CHAPTER 2THE GOVERNMENT ENGINEER
Nick Carter was a keen physiognomist. He no sooner saw the face of the young man who entered Chief Welden’s office a little later, than he was sure of his lofty character and sterling integrity, as Welden already had asserted.
He was tall and erect, with the carriage of a soldier and set up like an athlete. His smoothly shaved face was of a classical cast, with clean-cut, regular features, a fair complexion, and frank blue eyes, with a broad brow and wavy brown hair.
He then looked white and drawn, however, as men look who have aged years in as many days under some terrible experience. Mental distress of the most poignant kind was reflected in his face, and Nick rightly inferred, as Chief Welden also perceived, that the young man apprehended further dire
