A book about railroad life on tbe Rocky Mountain division of a big transcontinental line, where exciting and unusual events happen and common men may, in an instant's time, turn into heroes. Before the author made writing his profession he spent four years in the engineering department of the road when it "dug, blasted, burrowed, and trestled its right of way through the mountains," and thus got his inspiration at first hand.
o'clock he was at his desk again. Five minutes afterward Rafferty came in. He was not a pretty sight with his cut lip and battered eye as he limped past both Spence and Holman. With a vindictive glare at the latter he marched straight across the room to where Carleton sat. He leaned both hands on the super's desk.
"Ut'll be just a show-down, Mr. Carleton, that's all there is to ut. Me or him, which?" he announced.
Carleton tilted his chair back, put his feet up on the desk and his thumbs in the armholes of his vest. "State your case, Rafferty," he said calmly.
"Case!" Rafferty spluttered. "Case is ut? I'm sick av bein' bossed bye kids out av school that was buildin' blocks whin I was buildin' enjines. I quit or he does!" Rafferty jerked his thumb in Holman's direction.
"Is that all you have to say, Rafferty?"
"That's about the size av ut."
"Very well, Rafferty, you can get your time," said Carleton quietly.
For a moment Rafferty stared as though he had not hear
