“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.  They are not dissatisfied in any way, but neither man is yet fit to work.  Besides, both are tired of the mountains, and want to go east together as soon as possible and take up some other line of engineering work.  So—–­well, Reade, if you want it, you are now chief engineer of the S.B. & L. in earnest.”

“Don’t trifle with me, sir!” begged Tom incredulously.  “I’m too far from home.”

“No one has ever accused me of being a humorist,” replied Mr. Newnham dryly.  “Now tell me, Reade, whether you want the post I have offered you?”

“Want it?” echoed Tom.  “Of course I do.  Yet doesn’t it seem too ‘fresh’ in a cub like myself to take such a post?”

“You’ve won it,” replied the president.  “It’s also true that you’re only a cub engineer in years, and there are many greater engineers than yourself in the country.  You have executive ability, however, Reade.  You are able to start a thing, and then put it through on time—–­or before.  The executive is the type of man who is most needed in this or any other country.”

“Is an executive a lazy fellow who can make others work!” asked Reade.

“No; an executive is a man who can choose other men, and can wisely direct them to big achievements.  An executive is a director of fine team play.  That describes you, Reade.  However—–­you haven’t yet accepted the position as chief engineer of the S.B. & L.”

“I’ll end your suspense then, sir,” smiled the cub.  “I do accept, and with a big capital ’A’.”

“As to your salary,” continued Mr. Newnham, “nothing has been said about that, and nothing need be said until we see whether the road is operating in season to save its charter.  If we save our charter and the road, your salary will be in line with the size of the achievement.”

“If we should lose the charter, sir,” Tom retorted, his face clouding, “I don’t believe I’d take any interest in the salary question.  Money is a fine thing, but the game—–­the battle—–­is twenty times more interesting.  However, I’m going to predict, Mr. Newnham, that the road WILL operate on time.”

“I believe you’re going to make good, Reade, no matter what a small coterie of politicians at Denver may think.  I never met a man who had success stamped more plainly on his face than you have.  By the way, I shall ask you to keep Mr. Howe as an assistant.  You still have the appointment of one other assistant, in place of Mr. Blaisdell.”