“That one won’t do at all,” declared Johnny earnestly.

“It’s the shortest,” insisted Boise.

“You’d have to tunnel through solid granite,” objected Johnny, “and the only traffic you would pick up would be from two or three dead mining towns.  In the Sage City and Salt Pool route you would open up a big, rich, farming territory.”

“That route is the one I have practically discarded,” said Boise.  “Right through here,” and he put a broad forefinger on the map, “is a large stretch of worthless arid land.”

“Yes, I know,” admitted Johnny, hitching closer, “but right here”—­ and he pointed to another place—­“is Blue Lake, and with very simple engineering work, which has been begun, it could be brought down to turn that whole district into land rich enough to load your cars with wheat, corn and cattle.  Just now that water wastes itself through Buffalo Canyon and doesn’t do a pound of work until it hits the big river.”

Mr. Boise studied the map reflectively.  Mr. Courtney studied it interestedly.  Johnny studied it eagerly.  Constance, with her hands folded in her lap, looked on with puzzled wonder.

“Why, there’s the S. W. & P.!” she exclaimed, as she discovered the letters along a graceful black line.

“And here,” supplemented the smiling Courtney, “is the B. F. & N. W.!”

“I see,” returned Constance delightedly.  “They’re both railroads!  They run up into Washington and Oregon, but the S. W. & P. has to go away round this big pink spot.  If it cuts right across there it can go to Washington much quicker.  Why, I should think by all means that the route by way of Sage City and Salt Pool would be the best!”

Mr. Boise surveyed her with joyous eyes and chuckled until his breast heaved.  “It might be,” he admitted with a friendly glance at Johnny.

“One big advantage,” urged Johnny, “is that it would be an all-level route, with solid ground and but very little grading,” and he plunged with breathless energy into the task of convincing Mr. Boise that the Sage City and Salt Pool route was the only feasible one.

They discussed that topic for two solid hours, but before the first thirty minutes had elapsed Johnny had unconsciously reached over into Constance’s lap and had taken one of her hands.  There seemed to be nothing in particular that she could do about it, so she let him keep it, and he used it occasionally to gesture with.  What difference did it make if Courtney and Boise did smile about it at first?

When the railroad party had been dispersed by Winnie—­who had constituted herself rigid master of the revels—­Constance and Johnny found themselves tete-a-tete up in the prow for just a tiny moment.

“Do you suppose he’ll decide on the Sage City and Salt Pool route?” she anxiously inquired.

“I hope so,” declared Johnny.  “If he does, I think I see a chance to make a little money.”

“Maybe we’d better talk some more with him,” she suggested, looking about for Boise.