“I reckon it does,” drawled Dave. “A man like Grease can’t understand that a man of my kind wouldn’t ask any fellow working for him what ticket he voted for on election day. You certainly hit the sheriff hard, Mr. Reade. In the first place, six thousand a year is a lot more money than the sheriff gets himself. Forty voters are fully as many as he can control, for which reason Grease, in his mind’s eye, sees me winning his office away from him any day that I want to do so.” Ere three days had passed Sheriff Grease had lost fully half of his own force, and some of his controlled voters as well, for many of his deputies flocked to serve under Dave Fulsbee. The rest of the needed detectives also came in, and Dave was soon busy posting his men to patrol the S.B. & L. and protect the workers against any more raids by armed men. After a fortnight student Reynolds recovered sufficiently to be sent to Denver, there to complete his work of recovering from his wound. President Newnham also saw to it that Reynolds was well repaid for his services. The camp moved on. Soon Lineville was sighted from the advanced camp of the engineers. As Lineville was to be the western terminus of the new railroad the work of the field party was very nearly finished. President Newnham, who was all anxiety to see the first train run over the road, remained with the field engineers. “I couldn’t sleep at night, if I were anywhere else than here,” explained the president, “though I feel assured now that the W.C. & A. will make no more efforts, in the way of violence; to prevent us from finishing the building of the road.” “Then you’re more trustful than I am,” smiled Tom Reade. “What’s worrying me most of all is that I can’t quite fathom in what way the W.C. & A’s gloom department will plan to stop us. That they have some plan---and a rascally one---I’m as certain, sir, as I am that I’m now speaking with you.” “Has Fulsbee any suspicions?” inquired Mr. Newnham. “Loads of ’em,” declared Tom promptly. “What does he think the W.C. & A. will try to do?” “Dave’s suspicions, Mr. Newnham, aren’t any more definite than mine. He feels certain, however, that we’re going to have a hard fight before we get the road through.” “Then I hope the opposition won’t be able to prevent us from finishing,” murmured Mr. Newnham. “Oh, the enemy won’t be able to hinder us,” replied Tom confidently. “You have a Fulsbee and a Reade on the job, sir. Don’t worry. I’m not doing any real worrying, and I promise you that I’m not going to be beaten.” “It will be a genuine wonder if Reade is beaten,” reflected Mr. Newnham, watching the cub’s athletic figure as Tom walked through the centre of the camp. “I never knew a man of any age who was more resourceful or sure to win than this same cub, Tom Reade, whose very name was unknown to me a few weeks ago. Yet I shiver! I can’t help it. Men just as resourceful as Tom Reade are sometimes beaten to a finish!” CHAPTER XX MR. NEWNHAM DROPS A BOMB