"Oh, the same old thing. Go down and tell the Italians that the company will stand between them and the MacMorroghs, and they shall have justice--provided always that every man of them is back on the job again to-morrow morning. Who is Riley's interpreter now?" "Lanciotto." "Well, look out for him: he is getting a side-cut from the MacMorroghs and is likely to translate you crooked, if it suits his purposes. Check him by having our man Luigi present when he does the talking act. Any word from Major Benson?" "He was at the tie-camp on Ute Creek, yesterday. Jack Benson and Brissac are lining the grade for the steel on M'Grath's section, and the bridge men are well up to the last crossing of Horse Creek." "That's encouraging. How about the grade work on the detour--your new line into Copah?" It was the assistant's turn to frown, but the brow-wrinkling was of puzzlement. "There's something a bit curious about that--you don't mind our talking shop like a pair of floor-walkers, do you, Miss Adair? You know we expected the MacMorroghs would kick on the change of route and the loss of the big rock-cut in the canyon. There wasn't a word of protest. If I hadn't known better, I should have said that old Brian MacMorrogh knew all about it in advance. All he said was: 'Sure, 'tis your railroad, and we'll be buildin' it anywheres you say, Misther Frisbie.' And the very next day he had a little army of men on that detour, throwing dirt to beat the band. It'll be ready for the steel by the time we can get to it with the track-layers." Ford nodded approvingly. "Speed is what we are paying for, and we're thankful to get it whenever, and wherever, we can. Is the bridge timber coming down all right now?" "Yes; and we are getting plenty of ties since the major put on his war-paint and went after the MacMorrogh subs in the tie-camps. It is the rock work that is holding us back." Ford nodded again. Then he tried a little shot in the dark. "The president's car is just below--at the basin switch. He wants to have it taken to the front, and I have been trying to dissuade him. Is the track safe for it?" Frisbie guessed what kind of answer was desired, and stretched the truth a little. "I should say not. It's something fierce, even for the construction trains." Miss Alicia's smile was seraphic. "You two gentlemen needn't tell fibs for the possible effect on me," she said, with charming frankness. "Nothing I could say would carry any weight with Uncle Sidney." "Stung!" said Frisbie, half to himself; and the two men laughed shamefacedly. "Will it disarrange things so very much if the Nadia is taken to the 'front'?" asked Miss Adair. "Well, rather," said Frisbie bluntly. Then he tried to excuse himself and made a mess of it.