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182 their work, giving them no time for trips and gossip outside; Beatrice, for her part, unwilling to appear concerned in anything which "that man Steele" did, gave strict orders that no Thunder River men were to manifest either curiosity or interest. Joe Embry, though he strove unaffectedly to learn what was afoot, was puzzled to know whether Steele was beginning mining operations or was insanely seeking to develop water power. The latter surmise was the more colourful of the two, since Steele's men were labouring close down to the bed of the stream near the Goblet and were reported to be preparing to swerve the river from its course just above the big bowl. There came thoughtful, puzzled days for Joe Embry.

Soon came the stringing of telephone wires through the forest lands; employing his instrument at the Goblet Steele was enabled to keep in touch with what went forward at Indian City and Bear Town, as his two new village sites were already known; to talk with his timber bosses, to get San Francisco on the line when need was. And, now and again when the mood was on him, to brighten Beatrice's eyes with anger by calling her up despite her emphatic request to be let alone. As the weeks went by and the full spring with them, bringing in the summertime, every day saw some fresh accomplishment an established and stupefying fact.

And then came late July and the first of the railroad men to the mountains. The little mountain papers caught the news and made big headlines, full page excitement of it. Men talked of it exclusively. The