work.  Will you bring them here with all speed and let us try them out?  For yourself, we offer suitable pay for a man of your attainments.  Students engaged will be paid all they are worth.”