Dempsey's eyes glistened, a half-sigh of relief escaping him.
Crimmins had not moved; the apparition stunned him.
On she came, her eyes fixed on the president, till she reached the
table. Then she steadied herself for a moment, took a roll of
papers from her dress, and sank into a chair.
No one spoke. The crowd pressed closer. Those outside the rail
noiselessly mounted the benches and chairs, craning their necks.
Every eye was fixed upon her.
Slowly and carefully she unrolled the contract, spreading it out
before her, picked up a pen from the table, and without a word
wrote her name. Then she rose firmly, and walked steadily to the
door.
Just then a man entered within the rail and took her seat. It was
her bondsman, Mr. Crane.
XVI
A FRIEND IN NEED
Two days after Tom had signed the highway contract, Babcock sat in
his private office in New York, opening his mail. In the outside
room were half a dozen employees--engineers and others--awaiting
their instructions.
The fine spring weather had come and work had been started in
every direction, including the second section of the sea-wall at
the depot, where the divers were preparing the bottom for the
layers of concrete. Tom's carts had hauled the stone.
Tucked into the pile of letters heaped before him, Babcock's quick
eye caught the corner of a telegram.
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