As for Holman, he might have been entirely unconscious of the hostility and ill-will of his subordinates for all the evidence he gave of being aware of it. He was busy mastering the routine and details of his new position. For a month he said nothing; then one morning over at headquarters he turned to Carle-ton, who was reading the train mail that had just come in. “Why did Williams resign?” he asked quietly. “Eh?” said Carleton, startled out of his calm by reason of the suddenness of the question. “Why did Williams resign?” Holman repeated. “Oh, I don’t know. Tired of the life out here, I guess,” Carleton evaded. “Was it Rafferty?” Carleton turned sharply to scrutinize the other’s countenance. Holman was gazing out of the window. “It was Rafferty,” Carleton admitted after a moment. Holman’s gaze never shifted from the window. “Why wasn’t Rafferty fired?” he asked in the same quiet tones, but this time there was just the faintest tinge of accusation in his voice. Carleton’s face flushed. An instant’s hesitation, then he answered bluntly: “He weighed more, that’s why!” “Oh!” said Holman significantly. “Then why didn’t you recommend Rafferty for the position long ago and save all the trouble?” “I would have if he could do anything more than sign his name.” Holman turned angrily to face the super. “So,” he cried, “when a fellow comes out here he has to play a lone hand, eh? A show-down with Rafferty, shop hands, and the whole division drawing cards against him. You, Carleton, I didn’t put you down as a man with a pet.” Carleton got up and put his hand on Holman’s shoulder. “Don’t do it, either,” he said quietly. “Don’t run off your schedule that way, son. It has always been man to man, and I wasn’t appealed to. So far it has been all Rafferty. It’s easier to get a new foreman than a new shop crew, so I haven’t interfered.” “I don’t understand,” said Holman blankly. The super laughed shortly. “Rafferty has the men where he wants them. If he got on his ear he could tie us up so quick we wouldn’t know what happened. A nice thing for me to admit, isn’t it? But it’s so. I suppose I should have nipped the whole business in the bud, but I kept on hoping that each new man would beat Rafferty at his own game. Has he got you going, too?” Holman gathered up the repair reports from his desk and started for the door. “Game’s young yet,” he flung over his shoulder as he went out.