There were no greetings. This situation had no formalities. Warburton faced them and he seemed neither cold nor hot.
“Mr. Lee, as a director of the road I have to inform you that, following the reports of our engineer here, your present contracts are void and you will not get any more.”
A white radiance of rage swiftly transformed Allison Lee. His eyes seemed to blaze purple out of his white face.
And Neale knew him to be Allie’s father--saw the beauty and fire of her eyes in his.
“Warburton! You’ll reconsider. I have great influence--”
“To hell with your influence!” retorted Warburton, the lion in him rising. “The builders--the directors--the owners of the U. P. R. are right here in this car. Do you understand that? Do you demand that I call a spade a spade?”
“I have been appointed by Congress. I will--”
“Congress or no Congress, you will never rebuild a foot of this railroad,” thundered Warburton. He stood there glaring, final, assured. “For the sake of your--your government connections, let us say--let well enough alone.”
“This upstart boy of an engineer!” burst out Lee, in furious resentment. “Who is he? How dare he accuse or report against me?”
“Mr. Lee, your name has never been mentioned by him,” replied the director.
Lee struggled for self-control. “But, Warburton, it’s preposterous!” he protested. “This wild boy--the associate of desperadoes--his report, whatever it is--absurd! Absurd as opposed to my position! A cub surveyor--slick with tongue and figures--to be thrown in my face! It’s outrageous! I’ll have him--”
Warburton held up a hand and impelled Lee to silence. In that gesture Neale read what stirred him to his soul. It was coming. He saw it again in General Lodge’s fleeting, rare smile. He held his breath. The old pang throbbed in his breast.
“Lee, pray let me enlighten you and Senator Dunn,” said Warburton, sonorously, “and terminate this awkward interview... When the last spike is driven out here--presently--Mr. Neale will be chief engineer of maintenance of way of the Union Pacific Railroad.”
So for Neale the wonderful dream had come to pass, and but for the memory that made all hours of life bitter his cup of joy would have been full.
He made his headquarters in Benton and spent his days riding east or west over the line, taking up the great responsibility he had long trained for--the maintaining of the perfect condition of the railroad.