At Parkersburg, Superintendent Heywood and Trainmaster Schofield, of the Ohio division, got aboard, to see that the needs of their division received proper consideration. Athens, Zaleski, McArthur, and Hamden were passed, and the two officials exchanged a glance. They had a recommendation to make which, if approved, would mean the expenditure of many thousands of dollars. "The next station is Byers Junction," said Mr. Heywood. "From there to West Junction, as you know, the D. W. & I. uses our track. In view of the great increase of traffic during the last year both Mr. Schofield and I feel that the D. W. & I. should either be compelled to build its own track, or that the P. & O. should be double-tracked between those points." "Hm!" commented the president. "How far is it?" "Seven and a half miles." "Do you know how much another track would cost?" "Not less than fifty thousand dollars." "What return do we get from the D. W. & I. for the use of our track?" "It has averaged ten thousand dollars a year. But their freight business is increasing so that I believe it will soon be fifteen thousand." "Hm!" commented the president again. "Why don't they borrow the money and build their own track?" "In the first place, their credit isn't very good," Mr. Heywood explained, "and in the second place, for them to buy and get into shape a separate right of way would cost probably two hundred thousand dollars. We have our right of way, all grades are established, and all we have to do is to lay a second track along the one we already have." "It sounds easy, doesn't it?" laughed the president. "I don't know anything that's easier than building a railroad--on paper." "It would be a good investment," said Mr. Schofield, rallying to the support of the superintendent. "It would return at least twenty per cent. on the cost. If we don't get another track, we'll have to shut the D. W. & I. out. A single track won't handle the business any more. There's always a congestion there that affects the whole road." The president puffed his cigar meditatively. Good investments appealed to him, and the reasons for the improvement certainly seemed to be weighty ones. "Besides," went on Mr. Schofield, "there's always the danger of accident to be considered. A single one might cost us more than the whole eight miles of track." "Ever had any there?" "No--none so serious as all that. But we've escaped some mighty bad ones by the skin of our teeth." The president smiled. "Don't try to scare me," he said. "I'm not. But it's a serious matter, just the same. There's the office now," added Mr. Schofield, pointing to the little frame building. He saw a figure standing in the doorway, and knew that it was Allan West. "There's the boy," he began, when a report like a pistol-shot stopped him.