"The house was closed
for the season last month, and we have taken a short lease. One of our
dining-car managers will take charge of the service."
"And the wires?"
"We have made a cut-in from the old Shoshone Mine wire, which wasn't
taken down when the mine was abandoned. That let us out very neatly, and
no one outside of our own line-men know anything about the job. We have
four instruments in the hotel writing-room; two on the commercial and
two on the railroad wires. Will that be enough?"
Mr. McVickar nodded and reached over to press the bell-push which
signalled to his train conductor.
"That is about all I have to say," he said, in dismissal of the two
local officials. "Just nail Gryson up to the cross, where he belongs,
and keep young Blount busy and out of town; I leave the details to you.
Get orders for me as you go up to your office, Kittredge, and have the
despatcher let me out as soon as possible. I ought to be half-way to
Alkali by this time."
XVIII
THE CHASM
It was young Ranlett, a reporter for _The Plainsman_, who told Evan
Blount of the arrival of the vice-president's car, running as second
section of the Overland, and the scene of the telling was the lobby of
the Inter-Mountain Hotel, where Blount was smoking a pipe of
disappointment filled and lighted upon hearing that his father, Mrs.
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