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Page 17
"Yes."
"All right. The next time you find anything about a savings bank that
has failed and left the people in the lurch for their money, you show it
to me. Savings banks don't fail nowadays! No, Sir!"
Other men through the camp were taking sly peeps at their bankbooks, as
though they were half ashamed at having such possessions. Yet many a
hard toiler in camp felt a new sense of importance that morning. He
began to look upon himself as a part of the moneyed world as, indeed, he
was!
"Telegram for Mr. Reade," called one of the two camp operators, coming
forward.
Tom tore the envelope open, then stared at the following message:
"Reade, Chief Engineer.
"Have complaint from merchants of Paloma that you have effectually
stopped the men from spending any money in the town. Not our policy to
make enemies of the towns along our line. Explain immediately.
"(Signed) ELLSWORTH,
"General Manager."
"Hmmm!" smiled Tom, then passed the message over to Superintendent
Hawkins.
"Your newly made enemies have gotten after you quickly, Sir," commented
the superintendent grimly.
"Yes," nodded Tom. "And, of course, I can't follow any course that
isn't approved by the general manager. I'll wire him the truth and see
what he has to say. Operator!"
"Yes, Sir," replied the young man, turning and coming back.
"Wait for a message," directed Tom; then seated himself and wrote the
following reply:
"Ellsworth, General Manager.
"Have not interfered in any way with honest merchants of Paloma. Men
are at liberty to spend their money any way they choose. I did give the
men a talk about the foolishness of spending their wages in buying
liquor or in gambling. Result was that men banked about two thirds of
the total pay roll with the bank people you sent on pay train yesterday
at my request. Also drove off a gambler who tried to erect two tents on
railroad property in order to fleece the men more speedily.
"(Signed) READE,
"Chief Engineer."
"That will tell the general manager about the kind of merchants that
I've been injuring," smiled Tom, first showing the sheet to
Superintendent Hawkins and then handing it to the waiting messenger.
"I hope Ellsworth, will be satisfied," nodded Hawkins. "Good will is an
asset for a railway, and your enemies in Paloma may be able to stir up a
good deal of trouble for you. Mr. Reade, I stood with you yesterday,
and I'm still with you. If Ellsworth is so cranky that you feel like
throwing the job here, then I'll walk out with you."
"Oh, I'm not going to give up the work here," predicted Reade
cheerfully. "I'm too much interested in it. Neither am I going to have
my hands tied by any clique of gamblers and dive keepers. If Mr.
Ellsworth isn't satisfied, then I'll run up to headquarters and talk to
him in person. I'm not going to quit; neither am I going to be
prevented from winning and deserving the friendship of the men who are
here working for us."
"Telegram for Mr. Reade," grinned the operator, again looking in at the
doorway.
After reading it, Tom passed over to Hawkins this message from General
Manager Ellsworth:
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