“That thing isn’t doing enough work to earn its oil,” said the contractor disgustedly, nodding to the pump and the long length of big hose that ran down to the water. “Brown and Cole say they can’t ship until next week. Funny thing we can’t get a pump nearer than Chicago!” “‘Next week!’” responded the foreman bitterly. “What’ll I be doing until next week with all this gang? I don’t dare lay them off. Stevens is after men for that new job of his.” “Bailing wouldn’t help much, I suppose.” “Not a bit, save to keep them at work. The water’s running in faster’n we can pump it out. Sure, it’s a regular spring we’ve struck, I’m thinking.” “No, it’s not a spring, Jim; it’s a subterranean stream that flows between that gravel and the clay underneath. With another pump I guess we could hold it all right. Meanwhile, though, we’re losing a couple of hundred dollars a day and getting behind on the contract.” “Subterranean it may be,” replied Jim disgustedly. “I don’t know if it is or not, but it’s holdin’ us back from the work. I know that. What’s the matter with gettin’ a lot of hand-pumps, sir? The water company’ll be havin’ one or two, maybe, and the plumbers----” “Good idea, Jim! At least it’ll help and it’ll keep those dagos busy. If we’ve got to keep them, we might as well make them work. I’ll see what I can do.” He turned away and hurried through the crowd. But Tom was after him. “Excuse me, sir,” he said, touching the contractor’s arm. “But I heard you say something about a pump.” “Eh? Yes, what of it? Know where I can get one--buy, borrow, or steal?” “I--that is, Cummings and Wright have one for sale. It’s only been used twice and it’s in perfect condition, sir.” “Thanks. I’ll have a look at it. Wish I’d known about it two days ago. What make is it?” Tom told him and he nodded. But Tom couldn’t answer the other questions the contractor put as they hurried up the street. In the store Tom left the contractor and hurried to the office after Mr. Cummings, who, fortunately, was in. A few words explained the situation and in a minute Mr. Cummings and the contractor were on their way downstairs. In an almost incredibly short space of time they emerged again, the contractor hurried away and Mr. Cummings, smiling broadly, sought Tom. “You’re in luck, Tom,” he announced. “He jumped at it. They’re going to haul it away in ten minutes.” “He bought it?” asked Tom eagerly. “No, I made him a present of it,” laughed Mr. Cummings. “For sixty dollars.” “Sixty dollars! Why--why, it only cost that much when it was new!” ejaculated Tom. “Sixty-four and a half, son. He’d have paid a hundred, I guess, if I’d asked it. He’s losing that much every day for the want of it. Oh, he was tickled enough to get it for sixty! There’s no kick coming from him. And I guess you’re not kicking either, are you?” “No, sir! I--I’m awfully much obliged. If you don’t mind, Mr. Cummings, I’d like you to take out that four and a half.”