Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-19
Toms ewes sDarkled.

Nonsense said the Colonel, as he
arose and threw away the stump Of his
cigar. Railroads do not run over hills
like that, and l should have imagined
a boy who can draw like this would
have more sense than to come bother
ing a busy man with such an absurd
idea"
But Tom did not bulge. He folded
up his map and said:
"How much money would 1t save
you If you could run through that hill
without cutting a passageY
There was such earnestness In his
manner that his nearer looked keenly
at him a moment before replying.
Toms fearless gray eyes met his own
with such confidence that the Colonel
was impressed in spite Of himself.
do you know that the engineers
have carefully surveyed the route and
found the hill impracticable?" he said,
slowly.
Tom hesitated. He had a bargain
to make, and hardly knew how to be-
gin. He looked confused for an in
slant, and then, boy like, blurted out
the truth.
81 want to make a trade with you,"
he began.
"a trade! What do you mean?" cried
the Colonel, In astonishment.
my folks want to make a farmer of
me, and l want to be civil engineer"
said Tom.
"Well?"
"Well?" repeated Tom, doubtfully.
"Oh, l see" went on the Colonel.
You give me clue to what you want.
Now, what can you give me In re-
turn? A trade Is a trade, you know"
Il can show you a cut through Black
Mountain" replied Tom quickly. Yes,
1 can," he reiterated, as the Colonel
looked incredulously at him. II can
do 1t, sure!"
but it is impossible, my boy! The
surveyors"
"They didn't half look, sir" inter
rupted Tom. II can take you to 1t In
two hours, If you will only come with
me. I've been clear through it myself,
and 1t will save more than fifteen miles
Of track between here and Thompson
Vile"
Just then the landlord came out Of
the hotel, and the Colonel called him.
us this boy reliable?" the Colonel
asked, bluntly.
That? oh, that's Lazy Tom Blake!"
I,o " arfo
est, as far as know; but he's lazier
than an old soldier, from all I've
heard"
Hes all right here" asked the Col
onel, tapping his forehead significant
ly.
"BIess you, yes!" laughed the land
lord. Hes too lazy to overwork his
brain"
Tom stood like a statute, but the Col
onel saw the flashing eyes, and noted
the strong young hands clench, and it
struck him that the stout young fell
low before him was sadly misunder-
stood.
The landlord turned away, and the
Colonel looked straight at Tom.
How far Is this wonderful ravine
you claim to have found?'
Five miles by road and two more
through the bush, sir" was the prompt
response.
very we'll. I'll go with you my
self"
The Colonel was a man Of action.
In fifteen minutes he was seated by
Toms side In a light road wagon, while
a small boy was slowed in behind to
care for the team while they were In
the bush.
AS they drove along the Colonel
questioned Tom closely In regard to
the discovery, and the replies he re-
ceIYed were so consistent that, when
Tom announced they could drive no
further, he was convinced that the boy
had stumbled upon a passage through
the hills which meant the saving Of
thousands Of dollars, besides shorten
ing the time Of transit between the two
stations.
1t was not easy work, pIunging
through the thick underground, but
Tom went forward without hesitation.
The Colonel pulled and wheezed at the
unusual exertion, but he struggled man
fully on after his youthful guide.
At length Tom paused, until his com
panion stood beside him. They had ar
rived within a few yards Of what
seemed to be a solid ledge Of rock, two
hundred feet high, and nearly perpen-
dicular.
There, sir" said Tom proudly, your
men came right by here, but they didn't
know what know, or they would have
stopped. 1 was shooting one day. and
a wounded partridge ran in behind that
bush there down ~ the bottom Of that
big rock. 1 went after him and just
see what 1 found u
The Colonel followed him to the
clump Of bushes, and Tom drew aside
a mass Of running vines from the face
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