Keith was so absorbed that he did not answer immediately, and the agent repeated the question with a little asperity in his tone.

“I say how long would it take you to run those lines?”

“I don’t know,” said Keith, doubtfully.  “I see a part of the property lies on the mountain-side just above and next to Squire Rawson’s lands.  I could let you know to-morrow.”

“To-morrow!  You people down here always want to put things off.  That is the reason you are so behind the rest of the world.  The stage-driver, however, told me that you were different, and that is the reason I sent for you.”

Keith straightened himself.  “Dr. Chalmers said when some one praised him as better than other Scotchmen, ’I thank you, sir, for no compliment paid me at the expense of my countrymen.”  He half addressed himself to the Scotchman.

Matheson turned and looked him over, and as he did so his grim face softened a little.

“I know nothing about your doctors,” said Mr. Halbrook; “what I want is to get this work done.  Why can’t you let me know to-day what it will cost?  I have other things to do.  I wish to leave to-morrow afternoon.”

“Well,” said Keith, with a little flush in his face, “I could guess at it to-day.  I think it will take a very short time.  I am familiar with a part of this property already, and—­”

Mr. Halbrook was a man of quick intellect; moreover, he had many things on his mind just then.  Among them he had to go and see what sort of a trade he could make with this Squire Rawson, who had somehow stumbled into the best piece of land in the Gap, and was now holding it in an obstinate and unreasonable way.

“Well, I don’t want any guessing.  I’ll tell you what I will do.  I will pay you so much for the job.”  He named a sum which was enough to make Keith open his eyes.  It was more than he had ever received for any one piece of work.

“It would be cheaper for you to pay me by the day,” Keith began.

“Not much!  I know the way you folks work down here.  I have seen something of it.  No day-work for me.  I will pay you so many dollars for the job.  What do you say?  You can take it or leave it alone.  If you do it well, I may have some more work for you.”  He had no intention of being offensive; he was only talking what he would have called “business”; but his tone was such that Keith answered him with a flash in his eye, his breath coming a little more quickly.

“Very well; I will take it.”

Keith took the papers and went out.  Within a few minutes he had found his notes of the former survey and secured his assistants.  His next step was to go to Captain Turley and take him into partnership in the work, and within an hour he was out on the hills, verifying former lines and running such new lines as were necessary.  Spurred on by the words of the newcomer even more than by the fee promised him, Keith worked with might and main, and sat up all night finishing the work.  Next day he walked into the room where Mr. Halbrook sat, in the company’s big new office at the head of the street.  He had a roll of paper under his arm.