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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cab and Caboose, by Kirk Munroe
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Cab and Caboose
+       The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+
+Author: Kirk Munroe
+
+
+
+Release Date: September 4, 2007  [eBook #22497]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAB AND CABOOSE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Anne Storer, and the
+Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+(https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
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+      See 22497-h.htm or 22497-h.zip:
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+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22497/22497-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE
+
+The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+by
+
+KIRK MUNROE
+
+
+
+
+OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
+
+Honorary President, THE HON. WOODROW WILSON
+Honorary Vice-President, HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT
+Honorary Vice-President, COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT
+President, COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE, Washington, D. C.
+Vice-President, B. L. DULANEY, Bristol, Tenn.
+Vice-President, MILTON A. McRAE, Detroit. Mich.
+Vice-President, DAVID STARR JORDAN, Stanford University, Cal.
+Vice-President, F. L. SEELY, Asheville, N. C.
+Vice-President, A. STAMFORD WHITE, Chicago, Ill.
+Chief Scout, ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, Greenwich, Connecticut
+National Scout Commissioner, DANIEL CARTER BEARD, Flushing, N. Y.
+
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
+BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
+THE FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING, 200 FIFTH AVENUE
+TELEPHONE GRAMERCY 545
+NEW YORK CITY
+
+
+FINANCE COMMITTEE
+
+John Sherman Hoyt, Chairman
+August Belmont
+George D. Pratt
+Mortimer L. Schiff
+H. Rogers Winthrop
+
+GEORGE D. PRATT, Treasurer
+
+JAMES E. WEST, Chief Scout Executive
+
+
+ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
+
+Ernest P. Bicknell
+Robert Garrett
+Lee F. Hanmer
+John Sherman Hoyt
+Charles C. Jackson
+Prof. Jeremiah W. Jenks
+William D. Murray
+Dr. Charles P. Neill
+George D. Porter
+Frank Presbrey
+Edgar M. Robinson
+Mortimer L. Schiff
+Lorillard Spencer
+Seth Sprague Terry
+                                July 31st, 1913.
+
+
+TO THE PUBLIC:--
+
+In the execution of its purpose to give educational value and moral worth
+to the recreational activities of the boyhood of America, the leaders of
+the Boy Scout Movement quickly learned that to effectively carry out its
+program, the boy must be influenced not only in his out-of-door life but
+also in the diversions of his other leisure moments. It is at such times
+that the boy is captured by the tales of daring enterprises and
+adventurous good times. What now is needful is not that his taste should
+be thwarted but trained. There should constantly be presented to him the
+books the boy likes best, yet always the books that will be best for the
+boy. As a matter of fact, however, the boy's taste is being constantly
+vitiated and exploited by the great mass of cheap juvenile literature.
+
+To help anxiously concerned parents and educators to meet this grave
+peril, the Library Commission of the Boy Scouts of America has been
+organized. EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY is the result of their labors. All the
+books chosen have been approved by them. The Commission is composed of the
+following members: George F. Bowerman, Librarian, Public Library of the
+District of Columbia, Washington, D. C.; Harrison W. Graver, Librarian,
+Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Claude G. Leland, Superintendent,
+Bureau of Libraries, Board of Education, New York City; Edward F.
+Stevens, Librarian, Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, New York;
+together with the Editorial Board of our Movement, William D. Murray,
+George D. Pratt and Frank Presbrey, with Franklin K. Mathiews, Chief Scout
+Librarian, as Secretary.
+
+                      "DO A GOOD TURN DAILY."
+
+In selecting the books, the Commission has chosen only such as are of
+interest to boys, the first twenty-five being either works of fiction or
+stirring stories of adventurous experiences. In later lists, books of a
+more serious sort will be included. It is hoped that as many as
+twenty-five may be added to the Library each year.
+
+Thanks are due the several publishers who have helped to inaugurate this
+new department of our work. Without their co-operation in making available
+for popular priced editions some of the best books ever published for
+boys, the promotion of EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY would have been impossible.
+
+We wish, too, to express our heartiest gratitude to the Library
+Commission, who, without compensation, have placed their vast experience
+and immense resources at the service of our Movement.
+
+The Commission invites suggestions as to future books to be included in
+the Library. Librarians, teachers, parents, and all others interested in
+welfare work for boys, can render a unique service by forwarding to
+National Headquarters lists of such books as in their judgment would be
+suitable for EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY.
+
+                              Signed
+                                  James E. West [handwritten]
+                                      Chief Scout Executive.
+
+
+[Illustration: THE PURSUIT OF THE TRAIN ROBBER.--(_Page 156._)
+_Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY--BOY SCOUT EDITION
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE
+
+The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+by
+
+KIRK MUNROE
+
+Author of
+Under Orders, Prince Dusty,
+The Coral Ship, Etc.
+
+ILLUSTRATED
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap
+Publishers
+
+Copyright, 1892
+by
+Kirk Munroe
+
+This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers
+G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London
+
+The Knickerbocker Press, New York
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER.                                                      PAGE.
+
+      I.--"RAILROAD BLAKE"                               1
+
+     II.--A RACE FOR THE RAILROAD CUP                    8
+
+    III.--A CRUEL ACCUSATION                            16
+
+     IV.--STARTING INTO THE WORLD                       22
+
+      V.--CHOOSING A CAREER                             27
+
+     VI.--SMILER, THE RAILROAD DOG                      34
+
+    VII.--ROD, SMILER, AND THE TRAMP                    40
+
+   VIII.--EARNING A BREAKFAST                           52
+
+     IX.--GAINING A FOOTHOLD                            59
+
+      X.--A THRILLING EXPERIENCE                        66
+
+     XI.--A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS                          71
+
+    XII.--BOUND, GAGGED, AND A PRISONER                 79
+
+   XIII.--HOW BRAKEMAN JOE WAS SAVED                    86
+
+    XIV.--THE SUPERINTENDENT INVESTIGATES               92
+
+     XV.--SMILER TO THE RESCUE                          99
+
+    XVI.--SNYDER APPLEBY'S JEALOUSY                    106
+
+   XVII.--ROD AS A BRAKEMAN                            115
+
+  XVIII.--WORKING FOR A PROMOTION                      121
+
+    XIX.--THE EXPRESS SPECIAL                          126
+
+     XX.--TROUBLE IN THE MONEY CAR                     135
+
+    XXI.--OVER THE TOP OF THE TRAIN                    142
+
+   XXII.--STOP THIEF!                                  148
+
+  XXIII.--A RACE OF LOCOMOTIVES                        155
+
+   XXIV.--ARRESTED ON SUSPICION                        161
+
+    XXV.--THE TRAIN ROBBER LEARNS OF ROD'S ARREST      168
+
+   XXVI.--A WELCOME VISITOR                            174
+
+  XXVII.--THE SHERIFF IS INTERVIEWED                   180
+
+ XXVIII.--LIGHT DAWNS UPON THE SITUATION               186
+
+   XXIX.--AN ARRIVAL OF FRIENDS AND ENEMIES            192
+
+    XXX.--WHERE ARE THE DIAMONDS?                      198
+
+   XXXI.--ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!                   205
+
+  XXXII.--SNATCHING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT                211
+
+ XXXIII.--A WRECKING TRAIN                             217
+
+  XXXIV.--ROD ACCEPTS THE LEGACY                       223
+
+   XXXV.--FIRING ON NUMBER 10                          231
+
+  XXXVI.--THE ONLY CHANCE OF SAVING THE SPECIAL        237
+
+ XXXVII.--INDEPENDENCE OR PRIDE                        245
+
+XXXVIII.--A MORAL VICTORY                              252
+
+  XXXIX.--SNYDER IS FORGIVEN                           258
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+THE PURSUIT OF THE TRAIN ROBBER       _Frontispiece_
+
+                                               PAGE
+
+ROD BLAKE WINS BY A LENGTH                       15
+
+SMILER DRIVES OFF THE TRAMP                      42
+
+IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY                        82
+
+ROD ASSISTS THE YOUNG MAN TO THE "LIMITED"      132
+
+THE SHERIFF HANDS ROD THE LEATHER BAG           202
+
+IN THE RAILROAD WRECK                           214
+
+"HE LAUNCHED HIMSELF FORWARD"                   240
+
+
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE:
+THE STORY OF A RAILROAD BOY.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"RAILROAD BLAKE."
+
+
+"Go it, Rod! You've got to go! One more spurt and you'll have him! There
+you are over the line! On time! On railroad time! Three cheers for
+Railroad Blake, fellows! 'Rah, 'rah, 'rah, and a tigah! Good for you, Rod
+Blake! the cup is yours. It was the prettiest race ever seen on the Euston
+track, and 'Cider' got so badly left that he cut off and went to the
+dressing-room without finishing. Billy Bliss was a good second, though,
+and you only beat him by a length."
+
+Amid a thousand such cries as these, from the throats of the excited boys
+and a furious waving of hats, handkerchiefs, and ribbon-decked parasols
+from the grand stand, the greatest bicycling event of the year so far as
+Euston was concerned, was finished, and Rodman Blake was declared winner
+of the Railroad Cup. It was the handsomest thing of the kind ever seen in
+that part of the country, and had been presented to the Steel Wheel Club
+of Euston by President Vanderveer of the great New York and Western
+Railroad, who made his summer home at that place. The race for this trophy
+was the principal event at the annual meet of the club, which always took
+place on the first Wednesday of September. If any member won it three
+years in succession it was to be his to keep, and every winner was
+entitled to have his name engraved on it.
+
+Snyder Appleby or "Cider Apples" as the boys, with their love for
+nicknames, sometimes called him, had won it two years in succession, and
+was confident of doing the same thing this year. He had just obtained,
+through President Vanderveer, a position in the office of the Railroad
+Company, and only waited to ride this last race for the "Railroad Cup,"
+as it was called in honor of its donor, before going to the city and
+entering upon his new duties.
+
+Now to be beaten so badly, and by that young upstart, for so he called
+Rod Blake, was a mortification almost too great to be borne. As Snyder
+left the track without finishing the last race and made his way to the
+dressing-room under the grand stand, he ground his teeth, and vowed to get
+even with his victorious rival yet. The cheers and yells of delight with
+which the fellows were hailing the victor, made him feel his defeat all
+the more bitterly, and seek the more eagerly for some plan for that
+victor's humiliation.
+
+Snyder Appleby was generally considered by the boys as one of the meanest
+fellows in Euston, and that is the reason why they called him "Cider
+Apples"; for those, as everybody knows, are most always the very poorest
+of the picking. So the name seemed to be appropriate, as well as a happy
+parody on that to which he was really entitled. He was the son, or rather
+the adopted son, of Major Arms Appleby, who, next to President Vanderveer,
+was the richest man in Euston, and lived in the great, rambling stone
+mansion that had been in his family for generations.
+
+The Major, who was a bachelor, was also one of the kindest-hearted, most
+generous, and most obstinate of men. He loved to do good deeds; but he
+loved to do them in his own way, and his way was certain to be the one
+that was contrary to the advice of everybody else. Thus it happened that
+he determined to adopt the year-old baby boy who was left on his doorstep
+one stormy night, a little more than sixteen years before this story
+opens. He was not fond of babies, nor did he care to have children about
+him. Simply because everybody advised him to send this one to the county
+house, where it might be cared for by the proper authorities, he declared
+he would do nothing of the kind; but would adopt the little waif and bring
+him up as his own son.
+
+As the boy grew, and developed many undesirable traits of character, Major
+Appleby was too kind-hearted to see them, and too obstinate to be warned
+against them.
+
+"Don't tell me," he would say, "I know more about the boy than anybody
+else, and am fully capable of forming my opinion concerning him."
+
+Thus Snyder Appleby, as he was called, because the name "Snyder" was
+found marked on the basket in which he had been left at the Major's door,
+grew up with the fixed idea that if he only pleased his adopted father
+he might act about as he chose with everybody else. Now he was nearly
+eighteen years of age, big and strong, with a face that, but for its
+coarseness, would have been called handsome. He was fond of display, did
+everything for effect, was intolerably lazy, had no idea of the word
+punctuality, and never kept an engagement unless he felt inclined to do
+so. He always had plenty of pocket money which he spent lavishly, and was
+not without a certain degree of popularity among the other boys of Euston.
+He had subscribed more largely than anybody else to the Steel Wheel Club
+upon its formation, and had thus succeeded in having himself elected its
+captain.
+
+As he was older and stronger than any of the other members who took up
+racing, and as he always rode the lightest and best wheel that money could
+procure, he had, without much hard work, easily maintained a lead in the
+racing field, and had come to consider himself as invincible. He regarded
+himself as such a sure winner of this last race for the Railroad Cup,
+that he had not taken the trouble to go into training for it. He would not
+even give up his cigarette smoking, a habit that he had acquired because
+he considered it fashionable and manly. Now he was beaten, disgracefully,
+and that by a boy nearly two years younger than himself. It was too much,
+and he determined to find some excuse for his defeat, that should at the
+same time remove the disgrace from him, and place it upon other shoulders.
+
+Rodman Ray Blake, or R. R. Blake as he signed his name, and "Railroad
+Blake" as the boys often called him, was Major Appleby's nephew, and the
+son of his only sister. She had married an impecunious young artist
+against her brother's wish, on which account he had declined ever to see
+her again. When she died, after two years of poverty-stricken widowhood,
+she left a loving, forgiving letter for her brother, and in it committed
+her darling boy to his charge. If she had not done this, but had trusted
+to his generous impulses, all would have gone well, and the events that
+serve to make up this story would never have taken place. As it was, the
+Major, feeling that the boy was forced upon him, was greatly aggrieved.
+That the lad should bear a remarkable resemblance to his handsome artist
+father also irritated him. As a result, while he really became very fond
+of the boy, and was never unkind to him, he treated him with an assumed
+indifference that was keenly felt by the loving, high-spirited lad. As for
+Snyder Appleby, he was jealous of Rodman from the very first; and when,
+only a short time before the race meeting of the Steel Wheel Club, the
+latter was almost unanimously elected to his place as captain, this
+feeling was greatly increased.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A RACE FOR THE RAILROAD CUP.
+
+
+Young Blake had now been in Euston two years, and was, among the boys,
+decidedly the most popular fellow in the place. He was a slightly-built
+chap; but with muscles like steel wires, and possessed of wonderful
+agility and powers of endurance. He excelled in all athletic sports, was a
+capital boxer, and at the same time found little difficulty in maintaining
+a good rank in his classes. He had taken to bicycling from the very first,
+and quickly became an expert rider, though he had never gone in for
+racing. It was therefore a great surprise, even to his friends, when, on
+the very day before the race meeting, he entered his name for the event
+that was to result in the winning or losing of the Railroad Cup. It would
+not have been so much of a surprise had anybody known of his conversation,
+a few weeks before, with Eltje Vanderveer, the railroad president's only
+daughter. She was a few months younger than Rod, and ever since he had
+jumped into the river to save her pet kitten from drowning, they had been
+fast friends.
+
+So, when in talking of the approaching meeting, Eltje had said, "How I
+wish you were a racer, and could win our cup, Rod," the boy instantly made
+up his mind to try for it. He only answered, "Do you? Well, perhaps I may
+go in for that sort of thing some time."
+
+Then he began training, so secretly that nobody but Dan, a stable boy on
+his uncle's place and Rod's most ardent admirer, was aware of it; but with
+such steady determination that on the eventful day of the great race his
+physical condition was very nearly perfect.
+
+He was on hand at the race track bright and early; for, as captain of the
+club, Rod had a great deal to do in seeing that everything went smoothly,
+and in starting on time the dozen events that preceded the race for the
+Railroad Cup, which came last on the programme.
+
+While these earlier events were being run off Snyder Appleby, faultlessly
+attired, sat in the grand stand beside his adopted father, and directly
+behind President Vanderveer and his pretty daughter, to whom he tried to
+render himself especially agreeable. He listened respectfully to the
+Major's stories, made amusing comments on the racers for Eltje's benefit,
+and laughed heartily at the puns that her father was given to making.
+
+"But how about your own race, Mr. Appleby?" asked Eltje. "Don't you feel
+any anxiety concerning it? It is to be the hardest one of all, isn't it?"
+
+Immensely flattered at being addressed as Mister Appleby, Snyder replied
+carelessly, "Oh, yes! of course I am most anxious to win it, especially as
+you are here to see it run; but I don't anticipate much difficulty. Bliss
+is a hard man to beat; but I have done it before, and I guess I can do it
+again."
+
+"Then you don't think Rodman has any chance of winning?"
+
+"Well, hardly. You see this is his first race, and experience goes a long
+way in such affairs. Still, he rides well, and it wouldn't surprise me to
+see him make a good third at the finish."
+
+Eltje smiled as she answered, "Perhaps he will finish third; but it would
+surprise me greatly to see him do so."
+
+This pretty girl, with the Dutch name, had such faith in her friend Rod,
+that she did not believe he would ever be third, or even second, where he
+had once made up his mind to be first.
+
+Failing to catch her real meaning, Snyder replied: "Of course he may not
+do as well as that; but he ought to. As captain of the club he ought to
+sustain the honor of his position, you know. If he doesn't feel able to
+take at least third place in a five-starter race, he should either resign,
+or keep out of the racing field altogether. Now I must leave you; for I
+see I am wanted. You'll wish me good luck, won't you?"
+
+"Yes," answered Eltje mischievously, "I wish you all the luck you
+deserve."
+
+Forced to be content with this answer, but wondering if there was any
+hidden meaning in it, Snyder left the grand stand, and strolled leisurely
+around to the dressing-room, lighting a cigarette as he went.
+
+"Hurry up!" shouted Rod, who was the soul of punctuality and was
+particularly anxious that all the events of this, his first race meeting,
+should be started on time. "Hurry up. Our race will be called in five
+minutes, and you've barely time to dress for it."
+
+"Where's my wheel?" asked Snyder, glancing over the dozen or more machines
+stacked at one side of the room, but without seeing his own.
+
+"I haven't seen it," answered Rod, "but I supposed you had left it in some
+safe place."
+
+"So I did. I left it in the club house, where there would be no chance of
+anybody tampering with it; for I've heard of such things happening, but I
+ordered Dan to have it down here in time for the race."
+
+"Do you mean to insinuate--" began Rod hotly; but controlling himself, he
+continued more calmly, "I didn't know that you had given Dan any orders,
+and I sent him over to the house on an errand a few minutes ago. Never
+mind, though, I'll go for your machine myself, and have it here by the
+time you are dressed."
+
+Without waiting for a reply, the young captain started off on a run, while
+his adopted cousin began leisurely to undress, and get into his racing
+costume. By the time he was ready, Rod had returned leading the beautiful
+machine, which he had not ridden for fear lest some accident might happen
+to it.
+
+Then the race was called, and a pistol shot sent the five young athletes
+bending low over their handle-bars spinning down the course. They all wore
+the club colors of scarlet and white; but from Rod's bicycle fluttered the
+bit of blue ribbon that Dan had been sent to the young captain's room to
+get, and which he had hastily knotted to the handle-bar of his machine
+just before starting. Eltje Vanderveer smiled and flushed slightly as she
+noticed it, and then all her attention was concentrated upon the varying
+fortunes of the flying wheelmen.
+
+It was a five-mile race, and therefore a test of endurance rather than of
+strength or skill. There were two laps to the mile, and for seven of these
+Snyder Appleby held an easy lead. His name was heard above all others in
+the cheering that greeted each passing of the grand stand, though the
+others were encouraged to stick to him and not give it up yet. That two of
+them had no intention of giving it up, was shown at the end of the eighth
+lap, when the three leading wheels whirled past the grand stand so nearly
+abreast that no advantage could be claimed for either one.
+
+Now the cheering was tremendous; but the names of Rod Blake and Billy
+Bliss were tossed from mouth to mouth equally with that of Snyder Appleby.
+At the end of nine laps the champion of two years had fallen hopelessly
+behind. His face wore a distressed look, and his breath came in painful
+gasps. Cigarettes had done their work with him, and his wind was gone. The
+two leaders were still abreast; but Rod had obtained the inside position,
+and if he could keep up the pace the race was his.
+
+Eltje Vanderveer's face was pale, and her hands were clinched with the
+intense excitement of the moment. Was her champion to win after all? Was
+her bit of blue ribbon to be borne triumphantly to the front? Inch by inch
+it creeps into a lead. Now they are coming down the home stretch. The
+speed of that last spurt is wonderful. Nothing like it has ever been seen
+at the wind-up of a five-mile race on the Euston track. Looking at them,
+head on, it is for a few seconds hard to tell which is leading. Then a
+solitary shout for Rod Blake is heard. In another moment it has swelled
+into a perfect roar of cheering, and there is a tempest of tossing hats,
+handkerchiefs, and parasols.
+
+[Illustration: ROD BLAKE WINS BY A LENGTH.--(_Page 15._)]
+
+Rod Blake has won by a length, Billy Bliss is second, Snyder Appleby was
+such a bad third that he has gone to the dressing-room without finishing,
+and the others are nowhere.
+
+The speed of the winning wheels cannot be checked at once, and as they go
+shooting on past the stand, the exhausted riders are seen to reel in their
+saddles. They would have fallen but for the willing hands outstretched to
+receive them. Dan is the first to reach the side of his adored young
+master, and as the boy drops into his arms, the faithful fellow says:
+
+"You've won it, Mister Rod! You've won it fair and square; but you want to
+look out for Mister Snyder. I heerd him a-saying bad things about you when
+he passed me on that last lap, and I'm afeard he means some kind of
+mischief."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+A CRUEL ACCUSATION.
+
+
+The attention of the spectators, including the club members, was so
+entirely given to the finish of the famous race for the Railroad Cup,
+that, for a few minutes Snyder Appleby was the sole occupant of the
+dressing-room. When a group of the fellows, forming a sort of triumphal
+escort to the victors, noisily entered it, they found him standing by his
+machine. It was supported by two rests placed under its handle bars, and
+he was gazing curiously at the big wheel, which he was slowly spinning
+with one hand.
+
+"Hello, 'Cider'!" cried the first of the new-comers, "what's up? Anything
+the matter with your wheel?"
+
+"I believe there is," answered the ex-captain, in such a peculiar tone of
+voice that it at once arrested attention. "I don't know what is wrong, and
+I wouldn't make an examination until some of you fellows came in. In a
+case like this I believe in having plenty of witnesses and doing
+everything openly."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked one of the group, whose noisy entrance was now
+succeeded by a startled silence.
+
+"Turn that wheel and you'll see what I mean," replied Snyder.
+
+"Why, it turns as hard as though it were running on plain bearing that had
+never been oiled!" exclaimed the member who had undertaken to turn the
+wheel as requested.
+
+"That's just it, and I don't think it's very surprising that I failed to
+win the race with a wheel in that condition, do you?"
+
+"Indeed I do not. The only surprising thing is that you held the lead so
+long as you did, and managed to come in third. I know I couldn't have run
+a single lap if I'd been on that wheel. What's the matter with it? Wasn't
+it all right when you started?"
+
+"I thought it was," replied Snyder, "but I soon found that something was
+wrong, and before I left the track it was all I could do to move it. Now,
+I want you fellows to find out what the matter is."
+
+A few moments of animated discussion followed, while several of the
+fellows made a careful examination of the bicycle.
+
+"Great Scott!" exclaimed one; "what's in this oil cup? It looks as though
+it were choked with black sand."
+
+"It's emery powder!" cried another, extracting a few grains of the black,
+oil-soaked stuff on the point of a knife blade. "No wonder your wheel
+won't turn. How on earth did it get there?"
+
+"That is what I would like to find out," answered the owner of the
+machine. "It certainly was not there when I left the club house; for I had
+just gone over every part and assured myself that it was in perfect order.
+Since then but two persons have touched it, and I am one of them. I don't
+think it likely that anybody will charge me with having done this thing,
+seeing that my sole interest was to win the race, and that if I so nearly
+succeeded with my wheel in this condition, I could easily have done so had
+it been all right. Nothing could be more painful to me than to bring a
+charge against one who lives under the same roof that I do; but you all
+know who had the greatest interest in having me lose this race. I think
+you all know, too, that he is the only person besides myself who handled
+my wheel immediately before it. The one whom I trusted to bring it here in
+safety was sent off by this person on some frivolous errand at the last
+moment. Then, neglecting other and important duties, he volunteered to get
+the machine himself. He was gone before I had a chance to decline his
+offer. That is all I have to say upon this most unpleasant subject, and I
+should not have said so much had not my own reputation, both as a racing
+man and a gentleman, been at stake. Now I place the whole affair in the
+hands of the club, satisfied that they will do me justice."
+
+Rod Blake, seated on a camp-stool, with a heavy "sweater" thrown over his
+shoulders, and slowly recovering from the exhaustion of the race, had
+observed and listened to all this with a pained curiosity. He could not
+believe any member of the club guilty of such a cowardly act. When Snyder
+began to charge him with having committed it, his face became deadly pale,
+and he gazed at his adopted cousin with an expression akin to terror. As
+the latter finished, the young captain sprang to his feet, exclaiming:
+
+"Snyder Appleby, how dare you bring such an accusation against me? You
+know I am incapable of doing such a thing! Your wheel was in perfect
+condition when I delivered it to you, and you know it was."
+
+"I can easily believe that the fellow who would perform the act would be
+equally ready to lie out of it," replied Snyder.
+
+"Do you mean that I lie?"
+
+"That is about the size of it."
+
+This was more than the hot-tempered young athlete could bear; and almost
+before the words were out of Snyder's mouth, a blow delivered with all the
+nervous force of Rodman's right arm sent him staggering back. It would
+have laid him on the floor, had not several of the fellows caught him in
+their arms.
+
+He was furious with rage, and would have sprung at Rodman had he not been
+restrained. As it was, he hissed through his clinched teeth, "I'll make
+you suffer for this yet, see if I don't."
+
+Immediately after delivering the blow, Rod turned, without a word, and
+began putting on his clothes. The fellows watched him in silence. A minute
+later he was dressed, and stood in the doorway. Here he turned and said:
+
+"I am going home, fellows, and I shall wait there just one hour for an
+assurance that you have faith in me, and do not believe a word of this
+horrible charge. If such a message, sent by the whole club, reaches me
+within that time, I will undertake to prove my innocence. If it does not
+come, then I cease, not only to be your captain, but a member of the
+club."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+STARTING INTO THE WORLD.
+
+
+As Rod finished speaking he left the room and walked away. He had hardly
+disappeared, and the fellows were still looking at each other in a
+bewildered fashion, when a message was sent in. It was that President
+Vanderveer, who was distributing the prizes for the several races out in
+front of the grand stand, was ready to present the Railroad Cup to Rodman
+Blake, and wanted him to come and receive it. Then somebody went out and
+whispered to the President. Excusing himself for a moment to the throng of
+spectators, he visited the dressing-room, where he heard the whole story.
+It was hurriedly told; but he comprehended enough of it to know that the
+cup could not, at that moment, be presented to anybody. So he went back,
+and with a very sober face, told the people that owing to circumstances
+which he was not at liberty to explain just then, it was impossible to
+award the Railroad Cup at that meeting.
+
+The crowd slowly melted away; but before they left, everybody had heard
+one version or another of the story told to President Vanderveer in the
+dressing-room. Some believed Rod to be innocent of the charge brought
+against him, and some believed him guilty. Almost all of them said it was
+a pity that such races could not be won and lost honestly, and there must
+be some fire where there was so much smoke; and they told each other how
+they had noticed from the very first that something was wrong with Snyder
+Appleby's wheel.
+
+Major Appleby heard the story, first from President Vanderveer, and
+afterwards from his adopted son, who confirmed it by displaying the side
+of his face which was swollen and bruised from Rodman's blow. Fully
+believing what Snyder told him, the Major became very angry. He declared
+that no such disgrace had ever before been brought to his house, and that
+the boy who was the cause of it could no longer be sheltered by his roof.
+In vain did people talk to him, and urge him to reflect before he acted.
+He had decided upon his course, and the more they advised him, the more
+determined he became not to be moved from it.
+
+While he was thus storming and fuming outside the dressing-room, the
+members of the wheel club were holding a meeting behind its closed door.
+Did they believe Rodman Blake guilty of the act charged against him or did
+they not? The debate was a long and exciting one; but the question was
+finally decided in his favor. They did not believe him capable of doing
+anything so mean. They would make a thorough investigation of the affair,
+and aid him by every means in their power to prove his innocence.
+
+This was the purport of the message sent to the young captain by the club
+secretary, Billy Bliss; but it was sent too late. The members had taken no
+note of time in the heat of their discussion, and the hour named by Rodman
+had already elapsed before Billy Bliss started on his errand. The fellows
+did not think a few minutes more or less would make any difference, though
+they urged the secretary to hurry and deliver his message as quickly as
+possible. A few minutes however did make all the difference in the world
+to Rod Blake. With him an hour meant exactly sixty minutes; and when
+Billy Bliss reached Major Appleby's house the boy whom he sought was
+nowhere to be found.
+
+Major Appleby and his adopted son walked home together, the former full of
+wrath at what he believed to be the disgraceful action of his nephew, and
+the latter secretly rejoicing at it. On reaching the house, the Major went
+at once to Rodman's room where he found the boy gazing from the window,
+with a hard, defiant, expression on his face. He was longing for a single
+loving word; for a mother's sympathetic ear into which he might pour his
+griefs; but his pride was prepared to withstand any harshness, as well as
+to resent the faintest suspicion of injustice.
+
+"Well, sir," began the Major, "what have you to say for yourself? and how
+do you explain this disgraceful affair?"
+
+"I cannot explain it, Uncle; but----"
+
+"That will do, sir. If you cannot explain it, I want to hear nothing
+further. What I do want, however, is that you shall so arrange your future
+plans that you may no longer be dependent on my roof for shelter. Here is
+sufficient money for your immediate needs. As my sister's child you have
+a certain claim on me. This I shall be willing to honor to the extent of
+providing you against want, whenever you have settled upon your mode of
+life, and choose to favor me with your future address. The sooner you can
+decide upon your course of action the better." Thus saying the
+kind-hearted, impetuous, and wrong-headed old Major laid a roll of bills
+on the table, and left the room.
+
+Fifteen minutes later, or five minutes before Billy Bliss reached the
+house, Rod Blake also left the room. The roll of bills lay untouched where
+his uncle had placed it, and he carried only his M. I. P. or bicycle
+travelling bag, containing the pictures of his parents, a change of
+underclothing, and a few trifles that were absolutely his own. He passed
+out of the house by a side door, and was seen but by one person as he
+plunged into the twilight shadows of the park. Thus, through the gathering
+darkness, the poor boy, proud, high-spirited, and, as he thought,
+friendless, set forth alone, to fight his battle with the world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+CHOOSING A CAREER.
+
+
+As Rod Blake, heavy-hearted, and weary, both mentally and physically from
+his recent struggles, left his uncle's house, he felt utterly reckless,
+and paid no heed to the direction his footsteps were taking. His one idea
+was to get away as quickly, and as far as possible, from those who had
+treated him so cruelly. "If only the fellows had stood by me," he thought,
+"I might have stayed and fought it out. But to have them go back on me,
+and take Snyder's word in preference to mine, is too much."
+
+Had the poor boy but known that Billy Bliss was even then hastening to
+bear a message of good-will and confidence in him from the "fellows" how
+greatly his burden of trial would have been lightened. But he did not
+know, and so he pushed blindly on, suffering as much from his own hasty
+and ill-considered course of action, as from the more deliberate cruelty
+of his adopted cousin. At length he came to the brow of a steep slope
+leading down to the railroad, the very one of which Eltje's father was
+president. The railroad had always possessed a fascination for him, and he
+had often sat on this bank watching the passing trains, wondering at their
+speed, and speculating as to their destinations. He had frequently thought
+he should like to lead the life of a railroad man, and had been pleased
+when the fellows called him "Railroad Blake" on account of his initials.
+Now, this idea presented itself to him again more strongly than ever.
+
+An express train thundered by. The ruddy glow from the furnace door of its
+locomotive, which was opened at that moment, revealed the engineman seated
+in the cab, with one hand on the throttle lever, and peering steadily
+ahead through the gathering gloom. What a glorious life he led! So full of
+excitement and constant change. What a power he controlled. How easy it
+was for him to fly from whatever was unpleasant or trying. As these
+thoughts flashed through the boy's mind, the red lights at the rear of the
+train seemed to blink pleasantly at him, and invite him to follow them.
+
+"I will," he cried, springing to his feet. "I will follow wherever they
+may lead me. Why should I not be a railroad man as well as another? They
+have all been boys and all had to begin some time."
+
+At this moment he was startled by a sound of a voice close beside him
+saying, "Supper is ready, Mister Rod." It was Dan the stable boy; and, as
+Rodman asked him, almost angrily, how he dared follow him without orders,
+and what he was spying out his movements for, he replied humbly: "I ain't
+a-spying on you, Mister Rod, and I only followed you to tell you supper
+was ready, 'cause I thought maybe you didn't know it."
+
+"Well, I didn't and it makes no difference whether I did or not," said
+Rod. "I have left my uncle's house for good and all, Dan, and there are no
+more suppers in it for me."
+
+"I was afeard so! I was afeard so, Mister Rod," exclaimed the boy with a
+real distress in his voice, "an' to tell the truth that's why I came after
+you. I couldn't a-bear to have you go without saying good-by, and I
+thought maybe, perhaps, you'd let me go along with you. Please do, Mister
+Rod. I'll work for you and serve you faithfully, an' I'd a heap rather go
+on a tramp, or any place along with you, than stay here without you.
+Please, Mister Rod."
+
+"No, Dan, it would be impossible to take you with me," said Rodman, who
+was deeply touched by this proof of his humble friend's loyalty. "It will
+be all I can do to find work for myself; but I'm grateful to you all the
+same for showing that you still think well of me. It's a great thing, I
+can tell you, for a fellow in my position to know that he leaves even one
+friend behind him when he is forced to go away from his only home."
+
+"You leaves a-plenty of them--a-plenty!" interrupted the stable boy
+eagerly. "I heerd Miss Eltje telling her father that it was right down
+cruel not to give you the cup, an' that you couldn't do a thing, such as
+they said, any more than she could, or he could himself. An' her father
+said no more did he believe you could, an' you'd come out of it all right
+yet. Miss Eltje was right up an' down mad about it, she was. Oh, I tell
+you, Mister Rod, you've got a-plenty of friends; an' if you'll only stay
+you'll find 'em jest a-swarmin'."
+
+At this Rodman laughed outright, and said: "Dan, you are a fine fellow,
+and you have done me good already. Now what I want you to do is just to
+stay here and discover some more friends for me. I will manage to let you
+know what I am doing; but you must not tell anybody a word about me, nor
+where I am, nor anything. Now good-by, and mind, don't say a word about
+having seen me, unless Miss Eltje should happen to ask you. If she should,
+you might say that I shall always remember her, and be grateful to her for
+believing in me. Good-by."
+
+With this Rod plunged down the steep bank to the railroad track, and
+disappeared in the darkness. He went in the direction of the next station
+to Euston, about five miles away, as he did not wish to be recognized when
+he made the attempt to secure a ride on some train to New York. It was to
+be an attempt only; for he had not a cent of money in his pockets, and had
+no idea of how he should obtain the coveted ride. In addition to being
+penniless, he was hungry, and his hunger was increased tenfold by the
+knowledge that he had no means of satisfying it. Still he was a boy with
+unlimited confidence in himself. He always had fallen on his feet; and,
+though this was the worse fix in which he had ever found himself, he had
+faith that he would come out of it all right somehow. His heart was
+already so much lighter since he had learned from Dan that some of his
+friends, and especially Eltje Vanderveer, still believed in him, that his
+situation did not seem half so desperate as it had an hour before.
+
+Rod was already enough of a railroad man to know that, as he was going
+east, he must walk on the west bound track. By so doing he would be able
+to see trains bound west, while they were still at some distance from him,
+and would be in no danger from those bound east and overtaking him.
+
+When he was about half a mile from the little station, toward which he was
+walking, he heard the long-drawn, far-away whistle of a locomotive. Was it
+ahead of him or behind? On account of the bewildering echoes he could not
+tell. To settle the question he kneeled down, and placed his ear against
+one of rails of the west bound track. It was cold and silent. Then he
+tried the east bound track in the same way. This rail seemed to tingle
+with life, and a faint, humming sound came from it. It was a perfect
+railroad telephone, and it informed the listener as plainly as words could
+have told him, that a train was approaching from the west.
+
+He stopped to note its approach. In a few minutes the rails of the east
+bound track began to quiver with light from the powerful reflector in
+front of its locomotive. Then they stretched away toward the oncoming
+train in gleaming bands of indefinite length, while the dazzling light
+seemed to cut a bright pathway between walls of solid blackness for the
+use of the advancing monster. As the bewildering glare passed him, Rod saw
+that the train was a long, heavy-laden freight, and that some of its cars
+contained cattle. He stood motionless as it rushed past him, shaking the
+solid earth with its ponderous weight, and he drew a decided breath of
+relief at the sight of the blinking red eyes on the rear platform of its
+caboose. How he wished he was in that caboose, riding comfortably toward
+New York, instead of plodding wearily along on foot, with nothing but
+uncertainties ahead of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SMILER, THE RAILROAD DOG.
+
+
+As Rod stood gazing at the receding train he noticed a human figure step
+from the lighted interior of the caboose, through the open doorway, to the
+platform, apparently kick at something, and almost instantly return into
+the car. At the same time the boy fancied he heard a sharp cry of pain;
+but was not sure. As he resumed his tiresome walk, gazing longingly after
+the vanishing train lights, he saw another light, a white one that moved
+toward him with a swinging motion, close to the ground. While he was
+wondering what it was, he almost stumbled over a small animal that stood
+motionless on the track, directly in front of him. It was a dog. Now Rod
+dearly loved dogs, and seemed instinctively to know that this one was in
+some sort of trouble. As he stopped to pat it, the creature uttered a
+little whine, as though asking his sympathy and help. At the same time it
+licked his hand.
+
+While he was kneeling beside the dog and trying to discover what its
+trouble was, the swinging white light approached so closely that he saw
+it to be a lantern, borne by a man who, in his other hand, carried a
+long-handled iron wrench. He was the track-walker of that section, who
+was obliged to inspect every foot of the eight miles of track under his
+charge, at least twice a day; and the wrench was for the tightening of
+any loose rail joints that he might discover.
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed this individual as he came before the little group,
+and held his lantern so as to get a good view of them. "What's the matter
+here?"
+
+"I have just found this dog," replied Rod, "and he seems to be in pain. If
+you will please hold your light a little closer perhaps I can see what has
+happened to him."
+
+The man did as requested, and Rod uttered an exclamation of pleasure as
+the light fell full upon the dog; for it was the finest specimen of a bull
+terrier he had ever seen. It was white and brindled, its chest was of
+unusual breadth, and its square jaws indicated a tenacity of purpose that
+nothing short of death itself could overcome. Now one of its legs was
+evidently hurt, and it had an ugly cut under the left ear, from which
+blood was flowing. Its eyes expressed an almost human intelligence; and,
+as it looked up at Rod and tried to lick his face, it seemed to say, "I
+know you will be my friend, and I trust you to help me." About its neck
+was a leathern collar, bearing a silver plate, on which was inscribed:
+"Be kind to me, for I am Smiler the Railroad Dog."
+
+"I know this dog," exclaimed the track-walker, as he read these words,
+"and I reckon every railroad man in the country knows him; or at any rate
+has heard of him. He used to belong to Andrew Dean, who was killed when
+his engine went over the bank at Hager's two years ago. He thought the
+world of the dog, and it used to travel with him most always; only once in
+a while it would go visiting on some of the other engines. It was off that
+way when Andrew got killed, and since then it has travelled all over the
+country, like as though it was hunting for its old master. The dog lives
+on trains and engines, and railroad men are always glad to see him. Some
+of them got up this collar for him a while ago. Why, Smiler, old dog, how
+did you come here in this fix? I never heard of you getting left or
+falling off a train before."
+
+"I think he must have come from the freight that just passed us," said
+Rod, "and I shouldn't wonder," he added, suddenly recalling the strange
+movements of the figure he had seen appear for an instant at the caboose
+door, "if he was kicked off." Then he described the scene of which he had
+caught a glimpse as the freight train passed him.
+
+"I'd like to meet the man who'd dare do such a thing," exclaimed the
+track-walker. "If I wouldn't kick him! He'd dance to a lively tune if any
+of us railroad chaps got hold of him, I can tell you. It must have been an
+accident, though; for nobody would hurt Smiler. Now I don't know exactly
+what to do. Smiler can't be left here, and I'm afraid he isn't able to
+walk very far. If I had time I'd carry him back to the freight. She's
+side-tracked only a quarter of a mile from here, waiting for Number 8 to
+pass. I'm due at Euston inside of an hour, and I don't dare waste any more
+time."
+
+"I'll take him if you say so," answered Rod, who had been greatly
+interested in the dog's history. "I believe I can carry him that far."
+
+"All right," replied the track-walker. "I wish you would. You'll have to
+move lively though; for if Number 8 is on time, as she generally is, you
+haven't a moment to lose."
+
+"I'll do my best," said the boy, and a moment later he was hurrying down
+the track with his M. I. P. bag strapped to his shoulders, and with the
+dog so strangely committed to his care, clasped tightly in his arms. At
+the same time the track-walker, with his swinging lantern, was making
+equally good speed in the opposite direction. As Rod rounded a curve, and
+sighted the lights of the waiting freight train, he heard the warning
+whistle of Number 8 behind him, and redoubled his exertions. He did not
+stop even as the fast express whirled past him, though he was nearly
+blinded by the eddying cloud of dust and cinders that trailed behind it.
+But, if Number 8 was on time, so was he. Though Smiler had grown heavy
+as lead in his aching arms, and though his breath was coming in panting
+gasps, he managed to climb on the rear platform of the caboose, just as
+the freight was pulling out. How glad he was at that moment of the three
+weeks training he had just gone through with. It had won him something,
+even if his name was not to be engraved on the railroad cup of the Steel
+Wheel Club.
+
+As the boy stood in the rear doorway of the caboose, gazing doubtfully
+into its interior, a young fellow who looked like a tramp, and who had
+been lying on one of the cushioned lockers, or benches, that ran along the
+sides of the car, sprang to his feet with a startled exclamation. At the
+same moment Smiler drew back his upper lip so as to display a glistening
+row of teeth, and, uttering a deep growl, tried to escape from Rod's arms.
+
+"What are you doing in this car! and what do you mean by bringing that dog
+in here?" cried the fellow angrily, at the same time advancing with a
+threatening gesture. "Come, clear out of here or I'll put you out," he
+added. The better to defend himself, if he should be attacked, the boy
+dropped the dog; and, with another fierce growl, forgetful of his hurts,
+Smiler flew at the stranger's throat.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+ROD, SMILER, AND THE TRAMP.
+
+
+"Help! Murder! Take off your dog!" yelled the young tramp, throwing up his
+arm to protect his face from Smiler's attack, and springing backward. In
+so doing he tripped and fell heavily to the floor, with the dog on top of
+him, growling savagely, and tearing at the ragged coat-sleeve in which his
+teeth were fastened. Fearful lest the dog might inflict some serious
+injury upon the fellow, Rodman rushed to his assistance. He had just
+seized hold of Smiler, when a kick from the struggling tramp sent his feet
+flying from under him, and he too pitched headlong. There ensued a scene
+which would have been comical enough to a spectator, but which was
+anything but funny to those who took part in it. Over and over they
+rolled, striking, biting, kicking, and struggling. The tramp was the first
+to regain his feet; but almost at the same instant Smiler escaped from
+Rod's embrace, and again flew at him. They had rolled over the caboose
+floor until they were close to its rear door; and now, with a yell of
+terror, the tramp darted through it, sprang from the moving train, and
+disappeared in the darkness, leaving a large piece of his trousers in the
+dog's mouth. Just then the forward door was opened, and two men with
+lanterns on their arms, entered the car.
+
+They were Conductor Tobin, and rear-brakeman Joe, his right-hand man,
+who had just finished switching their train back on the main track, and
+getting it again started on its way toward New York. At the sight of Rod,
+who was of course a perfect stranger to them, sitting on the floor,
+hatless, covered with dust, his clothing bearing many signs of the recent
+fray, and ruefully feeling of a lump on his forehead that was rapidly
+increasing in size, and of Smiler whose head was bloody, and who was still
+worrying the last fragment of clothing that the tramp's rags had yielded
+him, they stood for a moment in silent bewilderment.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" said Conductor Tobin at length.
+
+"Me too," said Brakeman Joe, who believed in following the lead of his
+superior officer.
+
+"May I inquire," asked Conductor Tobin, seating himself on a locker close
+to where Rod still sat on the floor, "May I inquire who you are? and where
+you came from? and how you got here? and what's happened to Smiler? and
+what's came of the fellow we left sleeping here a few minutes ago? and
+what's the meaning of all this business, anyway?"
+
+"Yes, we'd like to know," said the Brakeman, taking a seat on the opposite
+locker, and regarding the boy with a curiosity that was not unmixed with
+suspicion. Owing to extensive dealings with tramps, Brakeman Joe was very
+apt to be suspicious of all persons who were dirty, and ragged, and had
+bumps on their foreheads.
+
+"The trouble is," replied Rod, looking first at Conductor Tobin and then
+at Brakeman Joe, "that I don't know all about it myself. Nobody does
+except the fellow who just left here in such a hurry, and Smiler, who
+can't tell."
+
+Here the dog, hearing his name mentioned, dragged himself rather stiffly
+to the boy's side; for now that the excitement was over, his hurts
+began to be painful again, and licked his face.
+
+[Illustration: SMILER DRIVES OFF THE TRAMP.--(_Page 41._)]
+
+"Well, you must be one of the right sort, at any rate," said Conductor
+Tobin, noting this movement, "for Smiler is a dog that doesn't make
+friends except with them as are."
+
+"He knows what's what, and who's who," added Brakeman Joe, nodding his
+head. "Don't you, Smiler, old dog?"
+
+"My name," continued the boy, "is R. R. Blake."
+
+"Railroad Blake?" interrupted Conductor Tobin inquiringly.
+
+"Or 'Runaway Blake'?" asked Brakeman Joe who, still somewhat suspicious,
+was studying the boy's face and the M. I. P. bag attached to his
+shoulders.
+
+"Both," answered Rod, with a smile. "The boys where I live, or rather
+where I did live, often call me 'Railroad Blake,' and I am a runaway. That
+is, I was turned away first, and ran away afterwards."
+
+Then, as briefly as possible, he gave them the whole history of his
+adventures, beginning with the bicycle race, and ending with the
+disappearance of the young tramp through the rear door of the caboose in
+which they sat. Both men listened with the deepest attention, and without
+interrupting him save by occasional ejaculations, expressive of wonder and
+sympathy.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Conductor Tobin, when he had finished;
+while Brakeman Joe, without a word, went to the rear door and examined the
+platform, with the hope, as he afterwards explained, of finding there the
+fellow who had kicked Smiler off the train, and of having a chance to
+serve him in the same way. Coming back with a disappointed air, he
+proceeded to light a fire in the little round caboose stove, and prepare a
+pot of coffee for supper, leaving Rodman's case to be managed by Conductor
+Tobin as he thought best.
+
+The latter told the boy that the young tramp, as they called him, was
+billed through to New York, to look after some cattle that were on the
+train; but that he was a worthless, ugly fellow, who had not paid the
+slightest attention to them, and whose only object in accepting the job
+was evidently to obtain a free ride in the caboose. Smiler, whom he had
+been delighted to find on the train when it was turned over to him, had
+taken a great dislike to the fellow from the first. He had growled and
+shown his teeth whenever the tramp moved about the car, and several times
+the latter had threatened to teach him better manners. When he and
+Brakeman Joe went to the forward end of the train, to make ready for
+side-tracking it, they left the dog sitting on the rear platform of the
+caboose, and the tramp apparently asleep, as Rod had found him, on one of
+the lockers. He must have taken advantage of their absence to deal the dog
+the cruel kick that cut his ear, and landed him, stunned and bruised, on
+the track where he had been discovered.
+
+"I'm glad he's gone," concluded Conductor Tobin, "for if he hadn't left,
+we would have fired him for what he did to Smiler. We won't have that dog
+hurt on this road, not if we know it. It won't hurt him to have to walk
+to New York, and I don't care if he never gets there. What worries me,
+though, is who'll look after those cattle, and go down to the stock-yard
+with them, now that he's gone."
+
+"Why couldn't I do it?" asked Rod eagerly. "I'd be glad to."
+
+"You!" said Conductor Tobin incredulously. "Why, you look like too much
+of a gentleman to be handling cattle."
+
+"I hope I am a gentleman," answered the boy with a smile; "but I am a very
+poverty-stricken one just at present, and if I can earn a ride to the
+city, just by looking after some cattle, I don't know why I shouldn't do
+that as well as anything else. What I would like to do though, most of all
+things, is to live up to my nickname, and become a railroad man."
+
+"You would, would you?" said Conductor Tobin. Then, as though he were
+propounding a conundrum, he asked: "Do you know the difference between
+a railroad man and a chap who wants to be one?"
+
+"I don't know that I do," answered the boy.
+
+"Well, the difference is, that the latter gets what he deserves, and the
+former deserves what he gets. What I mean is, that almost anybody who is
+willing to take whatever job is offered him can get a position on a
+railroad; but before he gets promoted he will have to deserve it several
+times over. In other words, it takes more honesty, steadiness,
+faithfulness, hard work, and brains to work your way up in railroad life
+than in any other business that I know of. However, at present, you are
+only going along with me as stockman, in which position I am glad to have
+you, so we won't stop now to discuss railroading. Let's see what Joe has
+got for supper, for I'm hungry and I shouldn't be surprised if you were."
+
+Indeed Rod was hungry, and just at that moment the word supper was the
+most welcome of the whole English language. First, though, he went to the
+wash-basin that he noticed at the forward end of the car. There he bathed
+his face and hands, brushed his hair, restored his clothing to something
+like order, and altogether made himself so presentable, that Conductor
+Tobin laughed when he saw him, and declared that he looked less like a
+stockman than ever.
+
+How good that supper, taken from the mammoth lunch pails of the train
+crew, tasted, and what delicious coffee came steaming out of the
+smoke-blackened pot that Brakeman Joe lifted so carefully from the stove!
+To be sure it had to be taken without milk, but there was plenty of sugar,
+and when Rod passed his tin cup for a second helping, the coffee maker's
+face fairly beamed with gratified pride.
+
+After these three and Smiler had finished their supper, Conductor Tobin
+lighted his pipe, and, climbing up into the cupola of the caboose,
+stretched himself comfortably on the cushioned seat arranged there for his
+especial accommodation. From here, through the windows ahead, behind, and
+on both sides of the cupola, he had an unobstructed view out into the
+night. Brakeman Joe went out over the tops of the cars to call in the
+other two brakeman of the train, and keep watch for them, while they went
+into the caboose and ate their supper. They looked curiously at Rod as
+they entered the car; but were too well used to seeing strangers riding
+there to ask any questions. They both spoke to Smiler though, and he
+wagged his tail as though recognizing old friends.
+
+The dog could not go to them and jump up to be petted because Rod was
+attending to his wounds. He carefully bathed the cut under the left ear,
+from which considerable blood had flowed, and drew its edges together with
+some sticking plaster, of which he always carried a small quantity in his
+M. I. P. bag. Then, finding one of the dog's fore shoulders strained and
+swollen, he soaked it for some time in water as hot as the animal could
+bear. After arranging a comfortable bed in one corner of the car, he
+finally persuaded Smiler to lie there quietly, though not until he had
+submitted to a grateful licking of his face and hands.
+
+Next the boy turned his attention to the supper dishes, and had them very
+nearly washed and wiped when Brakeman Joe returned, greatly to that
+stalwart fellow's surprise and delight; for Joe hated to wash dishes.
+By this time Rod had been nearly two hours on the train, and was so
+thoroughly tired that he concluded to lie down and rest until he should be
+wanted for something else. He did not mean to even close his eyes, but
+within three minutes he was fast asleep. All through the night he slept,
+while the long freight train, stopping only now and then for water, or to
+allow some faster train to pass it, rumbled heavily along toward the great
+city.
+
+He could not at first realize where he was, when, in the gray of the next
+morning, a hand was laid on his shoulder, and Conductor Tobin's voice
+said: "Come, my young stockman, here we are at the end of our run, and it
+is time for you to be looking after your cattle." A quick dash of cold
+water on his head and face cleared the boy's faculties in an instant.
+Then Conductor Tobin pointed out the two stock cars full of cattle that
+were being uncoupled from the rest of the train, and bade him go with them
+to the stock-yard. There he was to see that the cattle were well watered
+and safely secured in the pen that would be assigned to them. Rod was also
+told that he might leave his bag in the caboose and come back, after he
+was through with his work, for a bit of breakfast with Brakeman Joe, who
+lived at the other end of the division, and always made the car his home
+when at this end. As for himself, Conductor Tobin said he must bid the boy
+good-by, as he lived a short distance out on the road, and must hurry to
+catch the train that would take him home. He would be back, ready to start
+out again with the through freight, that evening, and hoped Rod would come
+and tell him what luck he had in obtaining a position. Then rough but
+kind-hearted Conductor Tobin left the boy, never for a moment imagining
+that he was absolutely penniless and without friends in that part of the
+country, or in the great city across the river.
+
+For the next two hours Rod worked hard and faithfully with the cattle
+committed to his charge, and then, anticipating with a keen appetite a
+share of Brakeman Joe's breakfast, he returned to where he had left the
+caboose. It was not there, nor could he find a trace of it. He saw plenty
+of other cabooses looking just like it, but none of them was the one he
+wanted.
+
+He inquired of a busy switch-tender where it could be found, and the man
+asked him its number. He had not noticed. What was the number of the train
+with which it came in? Rod had no idea. The number of the locomotive that
+drew it then? The boy did not know that either.
+
+"Well," said the man impatiently, "you don't seem to know much of
+anything, and I'd advise you to learn what it is you want to find out
+before you bother busy folks with questions."
+
+So the poor fellow was left standing alone and bewildered in the great,
+busy freight-yard, friendless and hungry. He had lost even the few
+treasures contained in his M. I. P. bag, and never had life seemed darker
+or more hopeless. For some moments he could not think what to do, or which
+way to turn.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+EARNING A BREAKFAST.
+
+
+If Rod Blake had only known the number of the caboose for which he was
+searching, he could easily have learned what had happened to it. Soon
+after he left it, while it was being switched on to a siding, one of its
+draw-bars became broken, and it had been sent to the repair shop, a mile
+or so away, to be put in condition for going out again that night. He had
+not thought of looking at its number, though; for he had yet to learn that
+on a railroad everything goes by numbers instead of by names. A few years
+ago all locomotives bore names, such as "Flying Cloud," "North Wind,"
+etc., or were called after prominent men; but now they are simply
+numbered. It is the same with cars, except sleepers, drawing-rooms, and a
+few mail cars. Trains are also numbered, odd numbers being given to west
+or south bound, and even numbers to east or north bound trains. Thus,
+while a passenger says he is going out by the Chicago Limited, the Pacific
+Express, or the Fitchburg Local, the railroad man would say that he was
+going on No. 1, 3, or 5, as the case might be. The sections, from three to
+eight miles long, into which every road is divided, are numbered, as are
+all its bridges. Even the stations are numbered, and so are the tracks.
+
+All this Rodman discovered afterwards; but he did not know it then, and so
+he was only bewildered by the switchman's questions. For a few minutes he
+stood irresolute, though keeping a sharp lookout for the hurrying switch
+engines, and moving cars that, singly or in trains, were flying in all
+directions about him, apparently without any reason or method. Finally he
+decided to follow out his original plan of going to the superintendent's
+office and asking for employment. By inquiry he found that it was located
+over the passenger station, nearly a mile away from where he stood. When
+he reached the station, and inquired for the person of whom he was in
+search, he was laughed at, and told that the "super" never came to his
+office at that time of day, nor until two or three hours later. So,
+feeling faint for want of breakfast, as well as tired and somewhat
+discouraged, the boy sat down in the great bustling waiting-room of the
+station.
+
+At one side of the room was a lunch-counter, from which the odor of
+newly-made coffee was wafted to him in the most tantalizing manner. What
+wouldn't he give for a cup at that moment? But there was no use in
+thinking of such things; and so he resolutely turned his back upon
+the steaming urn, and the tempting pile of eatables by which it was
+surrounded. In watching the endless streams of passengers steadily ebbing
+and flowing past him, he almost forgot the emptiness of his stomach. Where
+could they all be going to, or coming from? Did people always travel in
+such overwhelming numbers, that it seemed as though the whole world were
+on the move, or was this some special occasion? He thought the latter must
+be the case, and wondered what the occasion was. Then there were the
+babies and children! How they swarmed about him! He soon found that he
+could keep pretty busy, and win many a grateful smile from anxious
+mothers, by capturing and picking up little toddlers who would persist in
+running about and falling down right in the way of hurrying passengers.
+He also kept an eye on the old ladies, who were so flustered and
+bewildered, and asked such meaningless questions of everybody, that he
+wondered how they were ever to reach their destinations in safety.
+
+One of these deposited a perfect avalanche of little bags, packages, and
+umbrellas on the seat beside him. Several of them fell to the floor, and
+Rod was good-naturedly picking them up when he was startled by the sound
+of a clear, girlish voice that he knew as well as he knew his own,
+directly behind him. He turned, with a quickly beating heart, and saw
+Eltje Vanderveer. She was walking between her father and Snyder Appleby.
+They had already passed without seeing him, and had evidently just arrived
+by an early morning train from Euston.
+
+Rod's first impulse was to run after them; and, starting to do so, he was
+only a step behind them when he heard Snyder say: "He must have money,
+because he refused a hundred dollars that the Major offered him. At any
+rate we'll hear from him soon enough if he gets hard up or into trouble.
+He isn't the kind of a----"
+
+But Rod had already turned away, and what he wasn't, in Snyder's opinion,
+he never knew.
+
+He had hardly resumed his seat, when there was a merry jingle on the
+floor beside him, and a quantity of silver coins began to roll in all
+directions. The nervous old lady of the bags and bundles had dropped her
+purse, and now she stood gazing at her scattered wealth, the very image
+of despair.
+
+"Never mind, ma'am," said Rod, cheerily, as he began to capture the truant
+coins. "I'll have them all picked up in a moment." It took several minutes
+of searching here and there, under the seats, and in all sorts of
+out-of-the-way hiding places, before all the bits of silver were
+recovered, and handed to their owner.
+
+She drew a great sigh of relief as she counted her money and found that
+none was lost. Then, beaming at the boy through her spectacles, she said:
+"Well, thee is an honest lad; and, if thee'll look after my bags while I
+get my ticket, and then help me to the train, I'll give thee a quarter."
+
+Rod was on the point of saying, politely: "I shall be most happy to do
+anything I can for you, ma'am; but I couldn't think of accepting pay for
+it," when the thought of his position flashed over him. A quarter would
+buy him a breakfast, and it would be honorably earned too. Would it not be
+absolutely wrong to refuse it under the circumstances? Thus thinking, he
+touched his cap, and said: "Certainly I will do all I can to help you,
+ma'am, and will be glad of the chance to earn a quarter."
+
+When the old lady had procured her ticket, and Rod had received the
+first bit of money he had ever earned in his life by helping her to a
+comfortable seat in the right car, she would have detained and questioned
+him, but for her fear that he might be carried off. So she bade him hurry
+from the car as quickly as possible, though it still lacked nearly ten
+minutes of the time of starting.
+
+The hungry boy knew well enough where he wanted to go, and what he wanted
+to do, now. In about three seconds after leaving the car he was seated at
+the railroad lunch-counter, with a cup of coffee, two hard-boiled eggs,
+and a big hot roll before him. He could easily have disposed of twice as
+much; but prudently determined to save some of his money for another meal,
+which he realized, with a sigh, would be demanded by his vigorous appetite
+before the day was over.
+
+To his dismay, when he asked the young woman behind the counter how much
+he owed for what he had eaten, she answered, "Twenty-five cents, please."
+He thought there must be some mistake, and asked her if there was not; but
+she answered: "Not at all. Ten cents for coffee, ten for eggs, and five
+for the roll." With this she swept Rod's solitary quarter into the
+money-drawer, and turned to wait on another customer.
+
+"Well, it costs something to live," thought the boy, ruefully, as he
+walked away from the counter. "At that rate I could easily have eaten a
+dollar's worth of breakfast, and I certainly sha'n't choose this for my
+boarding place, whatever happens."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+GAINING A FOOTHOLD.
+
+
+Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so
+unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see
+the superintendent and ask for employment. So he made his way to that
+gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the
+superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with
+President Vanderveer.
+
+"When will he be back?" asked Rod.
+
+"Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him
+is about five o'clock."
+
+For the next six hours poor Rod wandered about the station and the
+railroad yard, with nothing to do and nobody to speak to, feeling about as
+lonely and uncomfortable as it is possible for a healthy and naturally
+light-hearted boy to feel. He strolled into the station twenty times to
+study the slow moving hands of its big clock, and never had the hours
+appeared to drag along so wearily. When not thus engaged he haunted the
+freight yard, mounting the steps of every caboose he saw, in the hope of
+recognizing it. At length, to his great joy, shortly before five o'clock
+he saw, through a window set in the door of one of these, the
+well-remembered interior in which he had spent the preceding night. He
+could not be mistaken, for there lay his own M. I. P. bag on one of the
+lockers. But the car was empty, and its doors were locked. Carefully
+observing its number, which was 18, and determined to return to it as
+quickly as possible, Rod directed his steps once more in the direction of
+the superintendent's office.
+
+The same boy whom he had seen in the morning greeted him with an
+aggravating grin, and said: "You're too late. The 'super' was here half an
+hour ago; but he's left, and gone out over the road. Perhaps he won't be
+back for a week."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Rod in such a hopeless tone that even the boy's stony
+young heart was touched by it.
+
+"Is it R. R. B.?" he asked, meaning, "Are you on railroad business?"
+
+"Yes," answered Rod, thinking his own initials were meant.
+
+"Then perhaps the private secretary can attend to it," said the boy. "He's
+in there." Here he pointed with his thumb towards an inner room, "and I'll
+go see."
+
+In a moment he returned, saying, "Yes. He says he'll see you if it's R. R.
+B., and you can go right in."
+
+Rodman did as directed, and found himself in a handsomely-furnished
+office, which, somewhat to his surprise, was filled with cigarette smoke.
+In it, with his back turned toward the door, and apparently busily engaged
+in writing, a young man sat at one of the two desks that it contained.
+
+"Well, sir," said this individual, without looking up, in a voice intended
+to be severe and business-like, but which was somewhat disguised by a
+cigarette held between his teeth, "What can I do for you?"
+
+"I came," answered Rod, hesitatingly, "to see if the superintendent of
+this road could give me any employment on it."
+
+The words were not out of his mouth, before the private secretary,
+wheeling abruptly about, disclosed the unwelcome face of Snyder Appleby.
+
+"Well, if this isn't a pretty go!" he exclaimed, with a sneer. "So you've
+come here looking for work, have you? I'd like to know what you know about
+railroad business, anyhow? No, sir; you won't get a job on this road, not
+if I can help it, and I rather think I can. The best thing for you to do
+is to go back to Euston, and make up with the old gentleman. He's soft
+enough to forgive anything, if you're only humble enough. As for the idea
+of you trying to be a railroad man, it's simply absurd. We want men, not
+boys, in this business."
+
+Too surprised and indignant to reply at once to this cruel speech, and
+fearful lest he should be unable to control his temper if he remained a
+moment longer in the room, Rodman turned, without a word, and hurried from
+it. He was choked with a bitter indignation, and could not breathe freely
+until he was once more outside the building, and in the busy railroad
+yard.
+
+As he walked mechanically forward, hardly noting, in the raging tumult of
+his thoughts, whither his steps were tending, a heavy hand was laid on his
+shoulder, and a hearty voice exclaimed: "Hello, young fellow! Where have
+you been, and where are you bound? I've been looking for you everywhere.
+Here's your grip that I was just taking to the lost-parcel room."
+
+It was Brakeman Joe, with Rod's M. I. P. bag in his hand, and his honest,
+friendly countenance seemed to the unhappy boy the very most welcome face
+he had ever seen. They walked together to caboose Number 18, where Rod
+poured into the sympathizing ears of his railroad friend the story of his
+day's experience.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Brakeman Joe, using Conductor Tobin's
+favorite expression, when the boy had finished. "If that isn't tough luck,
+then I don't know what is. But I'll tell you what we'll do. I can't get
+you a place on the road, of course; but I believe you are just on time for
+a job, such as it is, that will put a few dollars in your pocket, and keep
+you for a day or two, besides giving you a chance to pick up some
+experience of a trainman's life."
+
+"Oh, if you only will!----" began the boy, gratefully.
+
+"Better wait till you hear what it is, and we see if we can get it,"
+interrupted Joe. "You see the way of it is this, there was a gent around
+here awhile ago with a horse, that he wants to send out on our train, to
+some place in the western part of the State. I don't know just where it's
+going, but his brother is to meet it at the end of our run, and take
+charge of it from there. Now the chap that the gent had engaged to look
+after the horse that far, has gone back on him, and didn't show up here as
+he promised, and the man's looking for somebody else. We'll just go down
+to the stock-yard, and if he hasn't found anybody yet, maybe you can get
+the job. See?"
+
+Half an hour later it was all arranged. The gentleman was found, and had
+not yet engaged any one to take the place of his missing man. He was so
+pleased with Rod's appearance, besides being so thoroughly satisfied by
+the flattering recommendations given him by Brakeman Joe, and the master
+of the stock-yard, who had noticed the boy in the morning, that he readily
+employed him, offering him five dollars for the trip.
+
+So Rod's name was written on the way-bill, he helped get the horse, whose
+name was Juniper, comfortably fixed in the car set apart for him, and then
+he gladly accepted the gentleman's invitation to dine with him in a
+restaurant near by. There he received his final instructions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
+
+
+Between the time that Rod took charge of Juniper, and the time of the
+train's starting, the young "stockman," as he was termed on the way-bill,
+had some pretty lively experiences. Before the owner of the horse left, he
+handed the boy two dollars and fifty cents, which was half the amount he
+had agreed to pay him, and a note to his brother, requesting him to pay
+the bearer the same sum at the end of the trip. After spending fifty cents
+for a lunch, consisting of crackers, cheese, sandwiches, and a pie, for
+the boy had no idea of going hungry again if he could help it, nor of
+paying the extravagant prices charged at railroad lunch-counters, Rod took
+his place, with Juniper, in car number 1160, which was the one assigned to
+them. Here he proceeded to make the acquaintance of his charge; and, aided
+by a few lumps of sugar that he had obtained for this purpose, he soon
+succeeded in establishing the most friendly relations between them.
+
+Suddenly, while he was patting and talking to the horse, car number 1160
+received a heavy bump from a string of empties, that had just been sent
+flying down the track on which it stood, by a switch engine. Juniper was
+very nearly flung off his feet, and was greatly frightened. Before Rod
+could quiet him, there came another bump from the opposite direction,
+followed by a jerk. Then the car began to move, while Juniper, quivering
+in every limb, snorted with terror. Now came a period of "drilling," as it
+is called, that proved anything but pleasant either to the boy or to the
+frightened animal. The car was pushed and pulled from one track to
+another, sometimes alone and sometimes in company with other cars. The
+train of which it was to form a part was being made up, and the "drilling"
+was for the purpose of getting together the several cars bound to certain
+places, and of placing those that were to be dropped off first, behind
+those that were to make the longest runs.
+
+Juniper's fears increased with each moment, until at length, when a
+passenger locomotive, with shrieking whistle, rushed past within a few
+feet, he gave a jump that broke the rope halter confining him, and bounded
+to the extreme end of the car. Rod sprang to the open door--not with any
+idea of leaving the car, oh, no! his sense of duty was too strong for
+that, but for the purpose of closing it so that the horse should not leap
+out. Then he approached the terrified animal with soothing words, and
+caught hold of the broken halter. At the same moment the car was again set
+in motion, and the horse, now wild with terror, flew to the other end,
+dragging Rod after him. The only lantern in the car was overturned and its
+light extinguished, so that the struggle between boy and horse was
+continued in utter darkness. Finally a tremendous bump of the car flung
+the horse to the floor; and, before he could regain his feet, Rod was
+sitting on his head. The boy was panting from his exertions, as well as
+bruised from head to foot; but he was thankful to feel that no bones were
+broken, and hoped the horse had escaped serious injury as well as himself.
+
+After several minutes of quiet he became satisfied that that last bump
+was the end of the drilling, and that car number 1160 had at length
+reached its assigned position in the train. Still he did not think it safe
+to let the horse up just yet, and so he waited until he heard voices
+outside. Then he called for help. The next moment the car door was pushed
+open, and Conductor Tobin, followed by Brakeman Joe, entered it.
+
+"Well, I'll be everlastingly blowed!" cried Conductor Tobin, using the
+very strongest form of his peculiar expression, as the light from his
+lantern fell on the strange tableau presented by the boy and horse. "If
+this doesn't beat all the stock-tending I ever heard of. Joe here was just
+telling me you was going out with us to-night, in charge of a horse, and
+we were looking for your car. But what are you doing to him?"
+
+"Sitting on his head," answered Rod, gravely.
+
+"So I see," said Conductor Tobin, "and you look very comfortable; but how
+does he like it?"
+
+"I don't suppose he likes it at all," replied the boy; "but I couldn't
+think of anything else to do." Then he told them of the terror inspired in
+the animal by the recent drilling; how it had broken loose and dragged
+him up and down the car, and how he came to occupy his present position.
+
+"Well, you've got sand!" remarked Conductor Tobin admiringly when the
+story was finished. "More 'n I have," he added. "I wouldn't have stayed
+here in the dark, with a loose horse tearing round like mad. Not for a
+month's pay I wouldn't."
+
+"No more would I," said Brakeman Joe; "a scared hoss is a terror."
+
+Then they brought some stout ropes, and Juniper was helped to his feet,
+securely fastened and soothed and petted until all his recent terror was
+forgotten. To Rod's great delight he was found to be uninjured, except for
+some insignificant scratches; and by his recent experience he was so well
+broken to railroad riding that he endured the long trip that followed with
+the utmost composure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS.
+
+
+After quieting Juniper, and having the satisfaction of seeing him begin to
+eat hay quite as though he were in his own stable, Rod left the car and
+followed his railroad friends in order to learn something about getting a
+train ready for its run. He found them walking on opposite sides of it,
+examining each car by the light of their lanterns, and calling to each
+other the inscriptions on the little leaden seals by which the doors were
+fastened. These told where the cars came from, which information, together
+with the car numbers, and the initials showing to what road they belonged,
+Conductor Tobin jotted down in his train-book. He also compared it with
+similar information noted on certain brown cards, about as wide and twice
+as long as ordinary playing-cards, a package of which he carried in his
+hand. The destinations of the several cars could also be learned from
+these cards, which are called "running slips." Each car in the train was
+represented by one of them, which would accompany it wherever it went,
+being handed from one conductor to another, until its final destination
+was reached.
+
+At length, about ten o'clock, through Freight Number 73, to which car
+number 1160 was attached, received its "clearance," or order to start,
+from the train-dispatcher, and began to move heavily out from the yard, on
+to the main west-bound track. Juniper now did not seem to mind the motion
+of the car in the least; but continued quietly eating his hay as though he
+had been a railroad traveller all his life. So Rod, who had watched him a
+little anxiously at first, had nothing to do but stand at the open door of
+his car and gaze at what scenery the darkness disclosed. Now that he was
+beginning to comprehend their use, he was deeply interested in the bright
+red, green, and white lights of the semaphore signals that guarded every
+switch and siding. He knew that at night a white light displayed from the
+top of a post, or swung across the track in the form of a lantern, meant
+safety, a red light meant danger, and a green light meant caution. If it
+had been daytime he would have seen thin wooden blades, about four feet
+long by six inches wide, pivoted near the top of the same posts that now
+displayed the lights. He would have learned that when these stretched out
+horizontally over the track, their warning colors must be regarded by
+every engineman; while if they hung down at an angle, no attention need
+be paid to them.
+
+Being a very observant boy, as well as keenly interested in everything to
+be seen on a railroad, Rod soon discovered that the semaphore lights also
+appeared at intervals of a few miles along the track, at places where
+there were no switches, and that these always moved as soon as the train
+passed them. He afterwards discovered that these guarded the ends of the
+five-mile blocks, into which the road was divided along its entire length.
+Each of the stations, at these points, is occupied by a telegraph operator
+who, as soon as the train enters his block, displays a red danger signal
+behind it. This forbids any other train to enter the block, on that track,
+until he receives word from the operator at the other end of the block
+that the first train has passed out of it. Then he changes his signal
+from red to white, as a notice that the block is free for the admission of
+the next train. This "block system," as it is called, which is now in use
+on all principal railroad lines, renders travel over them very much safer
+than it used to be before the system was devised.
+
+After watching the semaphore lights for some time, and after assuring
+himself that Juniper was riding comfortably, Rod spread a blanket, that
+Brakeman Joe had loaned him, over a pile of loose hay, placed his M. I. P.
+bag for a pillow, and in a few minutes was sleeping on this rude bed as
+soundly as though he were at home.
+
+Some hours later the long, heavily laden train stopped at the foot of the
+steep grade just east of Euston, and was cut in two in order that half of
+it might be drawn to the top at a time. Rear Brakeman Joe was left to
+guard the part of the train that remained behind, and he did this by
+walking back a few hundred yards along the track, and placing a torpedo on
+top of one of the rails. Then he went back as much farther and placed two
+torpedoes, one a rail's length behind the other.
+
+These railroad torpedoes are small, round tin boxes, about the size of
+a silver dollar, filled with percussion powder. To each is attached two
+little straps of lead, which are bent under the upper part of the rail to
+hold the torpedo in position. When it is struck by the ponderous wheels
+of a locomotive, it explodes with the sound of a cannon cracker. The
+explosion of two torpedoes, one directly after the other, is the signal
+for caution, and bids the engineman proceed slowly, keeping a sharp
+lookout for danger. The explosion of a single torpedo is the signal of
+immediate danger, and bids him stop his train as quickly as possible. Thus
+Brakeman Joe had protected his train by arranging a cautionary signal,
+which would be followed immediately by that of danger. Before his train
+started again he intended to take up the single torpedo, leaving only
+those calling for caution, to show that the freight had been delayed. In
+the meantime he decided to walk back to the cars left in his charge and
+see that no one was meddling with them.
+
+Rod was too soundly asleep to know anything of all this, nor did he know
+when an ugly-looking fellow peered cautiously into his car, and said, in a
+low tone: "This here ain't it. It must be the one ahead." The first thing
+of which he was conscious was hearing, as in a dream, the sound of blows,
+mingled with shouts, and a pistol shot, and then Brakeman Joe's voice
+calling: "Rod! Rod Blake! Help! quick!"
+
+An instant later the boy had leaped from the car, and was by his friend's
+side, engaged in a desperate struggle with four as villainous-looking
+tramps as could well be found; though, of course, he could not judge of
+their appearance in the darkness. Joe was wielding the heavy oak stick
+that at other times he used as a lever to aid him in twisting the brake
+wheels; but Rod was obliged to depend entirely on his fists. The skill
+with which he used these was evidently a surprise to the big fellow who
+rushed at him, only to receive a stinging blow in the face, which was
+followed by others delivered with equal promptness and effect. There were
+a few minutes of fierce but confused fighting. Then, all at once, Rod
+found himself standing alone beside a car the door of which was half-way
+open. Two of the tramps had mysteriously disappeared; he himself had sent
+a third staggering backward down the bank into a clump of bushes, and he
+could hear Brakeman Joe chasing the fourth down the track.
+
+A few minutes later the locomotive came back, sounding four long blasts
+and one short one on its whistle, as a recall signal for the rear flagman.
+It was coupled on, and some one waved a lantern, with an up-and-down
+motion, from the rear of the train, as a signal to go ahead. The engineman
+opened the throttle, and the great driving wheels spun round furiously;
+but the train refused to move. He sounded two long whistle blasts as a
+signal to throw off brakes. Then a lantern was seen moving over the tops
+of the cars, the brakes that had been holding them, were loosened, and the
+signal to go ahead was again waved. After this the lantern disappeared as
+though it had been taken into the caboose, and the train moved on.
+
+Its severed parts were re-united at the top of the grade, and it passed
+on out of the block in which all these events had taken place, before
+Conductor Tobin, who had wondered somewhat at not seeing Brakeman Joe,
+discovered that the faithful fellow was missing. He was not on top of any
+of the cars, nor in the caboose, and must have been left behind. Well, it
+was too late to stop for him now. Freight Number 73 must side-track at the
+next station, to allow the night express to pass, and it had already been
+so delayed, that there was no time to lose.
+
+When the station was reached, and Conductor Tobin had seen his train
+safely side-tracked, he went to look for Rod Blake. He meant to ask the
+boy to take Brakeman Joe's place for the rest of the run, or until that
+individual should rejoin them by coming ahead on some faster train. To his
+surprise the young stockman was not in car number 1160, nor could a trace
+of him be found. He, too, had disappeared and the conductor began to feel
+somewhat alarmed, as well as puzzled, by such a curious and unaccountable
+state of affairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+BOUND, GAGGED, AND A PRISONER.
+
+
+When Rod Blake was left standing alone beside the train, after the short
+but sharp encounter with tramps described in the preceding chapter, he was
+as bewildered by its sudden termination as he had been, on awaking from a
+sound sleep, to find himself engaged in it. He knew what had become of two
+of the tramps, for one of them he had sent staggering backward down the
+embankment, and Brakeman Joe was at that moment pursuing the second; but
+the disappearance of the others was a mystery. What could have become of
+them? They must have slipped away unnoticed, and taken advantage of the
+darkness to make good their escape. "Yes, that must be it; for tramps are
+always cowards," thought the boy. "But four of them ought to have whipped
+two of us easy enough."
+
+Then he wondered what the object of the attack could have been, and what
+the tramps were after. All at once it flashed into his mind that the M. S.
+and T. car number 50, beside which he was standing, was filled with costly
+silks and laces from France which were being sent West in bond. He had
+overheard Conductor Tobin say so; and, now, there was the door of that
+very car half-way open. The tramps must have learned of its valuable
+contents in some way, and been attempting to rob it when Brakeman Joe
+discovered them. What a plucky fellow Joe was to tackle them
+single-handed.
+
+"I wonder if they got anything before he caught them?" thought the boy;
+and, to satisfy his curiosity on this point, he went to his own car for
+the lantern that was still hanging in it, and returned to car number 50,
+determined to have a look at its interior. As he could not see much of it
+from the ground, he set the lantern just within the open doorway, and
+began to climb in after it. He had hardly stepped inside, and was stooping
+to pick up his lantern, when he was knocked down by a heavy blow, and
+immediately seized by two men who sprang from out of the darkness on
+either side of him. Without a word they bound his wrists with a stout bit
+of cord, and, thrusting his own handkerchief into his mouth, fastened it
+securely so that he could not utter a sound. Then they allowed him to rise
+and sit on a box, where they took the precaution of passing a rope about
+his body and making it fast to an iron stanchion near the door.
+
+Having thus secured him, one of the men, holding the lantern close to the
+boy's face, said in a threatening tone: "Now, my chicken, perhaps this'll
+be a lesson to you never to interfere again in a business that doesn't
+concern you."
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed the other, as he recognized Rod's features, "if this
+ere hain't the same cove wot set the dog onto me last night. Oh, you young
+willin, I'll get even with you now!"
+
+With this he made a motion as though to strike the helpless prisoner; but
+the other tramp restrained him, saying: "Hold on, Bill, we hain't got no
+time for fooling now. Don't you hear the engine coming back? I'll take
+this lantern and give 'em the signal to go ahead, in case that fool of a
+brakeman doesn't turn up on time, which I don't believe he will." Here the
+fellow chuckled meaningly. "You," he continued, "want to stay right here,
+and begin to pitch out the boxes as soon as she starts, and the rest of
+us'll be on hand to gather 'em in. You can easy jump out when she slows up
+at the top of the grade. You want to be sure, though, and shut the door
+behind you so as nothing won't be suspected, and so this chap'll have a
+good, long ride undisturbed by visitors; see?"
+
+If Rod could not talk, he could still hear; and, by paying close attention
+to this conversation, he formed a very clear idea of the tramps' plans.
+They meant to rob car number 50 of as many of its valuable packages as
+Bill could throw from it while the train was on the grade. He felt
+satisfied that they had, in some way, disposed of Brakeman Joe. Now, they
+intended to get rid of him by leaving him in the closed car, helplessly
+bound, and unable to call for assistance. What would become of him? That
+car might be going to San Francisco for aught he knew, and its door might
+not be opened for days, or even weeks. It might not be opened until he was
+dead of thirst or starvation. What tortures might he not suffer in this
+moving prison? It seemed as though these thoughts would drive him crazy,
+and he realized that if he wished to retain his senses and think out a
+way of escape, he must not dwell upon them.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.--(_Page 81._)]
+
+So he tried to think of plans for outwitting the tramps. The chances of so
+doing seemed slender enough; but he felt certain there must be some way.
+In the meantime one of his assailants had left the car, very nearly
+closing the door as he did so for fear lest somebody might come along and
+notice it if it were wide open. He had taken the lantern with him, the
+train was in motion, the young tramp called Bill was already preparing to
+carry out his part of the programme and begin throwing out the boxes.
+Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a plan that would not only save the
+car from being robbed, but would ensure its door being opened before he
+could die of either thirst or hunger, darted into Rod's mind.
+
+He knew that the car door closed with a spring latch that could only be
+opened from the outside. He knew that no one could board the train, now
+that it was in motion, to open the door. Above all he knew that if the
+young tramp were shut in there with him he would not suffer long from
+hunger and thirst before raising his voice and making his presence known
+to outsiders. Rod could reach the door with his foot. A quick push, the
+welcome click of the latch as it sprang sharply into place, and the plan
+was carried out.
+
+It took Bill, the young tramp, several minutes to find out what had
+happened, and that the door could not be opened from the inside. When he
+finally realized his position he broke out with a torrent of yells and
+threats against his recent companions. It never occurred to him that Rod
+had closed the door. He imagined that it must have been done from the
+outside, by one of his fellow thieves, and his rage against them knew no
+bounds. If he had for a moment suspected the captive, whom he regarded as
+helplessly bound, he would undoubtedly have directed his fury towards him,
+and Rod might have suffered severely at his hands. As it was, he only
+yelled and kicked against the door until the train began to slow up at the
+top of the grade. Then, fearful of attracting undesirable attention, he
+subsided into a sullen silence.
+
+While these things were happening to Rod, Brakeman Joe was suffering even
+greater misfortunes. His left arm had been broken by the pistol shot, that
+was one of the first sounds of the fight by which the young stockman was
+awakened; and when he started in pursuit of the flying tramp, he was
+weaker than he realized, from loss of blood. The tramp quickly discovered
+that he could easily keep out of his pursuer's way. Judging from this that
+the Brakeman must be either wounded or exhausted, he gradually slackened
+his pace, until Joe was close upon him. Then springing to one side, and
+whirling around, the tramp dealt the poor fellow a blow on the head with
+the butt of a revolver, that stretched him senseless across the rails of
+the west-bound track. After satisfying himself that his victim was not in
+a condition to molest him again for some time to come, and brutally
+leaving him where he had fallen, directly in the path of the next
+west-bound train, the tramp began leisurely to retrace his steps toward
+Freight Number 73, in the plunder of which he now hoped to take a part.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+HOW BRAKEMAN JOE WAS SAVED.
+
+
+For ten minutes Brakeman Joe lies insensible and motionless, just as
+he fell. His own train has gone on without him, and now another is
+approaching. Its shrill whistle sounds near at hand, and the rails, across
+which the helpless form is stretched, are already quivering with the
+thrill of its coming. There seems no earthly help for him; nothing to warn
+the controlling mind of that on-rushing mass of his presence. In a few
+seconds the tragedy will be over.
+
+Suddenly, crack! crack! two loud reports ring out sharply above the roar
+and rattle of the train, one just after the other. The engineman is keenly
+alert on the instant; and, with one hand on the brake lever, the other on
+the throttle, he peers steadily ahead. The head-light, that seems so
+dazzling, and to cast its radiance so far, to those approaching it, in
+reality illumines but a short space to him who sits behind it, and the
+engineman sees no evidence of danger. There is no red beacon to stop him,
+nor any train on the track ahead. He is beginning to think the alarm a
+false one, when another report, loud and imperative, rings in his startled
+ear. In an instant the powerful air brakes are grinding against the wheels
+of every car in the night express, until the track is lighted with a blaze
+of streaming sparks. A moment later the rushing train is brought to a
+stop, inside half its own length.
+
+Even now nobody knew why it had been stopped, nor what danger threatened
+it. It was not until the engineman left his cab, and discovered the
+senseless form of Brakeman Joe lying across the rails, less than a hundred
+feet away, that he knew why he had been signalled. The wounded man was
+recognized at once, as belonging to the train ahead of them; but how he
+came in that sad plight, and who had placed the warning torpedoes to which
+he owed his escape from death, were perplexing questions that none could
+answer.
+
+Very tenderly they lifted him, and laid him in the baggage car. Here
+Conductor Tobin found him a few minutes later, when, to his surprise, the
+night express, that generally whirled past him at full speed, slowed up
+and halted beside his own train, standing on the siding. "Yes," this was
+his brakeman, one of the best and most faithful fellows in the service;
+but how he got where they found him, or what had happened, he could not
+explain. He had lost another man off his train that night, a young fellow
+named Rodman Blake. Had they seen anything of him? "No! well, then he
+must have thrown up his job and gone into Euston where he belonged.
+Good-night." In another minute only a far-away murmur among the sleeping
+hills told of the passing of the night express.
+
+Brakeman Joe was placed on the station agent's little cot bed, and the
+doctor was sent for. That was all they could do, and so Freight Number 73
+also pulled out, leaving him behind. A minute later, and it too was gone,
+and the drowsy echoes answered its heavy rumblings faintly and more
+faintly, until they again fell asleep, and all was still.
+
+Through the long hours of the night Rod Blake sat and silently suffered.
+The distress of the gag in his mouth became wellnigh intolerable, and his
+wrists swelled beneath the cords that bound them, until he could have
+cried out with the pain. He grew thirsty too. Oh, so thirsty! and it
+seemed as though the daylight would never come. He had no idea what
+good, or even what change for the better, the daylight would bring him;
+but still he longed for it. Nor was the young tramp who shared his
+imprisonment at all happy or comfortable. He too was thirsty, and hungry
+as well, and though he was not gagged nor bound, he suffered, in
+anticipation, the punishment he expected to receive when he and his
+wickedness should be discovered. Thus, whenever the train stopped, a sense
+of his just deserts terrified him into silence; though while it was in
+motion his ravings were terrible to hear.
+
+At length the morning light began to show itself through chinks and
+crevices of the closed car. Conductor Tobin and his men reached the end of
+their run, and turned the train over to a new crew, who brought with them
+a fresh locomotive and their own caboose.
+
+Still the young tramp would not give in. The morning was nearly gone,
+and Rod was desperate with suffering, before he did, and, during a stop,
+began to shout to be let out. Nobody heard him, apparently, and when the
+train again moved on, the situation of the prisoners was as bad as ever.
+
+Now the fellow began to grow as much alarmed for fear he would not be
+discovered, as he had previously been for fear lest he should be. In this
+state of mind he decided that at the next stop the shouting for help
+should be undertaken by two voices instead of one. So he removed the gag
+from Rod's mouth, and cut the cord by which his wrists were bound. The
+poor lad's throat was dry and husky; but he readily agreed to aid in
+raising a shout, as soon as the train should stop.
+
+In the meantime the arrival of Freight Number 73 was awaited with a lively
+interest at the very station it was approaching, when this agreement
+between the prisoners was made. It was aroused by a despatch, just sent
+along the line by the agent in whose charge Brakeman Joe had been left.
+The despatch stated that he had recovered sufficiently to give a partial
+account of what had been done to him by a gang of thieves, whom he had
+discovered trying to rob car number 50. It requested the first agent who
+should see Train Number 73, to examine into the condition of car number
+50, and discover if anything had been stolen from it. It also stated that
+Brakeman Joe was very anxious concerning the safety of a young stockman,
+who had been on the train, and assisted him to drive off the thieves; but
+who had not since been heard from.
+
+Thus, while the imprisoned inmates of car number 50 were waiting with
+feverish impatience for the train to reach a station at which it would
+stop, the railroad men belonging to this station, were waiting for it with
+a lively curiosity, that was wholly centered on car number 50.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE SUPERINTENDENT INVESTIGATES.
+
+
+At length a long-drawn whistle from the locomotive attached to Freight
+Number 73, warned Rod and his fellow-prisoner that the time for them to
+make a combined effort for liberty was at hand. It also notified the
+curious watchers at the station of the approach of the train for which
+they were waiting. The trainmen were surprised at the unusual number of
+people gathered about the station, and the evident interest with which
+their arrival was regarded. At the same time those composing the little
+throng of waiting spectators were amazed, as the train drew up and
+stopped, to hear loud cries for help proceeding from a car in its centre.
+
+"It's number 50!" exclaimed one, "the very car we are looking for."
+
+"So it is! Break open the door! Some one is being murdered in there!"
+shouted other voices, and a rush was made for the car.
+
+As its door was pushed open, by a dozen eager hands, a wretched-looked
+figure, who had evidently been pressing closely against it, and was
+unprepared for such a sudden movement, pitched out headlong into the
+crowd. As he staggered to his feet he tried to force his way through them,
+with the evident intention of running away; but he was seized and held.
+
+For a moment the whole attention of the spectators was directed toward
+him, and he was stupefied by the multitude of questions showered upon him
+at once. Then some one cried "Look out! There's another in there!" and
+immediately poor Rod was roughly dragged to the ground. "Take them into
+the waiting-room, and see that they don't escape while I examine the car.
+There may be more of the gang hidden in there," commanded the station
+agent. So to the waiting-room the prisoners were hustled with scant
+ceremony. As yet no one knew what they had done, nor even what they were
+charged with doing; but every one agreed that they were two of the
+toughest looking young villains ever seen in that part of the country.
+
+During the confusion, no one had paid any attention to the arrival, from
+the west, of a locomotive drawing a single car. Nor did they notice a
+brisk, business-like appearing man who left this car, and walked, with
+a quick step, toward the waiting-room. Every one therefore looked up in
+surprise when he entered it and demanded, in a tone of authority, "What's
+the trouble here?"
+
+Instantly a murmur was heard of, "It's the superintendent. It's the
+'super' himself"; and, as the crowd respectfully made way for him, a dozen
+of voices were raised in attempted explanation of what had happened. As no
+one really knew what had happened, no two of the voices told the same
+story; but the superintendent catching the words "murderers, thieves,
+tramps, brakeman killed, and car robbed," became convinced that he had a
+most serious case on his hands, and that the disreputable-looking young
+fellows before him must be exceedingly dangerous characters. In order to
+arrive at an understanding of the case more quickly, he ordered the room
+to be cleared of all except the prisoners, the station agent, and the
+trainmen of Freight Number 73, whom he told to guard the doors.
+
+He first examined the conductor, who was as surprised as any one else to
+find that he had been carrying two passengers of whom he knew nothing on
+his train. He had no information to give, excepting what Conductor Tobin
+had told him, and what the superintendent had already learned by
+telegraph, of Brakeman Joe's condition. The other trainmen knew nothing
+more.
+
+The station agent told of the despatch he had received, of the finding of
+the lads in car number 50, and that its contents were apparently
+untouched.
+
+Here the superintendent dismissed the trainmen, and ordered Freight Number
+73 to go ahead. Then, with new guards stationed at the doors, he proceeded
+to question the prisoners themselves. As Bill, the tramp, seemed to be the
+elder of the two, he was the first examined. In answer to the questions
+who he was, where he came from, and what he had been doing in car number
+50, Bill said, with exactly the manner he would have used in addressing a
+Police Justice:
+
+"Please yer Honor we's pards, me an' him is, an' we's bin tendin' stock on
+de road. We was on de train last night when it was attackeded by a lot of
+fellers who was beatin' de brakeman. We went to help him, an' was chucked
+inter de car, an' de door locked on us. We's bin tryin' to get out even
+since, me an' him has, yer Honor, but we couldn't make nobody hear us till
+we got here. We's nearly dead for food an' drink, yer Honor, an' we's
+honest, hard-working boys, an' dat's de truth if I die for it, yer Honor.
+He'd tell yer de same, but fer a bit of a difference me and him had when
+he swore to git even wid me. So maybe he'll lie now; but yer Honor can
+depend on what I'm--"
+
+"That will do," interrupted the superintendent. Then turning to Rodman he
+asked, "What have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"If you'll please give me a drink of water I'll try to tell all I know of
+this affair," answered the boy huskily, now speaking for the first time
+since he had been taken from the car.
+
+When the water was brought, and Bill had been given a drink as well as
+himself, Rod continued, "I was a stockman on that train in charge of a
+horse"--
+
+"Jest as I was a-tellin' yer Honor," murmured Bill.
+
+"And there was a fight with tramps, who attempted to rob the car in which
+we were found."
+
+Here Bill nodded his head approvingly as much as to say "I told you so."
+
+"But this fellow was one of them, and he helped make a prisoner of me, and
+to bind and gag me. He would have thrown the freight out of the car to
+those who were waiting outside to receive it, if I hadn't succeeded in
+closing the door, and locking us both in--"
+
+"Ooo! didn't I tell yer Honor he'd maybe lie on me?" protested Bill.
+
+"Keep quiet!" commanded the superintendent sharply, and then to Rod he
+said: "How can you prove your statements?"
+
+"I can prove that I was bound and gagged by these marks," replied the boy,
+pointing to the sides of his mouth which were red and chafed, and holding
+out his swollen wrists for the superintendent's inspection. "And I can
+prove that I was travelling in charge of a horse by this." Here Rod
+produced the note from Juniper's owner, asking his brother to pay the
+bearer two dollars and a half upon the safe delivery of the horse.
+
+"I have a paper too," broke in Bill, fumbling in his pockets. From one of
+them he finally produced a dirty note, signed by a Western cattle dealer,
+and authorizing one Bill Miner to take charge of certain stock about to
+be shipped over the New York and Western railroad.
+
+The superintendent read the two notes, and looked at the two young
+fellows. In general appearance one was very nearly as bad as the other;
+for, though Rod did not realize the fact, his clothing and person were so
+torn and dirty from the fight of the preceding night and his subsequent
+rough experience, that he looked very nearly as much of a tramp as Bill
+himself.
+
+"I wonder which of you I am to believe, or if either is telling me the
+truth?" said the superintendent dubiously, half aloud and half to
+himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+SMILER TO THE RESCUE.
+
+
+At that moment a small dog walked into the room, wagging his tail with an
+air of being perfectly at home there. Rod was the first to notice him, and
+his eye lighted with a gleam of genuine pleasure.
+
+"Smiler? Smiler, old dog!" he said.
+
+The next instant Smiler was licking his face and testifying to his joy at
+again meeting this friend, in the most extravagant manner. Suddenly he
+caught sight of Bill, and drawing back his upper lip with an ominous
+growl, would have flown at the young tramp had not Rodman restrained him.
+
+"That settles it, so far as I am concerned," exclaimed the superintendent,
+with a relieved air. "Any one that Smiler recognizes as a friend must be
+an honest fellow; while the person whom Smiler calls an enemy, must have
+given him good cause for his enmity, and is to be regarded with distrust
+by all railroad men. Now, I am going to carry you two chaps to the
+Junction where Conductor Tobin and his crew are lying off to-day. There,
+I have no doubt, this whole matter will be explained satisfactorily to me
+and to one of you, as well as with perfect justice to you both."
+
+Smiler, who had reached this station on a passenger locomotive, now
+attached himself resolutely to Rod, and followed him into the
+superintendent's private car, here he was made as cordially welcome as
+he would have been in the humblest caboose on the road. Some of his
+enthusiastic admirers declared that Smiler owned the road; while all
+admitted that there was but one other individual connected with it, whose
+appearance was so uniformly welcome as his, and that was the paymaster.
+
+Now, there was a marked difference shown between the treatment of Smiler's
+friend, and that of his enemy. The former was invited to sit down with the
+superintendent and eat dinner, which was announced as ready soon after
+they left the station; but Bill was consigned to the care of a brakeman
+who received strict orders not to give him a chance to escape. He was
+given a substantial meal of course; for Mr. Hill the superintendent was
+not a man who would permit anybody to suffer from hunger if he could help
+it. Here the courtesy extended to him ended, and he was treated in all
+respects like a prisoner. Most of the time he rode in sullen silence; but
+occasionally he broke forth with vehement protestations of his innocence,
+and of the truth of the story he had told.
+
+Rodman, on the other hand, was treated with marked consideration; for,
+not only was he a friend of Smiler's, but the more Mr. Hill talked with
+him the more he believed him to be a gentleman, as well as an honest,
+truth-telling lad, who had, by a brave and prompt action, saved the
+railroad company a large amount of property. He was confirmed in his
+belief that Rod was a gentleman, by his having asked to be allowed to wash
+his face and hands before sitting down to dinner. The lad was shocked at
+his own appearance when he glanced into a mirror, and the superintendent
+smiled at the wonderful change made by the use of soap, water, and
+brushes, when he emerged from the well-appointed dressing-room of the
+car.
+
+While they sat at table Mr. Hill drew the lad's story from him, including
+the manner in which he had obtained Smiler's friendship, and his desire to
+become a railroad man. Rod did not however mention the name of President
+Vanderveer; for he was desirous of winning success by himself, and on his
+own merits, nor did he give his reasons for leaving Euston.
+
+When the locomotive, drawing the superintendent's private car, and
+displaying two white flags in front to denote that it was running as an
+"extra" train, drew up, a couple of hours later, at the Junction, Rod was
+asked to remain in the car for a few minutes, and Bill was ordered to do
+so. Then Mr. Hill walked over to caboose number 18, in which, as he
+expected, he found Conductor Tobin and his two brakemen fast asleep, with
+bits of mosquito netting spread over their faces to keep off the flies.
+Conductor Tobin was greatly confused when he discovered who was shaking
+him into wakefulness, and began to apologize for having been asleep.
+
+"No excuses are necessary, Tobin," said the other kindly. "A man who works
+as faithfully as you do at night, has a perfect right to sleep in the
+daytime. I wouldn't have disturbed you, but that I wanted to ask if you
+were acquainted with a young fellow named Rod Blake."
+
+Yes, indeed! Conductor Tobin not only knew the lad, but was, at that
+moment, quite anxious concerning him. He had learned by telegraph from
+Brakeman Joe, further particulars of the occurrences of the preceding
+night, including Rod's splendid behavior during the fight with the
+would-be thieves. Since then nothing had been heard from him, and the
+conductor greatly feared that the brave young fellow had met with some
+harm.
+
+"Do you consider him a person whose word is to be trusted?" asked the
+superintendent.
+
+"Well, sir," answered Conductor Tobin, "I haven't known him long, seeing
+that I first met him only night before last; but I've already seen enough
+of him to be willing to take his word as quick as that of any man living."
+
+"That is saying a good deal," laughed the superintendent, "but I believe
+you are right. If I am any judge of character, that lad is an honest
+fellow." Then he explained how, and under what circumstances he had met
+Rod, and ending by asking, "What sort of a railroad man do you think he
+would make?"
+
+"First-rate, sir! He seems to me to be one who knows when he is wanted,
+and who always turns up at the right time."
+
+"Then you wouldn't mind having him on your train, while Joe is laid by?"
+
+"I should be proud to have him, sir, and to be the one to start him on the
+right track as a railroader."
+
+"Very well, we will consider it settled, then, and I will send him over to
+you. I want you to do the best you can by him, and remember that from this
+time on I take a personal interest in his welfare, though of course you
+needn't tell him so."
+
+Rod was more than delighted when Mr. Hill returned to the car, and offered
+him the position of brakeman on Conductor Tobin's train. He promptly and
+gladly accepted it, and tried to thank the superintendent for giving it to
+him; but that gentleman said: "Never mind expressing any thanks in words.
+Express them by deeds instead, and remember, that you can win a certain
+success in railroad life, by keeping on as you have begun and by always
+being on time."
+
+Thus Rod secured a position; a humble one to be sure, but one that he had
+sought and won wholly by merit. When Snyder Appleby heard of it he was
+filled with jealous anger. He declared that there was not room for both of
+them on that road, even if one was only a brakeman, and vowed that if he
+could manage it, his adopted cousin should find it harder to keep his
+position than it had been to win it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+SNYDER APPLEBY'S JEALOUSY.
+
+
+Bill Miner, the tramp, underwent some novel mental experiences on the day
+that Rod obtained his position. In the first place the young fellow, whom
+he had treated so badly, came to him while the superintendent was
+interviewing Conductor Tobin, and said:
+
+"Look here, Bill, you and I suffered a good deal together last night, and
+you know it was mostly your fault that we did so; but I'll forgive you for
+my share of the suffering if you'll only confess the whole business to the
+superintendent. He is bound to find out all about it anyway; for he finds
+out everything; but he'll think a good deal more of you if you own up
+like a man. I would like to be your friend; but my friends must be honest
+fellows, who are willing to work for a living, not tramps and thieves. Now
+shake hands, and make up your mind to do what I have asked you."
+
+Mr. Hill's return interrupted the conversation at this point; but it left
+Bill in an unusually reflective state of mind. No gentleman, such as his
+late companion in captivity evidently was, had ever shaken hands with, or
+asked a favor of him before. In all his hard young life no one had ever
+proposed that he should try honesty and hard work. Ever since he could
+remember anything, his associates had advised dishonesty, and the shirking
+of work in every possible way. Yet, now that he thought of it, he had
+worked hard, all his life, at being dishonest. Now what had he to show for
+it? Nothing but rags, and poverty, and a bad reputation. He wondered how
+it would seem to be honest, and do honest work, and associate only with
+honest people. He had half a mind to try it, just out of curiosity. The
+idea of he, Bill the tramp, being an honest workman, and perhaps, even
+getting to be called "Honest Bill," struck him as so odd that he chuckled
+hoarsely over it.
+
+"What are you laughing at?" demanded the brakeman who stood on the rear
+platform of the car to prevent his escape, and who looked suspiciously in
+at the door to discover the meaning of this novel sound from his
+prisoner.
+
+"Nothing," replied Bill.
+
+"Well, I wish I could get so much fun out of nothing as you seem able to,"
+said the brakeman, who was particularly down on tramps. "I reckon the
+super'll give you something to laugh about directly that won't seem so
+funny," he added significantly.
+
+But Bill did not mind this. He was too busy with his own thoughts. Besides
+he was used to such speeches, and was also listening to something else
+just at that moment. He was listening to the conversation between Rod and
+the superintendent. It certainly was a fine thing for a boy to be talked
+to as the greatest man he had ever known was now talking to his one honest
+friend, and to be offered such a position too. How he would like to be a
+brakeman; and, if he were one, how well he would know how to deal with
+tramps. He wondered what Mr. Hill meant by being "on time." Perhaps it
+meant being honest.
+
+Then Rod left the car, giving him a nod and a smile as he did so. A moment
+later it was again whirling away toward New York, and the superintendent,
+coming to where the young tramp was sitting, said: "Now, sir, I'm ready to
+attend to your case. Are you willing to tell me what you know about this
+business of robbing our freight trains? Or do you prefer to stick to your
+lying story and go to prison for it?"
+
+"I'll tell you all I know, if you'll give me a job for it," answered Bill,
+with a sudden resolution to try for Rod Blake's friendship, and at the
+same time to make a good bargain for himself if he could.
+
+Regarding him keenly, the superintendent said: "So you want to be paid for
+being honest, do you? Well, I don't know but what you are right. Honesty
+is well worth paying for. So, if you will tell me, truthfully, all you
+know of this business I promise you a job that will earn you an honest
+living, and that you can keep just so long as you work faithfully at it."
+
+"Honesty again. How often these gentlemen use the word, and how much
+they seem to think of it," thought Bill. However, as it seemed to promise
+something different from anything he had ever known, he determined to try
+it, and see what it would do for him. So he told, in his awkward fashion,
+all that he knew of the gang of tramp thieves, who had been for some time
+systematically robbing freight trains at several points along the road,
+and Mr. Hill listened to him with the deepest interest.
+
+As a speedy result of this confession a freight clerk in the main office
+of the company, who had been giving secret information to the thieves,
+was discharged the very next day. Brown, the chief of the company's
+detectives, learned where and how he could discover the places where the
+stolen goods were hidden, and was thus enabled to recover a large portion
+of them. And Bill Miner, no longer Bill the tramp, found himself doing
+honest work, as a locomotive wiper and assistant hostler, in a round
+house, at a salary of one dollar and twenty-nine cents per day.
+
+Certainly Rod Blake's influence was being felt on the New York and Western
+railroad.
+
+After his conversation with Bill, the busy superintendent found time to
+stop his flying car at the station where Brakeman Joe lay suffering from
+his wounds, to speak a few kindly words to the faithful fellow, praise his
+bravery, and assure him that his full pay should be continued until he
+had entirely recovered from his injuries and was able to resume duty.
+
+Late that afternoon the private car finished its long journey in the
+station at the terminus of the road, and Mr. Hill hastened to his own
+office. The moment he opened the door of the inner room a cloud of
+cigarette smoke issued from it, and a frown settled on his face as he
+hesitated a moment on the threshold. His private secretary, who had been
+comfortably tilted back in the superintendent's own easy chair, puffing
+wreathes of smoke from a cigarette, started to his feet. "We did not
+expect you to return so soon, sir"--he began.
+
+"Evidently not," interrupted Mr. Hill dryly; "You are the young man
+recommended to me by President Vanderveer, I believe?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Well, sir, you will please to remember for the future, that neither in
+this office, nor in any other belonging to the company, is cigarette
+smoking among the qualifications required of our employees. If you must
+smoke during business hours, I will endeavor to fill your position with
+somebody who is not under that necessity."
+
+For the next half hour Snyder Appleby sat at his own desk, for once in
+his life hard at work, and feeling that he had been decidedly snubbed if
+not actually insulted. He was even meditating the handing in of his
+resignation, when the superintendent again addressed him, but this time
+in a much more friendly tone.
+
+"You are from Euston, I believe?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Do you happen to know a young man from there named Rodman Blake?"
+
+"Yes, sir. I have an acquaintance there of that name," replied Snyder
+hesitatingly, and wondering what possible interest the "super" could have
+in Rod Blake. "The fact is," he added with an assumed air of frankness,
+"the young person in question is a sort of adopted cousin of my own; but
+circumstances have arisen that lead me to consider him an undesirable
+acquaintance."
+
+"What are they?" inquired the superintendent bluntly.
+
+"It would hardly be becoming in me to state them," replied Snyder, wishing
+he knew why the other was making these inquiries. "I should be very sorry
+to say anything that might injure the young man's future prospects."
+
+"Had they anything to do with his leaving Euston, and seeking employment
+on this road?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I think they had," admitted Snyder with apparent reluctance.
+
+"Then I consider it your duty to tell me what they are," said Mr. Hill;
+"for I have just given young Blake the position of brakeman, and if there
+is any reason why he is unfit for it I should like to know it."
+
+This aroused all the jealousy in Snyder's nature and he answered: "Well,
+sir, if you put it in that light, I suppose I must tell you that Blake's
+uncle, with whom he lived, turned him from the house without a penny in
+his pocket on account of his connection with a most infamous piece of
+rascality. But I beg that you will not question me any further on the
+subject. It is most painful to me to speak of even a distant connection
+in the terms I should be obliged to use in referring to Rodman Blake.
+President Vanderveer knows the whole history of the affair, and can give
+you full information regarding it."
+
+"The President has gone West on a business trip that will occupy some
+weeks," replied Mr. Hill, "so I could not ask him even if I were inclined
+to trouble him with so trifling a matter. I shall certainly investigate
+it, however, and if I find this young Blake to be a person of such a
+character as you intimate, I shall as certainly discharge him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ROD AS A BRAKEMAN.
+
+
+In the meantime Rod, who was happily ignorant of this conversation, had
+been warmly welcomed in caboose number 18. There Conductor Tobin and the
+two brakemen listened with intense interest to all he had to tell them
+of his recent experiences. They in turn informed him of Brakeman Joe's
+condition, and of how the torpedoes had saved him from being run over by
+the night express.
+
+He found his M. I. P. bag in the caboose where Conductor Tobin had been
+keeping it until he should hear from him. The conductor also handed Rod
+a ten dollar bill, that had been left for him by the brother of Juniper's
+owner, as a reward for his gallant struggle with the terrified horse in
+the closed car, and the subsequent care of him.
+
+Feeling very rich and independent with this amount of money, of his own
+earning, at his disposal, Rod at once bought for himself a blue checkered
+shirt and pair of overalls, a cap, a pair of buckskin gloves with which to
+handle brake wheels, one of the great tin lunch-pails such as railroad
+men carry, and a blanket. Thus equipped he felt he was ready for any
+emergency. To these purchases he added a supply of provisions, and a
+basket of fruit that he intended to leave for Brakeman Joe when they
+should pass the station at which he was.
+
+The train that they were ordered to take came along shortly before sunset.
+When it again pulled out, drawing caboose number 18, and with Rod Blake,
+brake-stick in hand, standing on the "deck" of one of its rear cars, there
+was no happier nor prouder lad than he in the country. How he did enjoy
+the novelty of that first ride on top of a freight train, and what a fine
+thing it seemed, to be really a railroad man. The night was clear and
+cold; but the exercise of setting up brakes on down grades, and throwing
+them off for up grades or level stretches, kept him in a glow of warmth.
+Then how bright and cosy the interior of the caboose, that was now his
+home, seemed during the occasional visits that he paid it.
+
+Before the night grew dark, Conductor Tobin showed him how to place the
+two red lanterns on its rear platform, and the lights that showed red
+behind, green in front, and green at the side, on its upper rear corners.
+Then he was asked to make a fire in the little round stove, and prepare a
+huge pot of coffee for the train crew to drink during the night. When
+there was nothing else to do he might sit up in the cupola, on the side
+opposite to that occupied by Conductor Tobin; but on this first night he
+preferred taking his own lantern, and going out on "deck," as the top of
+the cars is called. Here he was too far from the locomotive to be annoyed
+by its smoke or cinders, and he loved to feel the cool night air rushing
+past him. He enjoyed rumbling through the depths of dark forests, and
+rattling over bridges or long trestles. It was strange to roll heavily
+through sleeping towns, where the only signs of life were the bright
+lights of the stations, and the twinkling red, green or white semaphore
+lights at the switches.
+
+Some of the time he amused himself by holding his watch in hand, and
+counting the clicks of the car wheels over the rail joints; for he
+remembered having read that the number of rails passed in twenty seconds
+is almost exactly the number of miles run by a train in an hour. If it had
+been day time he might also have noted the number of telegraph poles
+passed in a minute, and calculated the speed of the train, by allowing
+thirty-five poles to the mile.
+
+All this time, however, he was under orders to keep a watch on the
+movements of the brakemen ahead of him, and to set up, or throw off,
+brakes on at least two of the six cars under his charge, whenever he
+noticed them doing so. He was surprised to learn that it was by no means
+necessary to put on all the brakes of a train to check its speed, or even
+to stop it, and that the application of those on a third, or even a
+quarter of its cars answered every purpose. He also soon learned to jump
+quickly whenever brakes were called for by a single short whistle blast
+from the locomotive, and to throw them off at the order of the two short
+blasts that called for brakes to be loosened. At first he thought it
+curious that the other brakemen should run along the tops of the cars, and
+wondered why they were always in such a hurry. He soon discovered though
+that it was much easier to keep his footing running than walking, and
+safer to jump from car to car than to step deliberately across the open
+spaces between them.
+
+Once, during the night, when he and Conductor Tobin were seated in the
+caboose eating their midnight lunch, the latter began to sniff the air
+suspiciously, and even to Rod's unaccustomed nostrils, there came a most
+unpleasant smell. "Hot box!" said Conductor Tobin, and the next time they
+stopped, they found the packing in an iron box at the end of an axle,
+under one of the cars, blazing at a furious rate. The journals, or
+bearings, in which the axle turned, had become dry and so heated by
+friction as to set the oil-soaked cotton waste, or packing, with which the
+box was filled, on fire. The job of cooling the box with buckets of water,
+and repacking it with waste, and thick, black, evil-smelling oil was a
+dirty and disagreeable one, as Rod quickly learned from experience. He
+also realized from what he saw, that if it were not done in time, the car
+itself might be set on fire, or the axle broken off.
+
+These, and many other valuable lessons in railroading, did Rod Blake
+learn that night; and when in the gray dawn, the train pulled into the
+home yard, with its run completed, he was wiser, more sleepy and tired,
+than he had ever been before in all his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+WORKING FOR A PROMOTION.
+
+
+For several weeks Rod Blake continued to lead the life of a brakeman on
+Conductor Tobin's train. Although it was a very humble position, and
+though the life was one of constant danger and hard work, he thoroughly
+enjoyed it. Blessed with youth, health and a perfect physical condition,
+he even found pleasure in the stormy nights, when the running boards that
+formed his pathway over the roofs of the swaying cars were slippery with
+sleet, and fierce winds tried their best to hurl him from them. He
+experienced a wild joy in battling with, and conquering, gales that forced
+him to crawl along the storm-swept "deck" on hands and knees, clinging
+tightly to the running boards, often with lantern extinguished, and making
+the passage from car to car through pitchy darkness. On such nights how
+warm and cheerful was the interior of the caboose, when at rare intervals
+he found a chance to pay it dripping visits! How welcome were the cups of
+hot coffee from the steaming pot on the glowing stove, and how the
+appreciation of all its comforts was intensified by the wildness of the
+outside night!
+
+By his unfailing cheerfulness of disposition, his promptness to answer any
+call, and on account of his splendid athletic training, the lad rapidly
+extended his circle of friendships, until there was not a trainman on the
+division but had a word of greeting, or a friendly wave of the hand for
+him, as they met at stations or were whirled past each other on the road.
+During the leisure "lay-off" hours at either end of the run, he gave them
+boxing lessons in the caboose. These proved so popular as entertainments
+that on such occasions the car was always crowded with eager pupils and
+enthusiastic spectators. In fact, before he had been a month on the road,
+Rod Blake had attained a popularity among the rough, but honest and manly,
+fellows who shared his labors, only approached by that of Smiler himself.
+With this wise animal he was also such a prime favorite that the dog was
+now more frequently to be seen on his train than on any other.
+
+After working as rear brakeman, under Conductor Tobin's especial care,
+long enough to become thoroughly acquainted with his duties, Rod was, at
+his own request, transferred to the forward end of the train. Here he had
+charge of the six or eight cars immediately following the locomotive. This
+was not nearly so pleasant a position as that at the rear end; for now,
+while running, he seldom had a chance to visit the caboose, and when on
+duty he was directly in the path of the very worst of the smoke and
+cinders. Then too the work here was harder than anywhere else on the
+train; for, in addition to his regular duties as brakeman, he was expected
+to assist the fireman at water stations, and by shovelling coal down from
+the rear end of the tender so that it was more easily within his reach. It
+was for this very reason though that Rod sought the place. He did not wish
+to remain a brakeman very long, nor even to become a conductor; but he did
+want to learn how to run a locomotive, and looked forward with longing
+anticipation to the day when he might fill the proud position of
+engineman. So he shovelled coal with a hearty good-will, and seized every
+opportunity for riding on the locomotive, and carefully watched the
+movements of the men who managed it. Sometimes he asked questions, but not
+often; when he did they were of such a nature that the answers were of
+practical value to him.
+
+From many years of riding in a locomotive cab, where, with the constant
+rattle and roar, conversation is very difficult, the engineman, Truman
+Stump, had become a most reticent man, who rarely spoke unless it was
+necessary. He had thus gained the reputation of being ill-tempered and
+morose, which was exactly what he was not. Everybody admitted, though,
+that he was a first-class engine-driver, and one who could always be
+relied upon to do exactly the thing in an emergency.
+
+This man took a liking to the bright-faced young brakeman from the very
+first; and, when Rod began to appear in his cab, he watched him with a
+real, but concealed interest. One day when it was announced that Milt
+Sturgis, the fireman, was about to be promoted and get his engine,
+everybody wondered who would take his place, and how a new man would get
+along with old True Stump. Another bit of news received on the train at
+the the same time, was that Brakeman Joe had fully recovered from his
+injuries, and was ready to resume his place. While Rod was glad, for Joe's
+sake, that he was well enough to come back, he could not help feeling some
+anxiety on his own account, now that he would no longer be needed as
+brakeman. This anxiety was unexpectedly relieved by the engineman; who,
+while standing beside him at a water station, turned and said:
+
+"Joe's coming back."
+
+"Yes; to-morrow."
+
+"Milt's going to leave."
+
+"So I hear."
+
+"How would you like to fire for me in his place?"
+
+"I," exclaimed Rod in astonishment. "Why, I should like it very much if
+you think I know enough for the job."
+
+"All right, I'll fix it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+THE EXPRESS SPECIAL.
+
+
+Nothing further was said at the time concerning Rod's most cherished
+scheme and as Brakeman Joe reported for duty that very day Rod was at a
+loss to know what he should do next. He doubted if Truman Stump could
+command sufficient influence to secure his appointment as fireman before
+he had undergone a preliminary training as wiper and hostler in the
+round-house, though he felt that he already possessed experience as
+valuable as any to be gained in those positions. Still it was a rule that
+firemen should be taken from the round-house and Rod knew by this time
+that railroad rules are rarely broken.
+
+Of course he could not retain Joe's position now that the latter had
+returned to it, and he would not if he could. No indeed! Joe's face still
+pale from his long confinement was too radiant with happiness at once
+more getting back among his old friends and associations for Rod to dim it
+by the faintest suggestion that the honest fellow's return to duty was
+likely to throw him out of a job. So he congratulated Joe upon his
+recovery, as heartily as any one, and retold the story of his plucky fight
+with the thieving tramps to the little group of railroad men gathered in
+caboose number 18 to welcome him back.
+
+As they were all talking at once and making a hero of Brakeman Joe they
+were hushed into a sudden silence by the unexpected entrance of Mr. Hill
+the Superintendent. Merely nodding to the others this gentleman stepped up
+to Brakeman Joe with extended hand, saying cordially:
+
+"Good evening, conductor. I am glad to see you back among us again. I hope
+you are all right and will be able to take your train out on time
+to-night."
+
+"Sir! I----" stammered the astonished Joe.
+
+"You must be mistaking me for Conductor Tobin, sir."
+
+"Tobin? oh no! I know him too well ever to mistake any one else for him. I
+take you to be Conductor Joseph Miller of the through freight, whose
+promotion has just been posted, to take effect immediately. I have also
+assigned two new men to your train, with orders to report at once. Here
+they come now."
+
+This announcement fell like a bomb-shell; and the cheer of congratulation
+that Joe's friends attempted to raise was checked, half-uttered, by the
+distressed look on Conductor Tobin's face. Could it be that he had heard
+aright? Was it possible that he was thus unceremoniously thrown out of
+work to make a place for his former brakeman? His expression was quite as
+bewildered as that of Brakeman Joe, and the Superintendent, noticing it,
+allowed an amused smile to flit across his own face.
+
+"Don't be alarmed, Tobin," he said, reassuringly; "the Company can't very
+well spare your services, and have no idea of doing so. If you can make it
+convenient I should like to have you take out number 29 to-night, and, as
+you will need an extra hand, I have decided to send young Blake on the
+same train; that is, if it will be agreeable to you to have him."
+
+Number 29! The Continental Express Company's Special! Why, only passenger
+conductors had that train! What could Mr. Hill mean?
+
+"It's all right, Tobin," continued that gentleman, noting the other's
+embarrassment; "your name has gone on to the passenger list, and if you
+do as well there as you have with your freights I shall be more than
+satisfied. I hope this change strikes you as being one for the better
+also?" he added, turning to Rod.
+
+"Yes, sir, only----" began Rodman, who was about to say something
+concerning his desire to be made a fireman, when he suddenly remembered
+that Truman Stump had requested him not to speak of it just yet.
+
+"Only what?" asked Mr. Hill, a little sharply.
+
+"I was afraid I hadn't experience enough," answered Rod.
+
+"That is a matter of which I claim to be the best judge," replied the
+Superintendent, with a smile. "And if I am satisfied of your fitness for
+the position you certainly ought to be. Now, Tobin, look lively. Number 29
+must be ready to leave in half an hour. Good-night and good luck to you."
+
+Thus Conductor Tobin's long and faithful service, and Brakeman Joe's
+suffering, and Rod Blake's strict attention to duty were all rewarded at
+once, though in Rodman's case the reward had not taken exactly the shape
+he desired. Still, a promotion was a promotion, and where there were so
+many competitors for each upward step, as there always are on a railroad,
+it was not for him to grumble at the form in which it came.
+
+So as the young railroad man gathered up his few belongings, he gratefully
+accepted the congratulations of his friends. A few minutes later he bade
+freight conductor Joe good-by, and in company with passenger conductor
+Tobin he left caboose number 18 with much the same feeling that a young
+scholar leaves his primary school for one a grade higher.
+
+Number 29 was a peculiar train, and one that Rod had often watched rush
+past his side-tracked freight with feelings of deep interest, not unmixed
+with envy. It always followed the "Limited," with all the latter's
+privileges of precedence and right of way. Thus it was such a flyer that
+the contrast between it and the freight, which always had to get out
+of the way, was as great as that between a thoroughbred racer and a
+farm-horse. It was made up of express cars, loaded with money, jewelry,
+plate, and other valuable packages, which caused it to be known along the
+road as the "gold mine." In its money-car was carried specie and bank
+notes from the United States Treasury, and from Eastern banks to Western
+cities. Thus it was no unusual thing for this one car to carry a million
+dollars' worth of such express matter. Each car was in charge of a trusted
+and well-armed messenger, who locked himself in from one end of his run to
+the other, and was prepared to defend the valuables entrusted to his care
+with his life. Thus number 29 was one of the most important as well as one
+of the very fastest trains on the road; while to run on it was considered
+such an honor that many envious glances were cast at Rod as he stood on
+the platform beside it awaiting the starting-signal.
+
+There had been no time for him to procure the blue uniform suit, such as
+the crews of passenger trains, with whom he now ranked, are required to
+wear; and as the jumper and overalls of a freight brakeman would have been
+decidedly out of place on an express special, Rod had hastily donned his
+best suit of every-day clothes. Thus as he stood near the steps of the
+single passenger coach that was attached to the train in place of a
+caboose for the accommodation of its conductor and brakemen, he was not
+to be distinguished from the throng of passengers hastening aboard the
+"Limited" on the opposite side of the platform.
+
+For this reason a young man, with a stout leather travelling bag slung on
+his shoulder, paid no attention to the young brakeman, as after a hurried
+glance up and down the platform, he sprang aboard and entered the coach.
+
+With a bound Rod was after him. "Hello, sir!" he cried; "you must have
+made a mistake. This is not a passenger train."
+
+"No?" said the other coolly, and Rod now noticed that he wore a pair of
+smoked glasses. I thought it was the "Limited."
+
+"That is the 'Limited,' across the platform," explained Rod politely.
+
+"Are you sure of it?"
+
+"Certainly I am."
+
+"What makes you think this is not it?" asked the other with a provoking
+slowness of speech as though time was no object to him, and he did not
+care whether the "Limited" started without him or not.
+
+[Illustration: ROD ASSISTS THE YOUNG MAN TO THE "LIMITED."--(_Page
+133._)]
+
+"Because I belong on this train and it is my business to be sure of things
+connected with it," replied Rod, still speaking pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, you do, do you. Are you its conductor?"
+
+"No, sir, but I am one of its brakemen."
+
+"Are there any more like you?"
+
+"Yes, sir, there is another like me. I sha'n't need his help though to put
+you off this train if you don't get off, and in a hurry too," answered Rod
+hotly, for he began to suspect that the young man was making fun of him.
+
+"Oh, come now!" said the passenger mildly, "don't get excited, I'm
+perfectly willing to go. It was a very natural mistake for a blind man to
+make. You may be blind yourself some day, and then you'll find out."
+
+"I didn't know you were blind, sir," exclaimed Rod apologetically and
+instantly regretting his harshness toward one so cruelly afflicted. "I am
+very sorry, and if you will allow me, I will see you safely aboard the
+'Limited.'"
+
+The young man accepted this offer, explaining at the same time that while
+he was not totally blind, his sight was very dim. So Rod helped him off
+one train and into the other, striving by every attention to atone for
+the abruptness with which he had spoken before learning of the other's
+infirmity. As he took the stranger's hand to guide him down the steps of
+the coach he noticed that the large diamond of a ring worn by the latter,
+had cut its way through the back of one of his kid gloves.
+
+A moment later the "Limited" pulled out, and in a few minutes the express
+special, laden that night with a freight of unusual value, followed it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+TROUBLE IN THE MONEY CAR.
+
+
+Until after midnight the run of the express special was without
+interruption or incident. Thus far it had made but two stops. The second
+of these was at the end of the freight division where Conductor Tobin had
+been accustomed to turn over his train to a relieving crew and spend the
+day. With such a flyer as the special, however, his run was now to be
+twice as long as formerly, so that he and Rod looked forward to doing a
+hundred and fifty miles more before being relieved. There was but one
+other brakeman besides Rod, and as there was little for either of them to
+do, save to see that the rear end lights burned brightly, and always to be
+prepared for emergencies, time hung rather heavily on their hands.
+
+Thanks to automatic air brakes, the life of a passenger brakeman is now a
+very easy one as compared with the same life a few years ago. The
+brakeman of those days, almost as greasy and smoke begrimed as a fireman,
+spent most of his time on the swaying platforms between cars amid showers
+of cinders and clouds of blinding dust. At every call for brakes he was
+obliged to spring to the wheels of the two entrusted to his care and set
+them up by hand with the utmost exercise of his strength. He was not
+allowed to remain inside the cars between stations, and the only glimpses
+he got of their scant comfort was when he flung open their doors to call
+out the names of stations in his own undistinguishable jargon. He was
+invariably a well-grown powerfully built fellow, as rough in manner as in
+appearance.
+
+To-day, on all passenger trains and on many freights as well, the
+automatic brakes are operated by compressed air controlled by the
+engineman. By a single pull of a small brass lever within easy reach he
+can instantly apply every brake on his train with such force as to bring
+it to a standstill inside of a few seconds. The two small cylinders
+connected by a piston-rod on the right hand side of every locomotive just
+in front of the cab form the air-pump. It is always at work while a train
+is standing still, forcing air through lengths of rubber hose between the
+cars and into the reservoirs located beneath each one. As brakes are
+applied by the reduction of this air the engineman's lever merely opens a
+valve that allows the imprisoned force to escape with a sharp hissing
+sound. If a train should break in two the connecting lengths of rubber
+hose would be torn asunder, and the outrushing air would instantly apply
+brakes to the cars of both sections bringing them to a speedy standstill.
+
+Thus the brakeman of to-day, instead of being the powerful, cinder-coated
+and rough-voiced fellow of a few years back, may be as slim and elegant as
+any of the passengers under his care provided he is polite, wide-awake,
+and attentive to his duty. Clad in a natty uniform, he now spends his time
+inside the car instead of on its platform. He has reports to make out,
+lamps and flags to look after, and in cases of unexpected delay must run
+back to protect his train from any other that may be approaching it.
+Formerly it was necessary to have as many brakemen on a passenger train as
+there were cars, while now it is rare to find more than two on each train.
+
+So Rod had very little to do in his new position, and soon after leaving
+the second stopping-place of his train, was sitting near the forward end
+of the coach with his head resting on the back of a seat, gazing at the
+ceiling and buried in deep thought. Conductor Tobin and the other brakeman
+were seated some distance behind him engaged in conversation.
+
+Rod was thinking of what an awful thing it was to be blind, and this chain
+of thought was suggested by a glimpse of the young man with smoked
+glasses, whom he had assisted on board the "Limited" some hours before,
+standing on the platform of the station they had just left. He had
+evidently reached his journey's end and was patiently waiting for some one
+to come and lead him away--or at least this was what Rod imagined the
+situation to be. In reality, that same young man, with unimpaired eyesight
+and no longer wearing smoked glasses, was on board the express special at
+that very moment. He had sprung on to the forward platform of the money
+car undetected in the darkness as the train left the circle of station
+lights and was now on its roof fastening a light rope ladder to a ledge
+just above one of the middle and half-glazed doors of the car. A red
+flannel mask concealed the lower half of his face, and as he swung
+himself down on his frail and fearfully swaying support he held a powerful
+navy revolver in his right hand. He was taking frightful risks to win a
+desperate game. Failing in his effort to conceal himself aboard the very
+train he intended to rob, he had taken passage on the "Limited" as far as
+its first stopping-place and had there awaited the coming of the Express
+Special. Thus far his reckless venture had succeeded, and as Rod sat in
+the coach thinking pityingly of him, he was covering the unsuspecting
+messenger in the money car with his revolver.
+
+"What would I do if I were blind?" thought Rod. "I suppose uncle would
+take care of me; but how humiliating it would be to have to go back to him
+helpless and dependent. How thankful I should be that I can see besides
+being well and strong and able to care for myself. I will do it too
+without asking help from any one, and I'll win such a name for honesty
+and faithfulness on this road that even Uncle Arms will be compelled to
+believe whatever I may tell him. I wonder if Snyder could have put that
+emery into the oil-cup himself? It doesn't seem as though any one could be
+so mean."
+
+Just here a slight incident interrupted the lad's thoughts so suddenly
+that he sprang to his feet--unconsciously his eyes had been fixed on the
+bell-cord that ran through the entire train to the cab of the locomotive.
+It had hung a little slack, but all at once this slack was jerked up as
+though some one had pulled the cord. This would have been a signal to stop
+the train, and if the train were to be stopped at that point something
+must be wrong. A backward glance showed Conductor Tobin and the other
+brakeman to be still quietly engaged in conversation. Neither of them
+could have pulled the cord. Rod stepped to the door and looked out. The
+train was tearing along at a terrific speed, and the rush of air nearly
+took away his breath. There was no sign of slackening speed and everything
+appeared to be all right. The next car ahead of the coach was the money
+car. At least Conductor Tobin had thought so, though none of the trainmen
+was ever quite sure which one of the half dozen or more express cars it
+was. Its rear door was of course closed and locked, but some impulse moved
+Rod to clamber up on its platform railing and peer through the little hole
+by which the bell-cord entered. He could not see much, but that which
+was disclosed in a single glimpse almost caused his heart to cease its
+beating. Within his range of vision came the heads of two men evidently
+engaged in a struggle and one of them wore a mask over the lower part of
+his face. The next instant Rod had sprung down from his perilous perch and
+dashed back into the coach shouting breathlessly:
+
+"There's a masked man fighting the messenger in the money car!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+OVER THE TOP OF THE TRAIN.
+
+
+At Rodman's startling announcement Conductor Tobin sprang to his feet,
+reached for the bell-cord, and gave it two sharp pulls. A single whistle
+blast from the locomotive made instant reply that his signal was received
+and understood. So promptly was it obeyed that as the conductor and his
+two brakemen ran to the front platform to swing far out and look along the
+sides of the express cars ahead of them, the grinding brakes were already
+reducing the speed of the flying train.
+
+Suddenly a pistol shot rang angrily out, and a bullet crashed into the
+woodwork close above Rod Blake's head. He and the conductor were leaning
+out on one side while the other brakeman occupied the opposite one.
+
+"Give the signal to go ahead at once, or I'll come back there and blow
+your brains out!" came in a hoarse voice from a side door of the money
+car.
+
+"All right, I'll do it; only don't shoot," shouted Conductor Tobin in
+answer, giving the desired signal to the engineman, by raising and
+lowering his lantern vertically, as he spoke. At the same time he said
+hurriedly to the brakeman on the opposite side of the platform, and thus
+concealed from the robber's view:
+
+"Drop off, Tom, and run back to number 10. Telegraph ahead to all
+stations, and we'll bag that fellow yet!"
+
+The man did as directed, swinging low and giving a forward spring that
+landed him safely beside the track, though the train was still moving
+fully twenty miles an hour.
+
+The engineman, though greatly puzzled at receiving the signal to go ahead
+immediately after being ordered to stop, had obeyed it, thrown off brakes,
+and the train was again gathering its usual headway.
+
+"Now Rod," said Conductor Tobin, as the other brakeman disappeared; "I
+want you to make your way over the top of the train to the engine, and
+tell Eli what is taking place. Tell him to keep her wide open till we
+reach Millbank, and not to give her the "air" till we are well up with the
+station. It's a tough job for you, and one I hate to send you on. At the
+same time it's got to be done, and after your experience on the freight
+deck, I believe you are the lad to undertake it. Anyway, you'll be safe
+from that pistol when once you reach the cab."
+
+"But I don't like to leave you here alone to be shot," remonstrated Rod.
+
+"Never mind me. I don't believe I'll get shot. At any rate, this is my
+place, and here I must stay. Now move along, and God bless you."
+
+There was a strong hand-clasp between the conductor and brakeman, and
+then the latter started on the perilous journey he had been ordered to
+undertake. It was no easy task to maintain a footing on the rounded roofs
+of those express cars as they were hurled on through the night at the rate
+of nearly a mile a minute; while to leap from one to another seemed almost
+suicidal. Not more than one brakeman in a thousand could have done it; but
+Rod Blake, with his light weight, athletic training, and recent experience
+combined with absolute fearlessness, was that one. His inclination was to
+get down on his hands and knees and crawl along the slippery roofs. If he
+had yielded to it he would never have accomplished the trip. He believed
+that the only way to make it was by running and clearing the spaces
+between cars with flying leaps, and, incredible as it may seem, that is
+the way he did it. He had kicked off his shoes before starting, and now
+ran with stockinged feet.
+
+The occupants of the cab were as startled by his appearance beside them
+as though he had been a ghost, and when his story was told the engineman
+wanted to stop the train at once and go back to the assistance of the
+imperilled messenger. Rod however succeeded in persuading him that, as
+the messenger's fate was probably already decided, their only hope of
+capturing the robber lay in carrying out Conductor Tobin's plan of running
+at such speed that he would not dare jump from the train until a station
+prepared for his reception was reached.
+
+When the engineman finally agreed to this, and before he could utter
+the remonstrance that sprang to his lips, Rodman clambered back over the
+heaped-up coal of the tender, swung himself to the roof of the forward car
+and began to retrace his perilous journey to the rear end of the train. He
+argued that if Conductor Tobin's place was back there exposed to the
+shots of a desperate man, his brakeman's place was beside him. Even if Rod
+had not been a railroad boy, or "man," as he now called himself, his
+natural bravery and sense of honor would have taken him back to that
+coach. Ever since he had enlisted in the service that demands as strict
+obedience as that required of a soldier and an equal contempt of danger,
+this lad was doubly alert to the call of whatever he regarded as duty.
+There is no service in the world, outside of the army, so nearly
+resembling it in requirements and discipline as that of a railroad. It is
+no place for cowards nor weaklings; but to such a lad as Rod Blake it adds
+the stimulus of excitement and ever-present danger and the promise of
+certain promotion and ample reward for the conscientious performance of
+every-day duties.
+
+So Rod, feeling in duty bound to do so, made his way back over the reeling
+roofs of that on-rushing train to the side of his superior officer. As he
+scrambled and slipped and leaped from car to car he fully realized the
+imminent peril of his situation, but was at the same time filled with a
+wild exhilaration and buoyance of spirits such as he had never before
+known.
+
+Conductor Tobin, standing just inside the coach door with pale face and
+set lips, was amazed to see him. For a moment he fancied the lad had been
+daunted by the task imposed upon him and had turned back without reaching
+the locomotive. When he realized that Rod had not only made the perilous
+trip once, but twice, his admiration was unbounded, and though he tried to
+scold him for his foolhardiness the words refused to come. He shook the
+young brakeman's hand so heartily instead that the action conveyed a
+volume of praise and appreciation.
+
+Now, as they watched together with an intense eagerness for the lights of
+Millbank they became conscious of a yellow glare, like that of an open
+furnace, streaming from the side door of the money car.
+
+"The scoundrel has set the car on fire!" gasped Conductor Tobin.
+
+"Don't you think we ought to break in the door with an axe and make a rush
+for him?" asked Rod.
+
+Before the other could reply, a long, ear-splitting whistle blast
+announcing their approach to a station sounded from the locomotive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+STOP THIEF!
+
+
+As Train Number 29 dashed up to the Millbank station and was brought to a
+stop almost as suddenly as a spirited horse is reined back on his haunches
+by a curb bit, the many flashing lanterns guarding all approaches, and the
+confused throng of dark forms on its platform told that Brakeman Tom had
+performed his duty and that its arrival was anticipated.
+
+The abruptness of this unexpected stop caused the messengers in the
+several cars to open their doors and look out inquiringly. At the same
+time, and even before it was safe to do so, Conductor Tobin and Rod
+dropped to the ground and ran to the door of the money car. The glare of
+firelight streaming from it attracted others to the same spot. There were
+loud cries for buckets and water, and almost before the car wheels ceased
+to slide on the polished rails a score of willing hands were drenching
+out the fire of way-bills, other papers, and a broken chair that was
+blazing merrily in the middle of its floor. The flames were already
+licking the interior woodwork, and but for this opportune stop would have
+gathered such headway inside of another minute as would not only have
+destroyed the car but probably the entire train.
+
+The moment the subsiding flames rendered such a thing possible, a rush was
+made for the inside of the car, but Conductor Tobin calling one of the
+express messengers and the engineman who had come running back, to aid
+him, and telling Rod to guard the door, sternly ordered the crowd to keep
+out until he had made an examination. From his post at the doorway Rod
+could look in at a sight that filled him with horror. The interior of the
+car was spattered with blood. On the floor, half hidden beneath a pile of
+packages, lay the messenger, still alive but unconscious and bleeding from
+half a dozen wounds. The brave right hand that had tried to pull the
+bell cord had been shattered by a pistol ball, and the messenger's own
+Winchester lay on the floor beside him. Broken packages that had contained
+money, jewelry, and other valuables were scattered in every direction,
+while the open safe from which they had come was as empty as the day it
+was made.
+
+The trainmen became furious as one after another of these mute witnesses
+told of the outrages so recently perpetrated, and swore vengeance on the
+robber when they should catch him. They ransacked every corner of the car,
+but search as they might they could discover no trace of his presence nor
+of the method of his flight. The man had left the car as he had entered it
+taking the precaution of removing his rope ladder as he went.
+
+The baffled searchers had just reached the conclusion that he must have
+leaped from the train in spite of its speed and of Conductor Tobin's
+watchfulness, when Rod, who from his position in the doorway could look
+over the heads of the crowd surrounding the car called out:
+
+"Stop that man! The one with a leather bag slung over his shoulder! Stop
+him! Stop thief! He is the robber!"
+
+In the glare of an electric light that happened to shine full upon him for
+a moment, Rod had seen the man walk away from the forward end of the car
+next ahead of the one they were searching as though he had just left it.
+He was not noticed by the bystanders as all eyes were directed toward the
+door of the money car. To the young brakeman his figure and the stout
+leather bag that he carried seemed familiar. As he looked, the man raised
+a kid-gloved hand to shift the position of his satchel, and from it shot
+the momentary flash of a diamond. With Rod this was enough to at once
+establish the man's identity. Although he no longer wore smoked glasses
+Rod knew him to be the man who, pretending partial blindness, had first
+boarded the Express Special, then taken passage on the "Limited," and whom
+he had seen on the platform of the last station at which they had stopped.
+How could he have reached Millbank? He must have come by the Express
+Special, and so must be connected with its robbery.
+
+All these thoughts darted through Rod's head like a flash of lightning,
+and as he uttered his shouts of warning he sprang to the ground with a
+vague idea of preventing the stranger's escape. At the same moment the
+crowd surged back upon him, and when he finally cleared himself from it he
+saw the man backing down the platform, holding his would-be pursuers in
+check with a levelled pistol, and just disappearing from the circle of
+electric light.
+
+A minute later two frightened men were driven at the point of a revolver
+from the cab of a freight locomotive that, under a full head of steam,
+was standing on the outer one of the two west-bound tracks. They had
+hardly left it in sole charge of the robber, by whom it had already been
+uncoupled from its train, before it sprang forward and began to move away
+through the darkness.
+
+Rod, who was now well in advance of all other pursuers, instantly
+comprehended the situation. His own train stood on the inner west-bound
+track and he was near its forward end. The robber with his blood-stained
+plunder was disappearing before his very eyes, and if lost to view might
+easily run on for a few miles and then make good his escape. He must not
+be allowed to do so! He must be kept in sight!
+
+This was Rod's all-absorbing thought at the moment. Moved by it, he jerked
+out the coupling-pin, by which the locomotive of the Express Special was
+attached to its train, leaped into the cab, threw over the lever, pulled
+open the throttle, and had started on one of the most thrilling races
+recorded in the annals of railroading, before the astonished fireman, who
+had been left in charge, found time to remonstrate.
+
+"Look here, young fellow! what are you about?" he shouted, stepping
+threateningly toward Rod.
+
+"We are about chasing the train robber, who has just gone off with that
+engine on number four track, and you want to keep up the best head of
+steam you know how," was the answer.
+
+"Have we any orders to do so?"
+
+"You have, at any rate, for I give them to you."
+
+"And who are you? I never saw you before to-night."
+
+"I am Rod Blake, one of Tobin's trainmen, and if you don't quit bothering
+me with your stupidity and go to work, I'll pitch you out of this cab!"
+shouted Rod savagely, in a tone that betrayed the intensity of his nervous
+excitement.
+
+The man had heard of the young brakeman and of his skill as a boxer,
+though he had never met him before that night, and his half-formed
+intention of compelling the lad to turn back was decidedly weakened by
+the mention of his name. Still he hesitated. He was a powerful fellow with
+whom in a struggle Rod could not have held his own for a minute, but he
+was clearly lacking in what railroad men call "sand." Suddenly Rod made a
+movement as though to spring at him, at the same time shouting, "Do as I
+tell you, sir, and get to work at once!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A RACE OF LOCOMOTIVES.
+
+
+In any struggle between two human beings, the one possessed of the more
+powerful will is certain to win. In the present case, Rod Blake's will was
+so much stronger than that of the fireman that the burly fellow obeyed his
+order, turned sullenly away, and began to shovel coal into the roaring
+furnace.
+
+Their speed was now tremendous, for though Rod knew but little about the
+management of a locomotive engine, he did know that the wider the throttle
+was opened the faster it would go. So he pulled the handle as far back as
+he dared, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the dark form of the
+fugitive locomotive disclosed by the glare of their own head-light. Now
+if he could keep it in sight, and so force the speed, that it would be
+impossible for the robber to jump off until some large station was
+reached, Rod felt that all would yet go well.
+
+Suddenly the runaway seemed to stop. Then it began to move back toward
+them. In another instant they had dashed past it, but not before two
+pistol bullets had come crashing through the cab windows. A bit of
+splintered glass cut Rod's forehead and a little stream of blood began to
+trickle down his face. Without heeding it, he shut off steam, reversed,
+opened again, and within half a minute the pursuers were rushing back over
+the ground they had just covered.
+
+Again the train robber tried the same game, again the two locomotives flew
+by each other, and again pistol balls came singing past Rod Blake's ears.
+As for the fireman he had flung himself flat on the floor of the cab. Rod
+could hardly believe that he had not been hit by one of those hissing
+bullets, but as he felt no wound he again reversed his engine and again
+dashed ahead.
+
+Now they gained steadily on the fugitive. His steam was giving out, and he
+had neither the time to renew his supply nor the knowledge of how to do
+so. The pursuit was decidedly hotter than he had anticipated, and had not
+been checked in the least by his pistol shots, as he had hoped it would
+be. He must try some other plan of escape, and that quickly. He did not
+know how many men were on that fiercely pursuing locomotive, nor whether
+they were armed or not. He only knew that within another minute they would
+overtake him. He formed a desperate resolve, and a moment later Rod Blake
+thought he saw a dark form scrambling from a ditch beside the track as
+they flew past. When they reached the "dying" locomotive of which they
+were in pursuit and found it abandoned, he knew what had taken place. The
+train robber had leaped from its cab and was now making his way across
+country on foot.
+
+"We must follow him!" exclaimed Rod.
+
+"You may if you are such a fool; but I'll be blowed if I will," answered
+the fireman.
+
+There was no time to be lost in argument, neither was Rod sure that those
+locomotives ought to be left unguarded. So, without another word, he
+dropped to the ground and started on a run across the fields in the
+direction he was almost certain the fugitive had taken.
+
+The young brakeman soon came to a wagon road running parallel to the
+railway. Here he was brought to a halt. Which way should he go? To attempt
+to continue the pursuit in either direction without some definite
+knowledge to act upon seemed foolish. If he could only discover a house at
+which to make inquiries, or if some belated traveller would only come that
+way.
+
+"'Belated traveller' is good," mused Rod as his eye caught a faint glow in
+the eastern sky. "Here it is almost to-morrow while I thought it was still
+to-day. What a wild-goose chase I have come on anyway, and what should I
+do if I overtook the robber? I'm sure I don't know. I won't give it up
+though now that I have started in on it. Hello! Here comes some one now.
+Perhaps I can learn something from him. Hi, there!"
+
+The sound that had attracted the lad's attention was that of a rapidly
+galloping horse, though it was so deadened by the sandy road that he did
+not hear it until the animal was close upon him. The light was very dim,
+and as Rod stood in a shadow neither the horse nor its rider perceived him
+until he started forward and shouted to attract the latter's attention.
+
+In an instant the startled animal had sprung to one side so suddenly as to
+fling its rider violently to the ground, where he lay motionless. The
+horse ran a short distance, then stopped and stood trembling.
+
+Horrified at the result of his hasty action, Rod kneeled beside the
+motionless man. His head had struck the root of a tree and though the boy
+could not discover that he was seriously injured, he was unconscious. In
+vain did the distressed lad attempt to restore him. He had little idea of
+what to do, there was no water at hand, and to his ignorance it seemed as
+if the man must be dying. He lifted one of the limp hands to chafe it, and
+started with amazement at the sight of a diamond ring that had cut its way
+through the torn and blackened kid glove in which the hand was encased.
+
+Could this be the very train robber of whom he was in pursuit? Where,
+then, was his leather satchel? Why, there it was, only a few feet away,
+lying where it had fallen as the man was flung to the ground. Incredible
+as it seemed, this must be the very man, and now what was to be done? Was
+ever a fellow placed in a more perplexing situation? He could not revive
+the unconscious form. Neither could he remove it from that place. Clearly
+he must have help. As he arrived at this conclusion Rod started on a run
+down the road, determined to find a habitation and secure human aid.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
+
+
+As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had
+begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that
+brought the lad to a sudden halt. Why not make use of this animal if he
+could catch it? Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly
+on horseback than on foot. He started gently toward it, holding out his
+hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and
+began to move away. "How much he resembles Juniper," thought Rod. "Here,
+Juniper! Here June, old fellow!" he called. At the sound of his name the
+horse wheeled about and faced the lad in whose company he had recently
+undergone such a thrilling experience. The next instant Rod grasped the
+animal's halter, for it had neither saddle nor bridle, and Juniper was
+evidently recognizing him.
+
+As the young brakeman was about to leap on the horse's back it occurred
+to him that the leather bag, which was undoubtedly filled with valuable
+plunder from the rifled express car ought not to be left lying in the
+road. No, it would be much better to carry it to a place of safety. With
+this thought came a recollection of the pistol shots so lately fired by
+the man at his feet. Would it not be well to disarm him lest he should
+revive and again prove dangerous before assistance could be found and
+brought to the place. Rod believed it would, and, acting upon the thought,
+transferred two revolvers from the train-robber's pockets to his own.
+Then, after dragging the still unconscious man a little to one side beyond
+danger from any wagon that might happen along, the lad slung the heavy
+satchel over his shoulder, scrambled on to Juniper's back and galloped
+away.
+
+The road was a lonely one, and he rode more than a mile before reaching
+a farm-house. Here the excited lad rapped loudly on the front door and
+shouted. No one was yet astir, and several minutes passed before an upper
+window was cautiously opened and a woman's voice inquired who was there
+and what was wanted.
+
+Rod began to explain his errand; but after a few words the woman called to
+him to wait until she could come down, and then slammed the window down.
+To the young brakeman's impatience the ensuing delay seemed an hour in
+length, though in reality not more than five minutes elapsed before the
+front door opened and the woman again appeared.
+
+"Now, what were you trying to tell me about men dying in the road?" she
+asked sharply.
+
+As Rod was about to reply there came a sound of galloping horses and a
+shout from the place where he had left Juniper fastened to a fence post.
+
+"There he is!"
+
+"Now we've got him!"
+
+"Throw up your hands, you scoundrel!"
+
+"Don't you dare draw a pistol or we'll fill you full of holes!"
+
+These and a score of similar cries came to the ears of the bewildered lad
+as half a dozen horsemen dashed up to the front gate, and four of them,
+leaping to the ground, ran towards him while the others held the horses.
+
+He was too astonished even to remonstrate, and as they seized him he
+submitted to the indignity as quietly as one who is dazed.
+
+The woman in the doorway regarded this startling scene with amazement.
+When in answer to her eager questions the new-comers told her that the
+young desperado whom she had so nearly admitted to her house was a
+horse-thief, who, but a short time before, had stolen the animal now
+tied to her front fence, at the point of a revolver from the man who was
+leading him to water, she said she wouldn't have believed that such a mere
+boy could be so great a villian.
+
+"It's the truth though," affirmed the man who acted as spokesman. "Isn't
+it, Al?"
+
+"Yes, siree," replied Al, a heavy-looking young farm hand. "An more 'n
+that, he fired at me too afore I'd give up the 'orse. Oh, yes, he's a bad
+un, young as he looks, an hangin' wouldn't be none too good for him."
+
+"I did nothing of the kind!" cried Rod, indignantly, now finding a chance
+to speak. "This is an outrage, and----"
+
+"Is this the fellow, Al?" asked the spokesman, interrupting the young
+brakeman's vehement protest.
+
+"Of course it is. I'd know him anywhere by that bag slung over his
+shoulders, an he's got pistols in his pockets, too."
+
+"Yes, here they are," replied the leader, thrusting his hands into Rod's
+coat pockets and drawing forth the two revolvers. "Oh, there's no use
+talking, young man. The proof against you is too strong. The only thing
+for you to do is to come along quietly and make the best of the situation.
+Horse thieves have been getting altogether too plenty in this part of the
+country of late, and we've been laying for one to make an example of for
+more 'n a week now. Its mighty lucky for you that you didn't tackle an
+armed man instead of Al there, this morning. If you had you'd have got a
+bullet instead of a horse."
+
+"But I tell you," cried Rod, "that I took those things from a man who was
+flung from that horse back here in the road about a mile. He is----"
+
+"I haven't any doubt that you took them," interrupted the man, grimly,
+"the same as you took the horse."
+
+"And I only made use of the horse to obtain assistance for him the more
+quickly," continued Rod. "I left him stunned by his fall, and he may be
+dead by this time. He will be soon, anyway, if some one doesn't go to him,
+and then you'll be murderers, that's what you'll be."
+
+"Let us examine this bag that you admit you took from somebody without his
+permission, and see what it contains," said the man quietly, paying no
+heed to the lad's statement. So saying, he opened the satchel that still
+hung from Rod's shoulders. At the sight of its contents he uttered an
+exclamation of amazement.
+
+"Well, if this don't beat anything I ever heard of!"
+
+The others crowded eagerly about him.
+
+"Whew! look at the greenbacks!" cried one.
+
+"And gold!" shouted another.
+
+"He must have robbed a bank!"
+
+"There'll be a big reward offered for this chap."
+
+"He's a more desperate character than we thought."
+
+"A regular jail-bird!"
+
+"There's blood on some of these bills!"
+
+"He ought to be tied."
+
+This last sentiment met with such general approval that some one produced
+a bit of rope, and in another moment poor Rod's hands were securely bound
+together behind him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE TRAIN ROBBER LEARNS OF ROD'S ARREST.
+
+
+"I tell you the man who did it all is lying back there in the road!"
+screamed Rod, furious with indignation at this outrage and almost sobbing
+with the bitterness of his distress. "He is a train robber, and I'm a
+passenger brakeman on the New York and Western road. He made an escape and
+I was chasing him."
+
+"Just listen to that now," said one of the men jeeringly. "It's more than
+likely you are the train robber yourself."
+
+"Looks like a brakeman, doesn't he?" sneered another, "especially as they
+are all obliged to wear a uniform when on duty."
+
+"He's a nice big party of men, he is. Just such a one as the railroad
+folks would collect and send in pursuit of a train robber," remarked the
+leader ironically. "Oh, no, my lad, that's too thin. If you must tell
+lies I'd advise you to invent some that folks might have a living chance
+of believing."
+
+"It's not a lie!" declared Rod earnestly and almost calmly; for though his
+face was quite pale with suppressed excitement, he was regaining control
+of his voice. "It's the solemn truth and I'm willing to swear to it."
+
+"Oh, hush, sonny, don't swear. That would be naughty," remonstrated one of
+the men, mockingly.
+
+Without noticing him, Rod continued: "If you will only take me back about
+a mile on the road I will show you the real train robber, and so prove
+that part of my story. Then at Millbank I can prove the rest."
+
+"Look here, young fellow," said the leader, harshly, "why will you persist
+in such nonsense? We have just came over that part of the road and we
+didn't see anything of any man lying in it."
+
+"Because I dragged him to one side," explained Rod.
+
+"Oh, well, you'll have a chance to show us your man if you can find him,
+for we are going to take you back that way anyhow. Come on, fellows, let's
+be moving. The sooner we get this young horse-thief behind bolts and bars
+the sooner we'll be rid of an awkward responsibility."
+
+So poor Rod, still bound, was placed on Juniper's back, and, with one man
+on each side of him, two in front and two behind, rode unhappily back over
+the road that he had traversed on an errand of mercy but a short time
+before.
+
+As the little group disappeared, the woman in whose front yard this
+exciting arrest had been made turned to hasten the preparations for her
+children's breakfast that she might the sooner visit her nearest neighbors
+and tell them of these wonderful happenings. She was filled with the
+belief that she had had a most remarkable escape, and was eager to have
+her theory confirmed.
+
+When she finally reached her neighbor's house and burst in upon them
+breathless and unannounced, she was somewhat taken aback to see a strange
+young man, wearing a pair of smoked glasses and having a very pale face,
+sitting at breakfast with them. The woman of the house informed her in a
+whisper, that he was a poor theological student making his way on foot
+back to college in order to save travelling expenses, and though he had
+only stopped to ask for a glass of water they had insisted upon his
+taking breakfast with them.
+
+Then the visitor unburdened herself of her budget of startling news,
+ending up with: "An' I knew he was a desp'rate character the minit I set
+eyes onto him, for I'm a master-hand at reading faces, I am. Why, sir,"
+here she turned to the pale student by whose evident interest in her story
+she was greatly flattered, "I could no more take him for the honest lad he
+claimed to be than I would take you for a train robber. No, indeed. A face
+is like a printed page to me every time and I'm not likely to be fooled, I
+can tell you."
+
+"It is truly a wonderful gift," murmured the young man as he rose from the
+table and started to leave the house, excusing his haste on the plea of
+having a long distance still to travel.
+
+"What a saintly expression that young man has!" exclaimed the visitor,
+watching him out of sight, "and what a preacher he will make!"
+
+At the same moment he of the smoked glasses was saying to himself: "So
+that is what happened while I lay there like a log by the roadside, is it?
+Well, it's hard luck; but certainly I ought to be able to turn the
+information furnished by that silly woman to some good account."
+
+In the meantime poor Rod was far from enjoying a morning ride that under
+other circumstances would have proved delightful. The sun shone from an
+unclouded sky, the air was deliciously cool and bracing, and the crisp
+autumn leaves of the forest-road rustled pleasantly beneath the horses'
+feet. But the boy was thinking too intently, and his thoughts were of too
+unpleasant a nature for him to take note of these things. He was wondering
+what would happen in case the train robber should not be found where he
+had left him.
+
+He was not left long in suspense, for when they reached the place that he
+was certain was the right one there was no man, unconscious or otherwise,
+to be seen on either side or in any direction. He had simply regained his
+senses soon after Rod left him, staggered to his feet, and, with ever
+increasing strength, walked slowly along the road. He finally discovered
+a side path through the woods that led him to the farm-house where, on
+account of his readily concocted tale, he received and accepted a cordial
+invitation to breakfast.
+
+As for Rod, his disappointment at not finding the proof of which he had
+been so confident was so great that he hardly uttered a protest, when
+instead of carrying him to Millbank or any other station on the line where
+he might have found friends, his captors turned into a cross-road from the
+left and journeyed directly away from the railroad.
+
+In about an hour they reached the village of Center where the young
+brakeman, escorted by half the population of the place, was conducted
+through the main street to the county jail. Here he was delivered to the
+custody of the sheriff with such an account of his terrible deeds, and
+strict injunctions as to his safe keeping, that the official locked him
+into the very strongest of all his cells. As the heavy door clanged in
+his face, and Rod realized that he was actually a prisoner, he vaguely
+wondered if railroad men often got into such scrapes while attempting the
+faithful discharge of their duties.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+A WELCOME VISITOR.
+
+
+To be cast into jail and locked up in a cell is not a pleasant experience
+even for one who deserves such a fate; while to an honest lad like Rodman
+Blake who had only tried to perform what he considered his duty to the
+best of his ability, it was terrible. In vain did he assure himself that
+his friends would soon discover his predicament and release him from it.
+He could not shake off the depressing influence of that narrow room, of
+the forbidding white walls, and the grim grating of the massive door. He
+was too sensible to feel any sense of disgrace in being thus wrongfully
+imprisoned; but the horror of the situation remained, and it seemed as
+though he should suffocate behind those bars if not speedily released.
+
+In the meantime the sheriff, whose breakfast had been interrupted by the
+arrival of the self-appointed constables and their prisoner, returned to
+his own pleasant dining-room to finish that meal. He was a bachelor, and
+the only other occupant of the room was his mother, who kept house for
+him, and was one of the dearest old ladies in the world. She was a
+Quakeress, and did not at all approve of her son's occupation. As she
+could not change it, however, she made the best use of the opportunities
+for doing good afforded by his position, and many a prisoner in that jail
+found occasion to bless the sheriff's mother. She visited them all, did
+what she could for their comfort, and talked with them so earnestly, at
+the same time so kindly and with such ready sympathy, that several cases
+of complete reformation could be traced directly to her influence. Now her
+interest was quickly aroused by her son's account of the youthful prisoner
+just delivered into his keeping, and she sighed deeply over the story of
+his wickedness.
+
+"Is it certain that he did all these things, Robert?" she asked at length.
+
+"Oh, I guess there is no doubt of it. He was caught almost in the very
+act," answered the sheriff, carelessly.
+
+"And thee says he is young?"
+
+"Yes, hardly more than a boy."
+
+"Does thee think he has had any breakfast?"
+
+"Probably not; but I'll carry him some after I've been out and fed the
+cattle," answered her son, who was a farmer as well as a sheriff.
+
+"Is thee willing I should take it to him?"
+
+"Certainly, if you want to, only be very careful about locking everything
+securely after you," replied the sheriff, who was accustomed to requests
+of this kind. "I don't know why you should trouble yourself about him
+though, I'll feed him directly."
+
+"Why should we ever trouble ourselves, Robert, about those who are
+strangers, or sick, or in prison? Besides, perhaps the poor lad has no
+mother, while just now he must sorely feel the need of one."
+
+Thus it happened that a few minutes later Rod Blake was startled from his
+unhappy reverie by the appearance of an old lady in a dove-colored dress,
+a snowy cap and kerchief, in front of his door. As she unlocked it and
+stepped inside, he saw that she bore in her hands a tray on which a
+substantial breakfast was neatly arranged. The lad sprang to his feet, but
+faint from hunger and exhaustion as he was, he cast only one glance at
+the tempting tray. Then he gazed earnestly into the face of his visitor.
+
+Setting the tray down on a stool, for there was no table in the cell, the
+old lady said: "I thought thee might be hungry my poor lad, and so have
+brought thee a bit of breakfast."
+
+"Oh, madam! Don't you know me? Don't you remember me?" cried Rod eagerly.
+
+Although startled by the boy's vehemence, the old lady adjusted her
+spectacles and regarded him carefully. "I can't say that I do," she said
+at length, in a troubled tone. "And yet thy face bears a certain look of
+familiarity. Where have I ever seen thee before?"
+
+"Don't you remember one morning a few weeks ago when you were in a
+railroad station, and dropped your purse, and I picked it up, and you gave
+me a quarter for seeing you safely on the train? Don't you? I'm sure you
+must remember."
+
+The old lady was nervously wiping her spectacles. As she again adjusted
+them and gazed keenly at the boy, a flash of recognition lighted her face
+and she exclaimed, "Of course I do! Of course I do! Thee is that same
+honest lad who restored every cent of the money that but for thee I might
+have lost! But what does it all mean? And how came thee here in this
+terrible place?"
+
+Rod was only too thankful to have a listener at once so interested and
+sympathetic as this one. Forgetful of his hunger and the waiting breakfast
+beside him, he at once began the relating of his adventures, from the time
+of first meeting with the dear old lady down to the present moment. It was
+a long story and was so frequently interrupted by questions that its
+telling occupied nearly an hour.
+
+At its conclusion the old lady, who was at once smiling and tearful, bent
+over and kissed the boy on his forehead, saying:
+
+"Bless thee, lad! I believe every word of thy tale, for thee has an honest
+face, and an honest tongue, as well as a brave heart. Thee has certainly
+been cruelly rewarded for doing thy duty. Never mind, thy troubles are now
+ended, for my son shall quickly summons the friends who will not only
+prove thy innocence and release thee from this place, but must reward thy
+honest bravery. First, though, thee must eat thy breakfast and I must go
+to fetch a cup of hot coffee, for this has become cold while we talked."
+
+So saying the old lady bustled away with a reassuring little nod and a
+cheery smile that to poor Rod was like a gleam of sunlight shining into a
+dark place. As she went, the old lady not only left his cell door unlocked
+but wide open for she had privately decided that the young prisoner should
+not be locked in again if she could prevent it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE SHERIFF IS INTERVIEWED.
+
+
+While this pleasant recognition of old acquaintances was taking place
+in the jail, the sheriff was sitting in his office and submitting to be
+interviewed by a young man who had introduced himself as a reporter from
+one of the great New York dailies. He was a pleasant young man, very
+fluent of speech, and he treated the sheriff with a flattering deference.
+He explained that while in the village on other business he had
+incidentally heard of the important arrest made that morning and thought
+that if the sheriff would kindly give him a few particulars he might
+collect material for a good story. Pleased with the idea of having his
+name appear in a New York paper the sheriff readily acceded to this
+request and gave his visitor all the information he possessed. The young
+man was so interested, and took such copious notes of everything the
+sheriff said, that the latter was finally induced to relax somewhat of his
+customary caution, and take from his safe the leather bag that had been
+captured on the person of the alleged horse-thief. The sheriff had opened
+this bag when he first received it, and had glanced at its contents, of
+which he intended to make a careful inventory at his first leisure moment.
+As this had not yet arrived, he was still ignorant of what the bag really
+contained. He knew, however, that its contents must be of great value and
+produced it to prove to the reporter that the young prisoner whom they
+were discussing was something more than a mere horse-thief.
+
+While the sheriff was still fumbling with the spring-catch of the bag,
+and before he had opened it, there came the sounds of a fall just outside
+the door, a crash of breaking china, and a cry in his mother's voice.
+Forgetful of all else, the man dropped the bag, sprang to the door, and
+disappeared in the hall beyond, leaving his visitor alone. In less than
+two minutes he returned, saying that his mother had slipped and fallen on
+the lowest step of the stairway she was descending. She had broken a cup
+and saucer, but was herself unhurt, for which he was deeply grateful. As
+the sheriff made this brief explanation, he cast a relieved glance at the
+leather bag that still lay on the floor where he had dropped it, and at
+some distance from the chair in which the young man was sitting.
+
+Again he took up the bag to open it, and again he was interrupted. This
+time the interruption came in the shape of a messenger from the telegraph
+office, bringing the startling news of the recent train robbery and the
+daring escape of its perpetrator. The sheriff first read this despatch
+through to himself, and then handed it to his visitor, who had watched his
+face with eager interest while he read it. The moment he had glanced
+through the despatch, the young man started to his feet, exclaiming that
+such an important bit of news as that would materially alter his plans.
+Then he begged the sheriff to excuse him while he ran down to the
+telegraph office, and asked his paper for permission to remain there a few
+days longer. He said that he should like nothing better than a chance to
+assist in the capture of this desperate train robber, which he had no
+doubt would be speedily effected by the sheriff. He also promised to call
+again very shortly for further information, provided his paper gave him
+permission to remain.
+
+The sheriff was not at all sorry to have his visitor depart, as the
+despatch just received had given new direction to his thoughts, and he was
+wondering if there could be any connection between the train robber, the
+young horse-thief, and the bag of valuables that lay unopened on his desk.
+He glanced curiously at it, and determined to make a thorough examination
+of its contents as soon as he had written and sent off several despatches
+containing his suspicions, asking for further information and requesting
+the presence at the jail of such persons as would be able to identify the
+train robber.
+
+As he finished these, his mother, who had been preparing a fresh cup of
+coffee for Rod, entered the office full of her discovery in connection
+with the young prisoner and of the startling information he had given her.
+She would have come sooner but for the presence of her son's visitor,
+before whom she did not care to divulge her news.
+
+Although the sheriff listened with interest to all she had to say, he
+expressed a belief that the young prisoner had taken advantage of her
+kindly nature, to work upon her sympathies with a plausible but easily
+concocted story.
+
+"But I tell thee, Robert, I recognize the lad as the same who helped me on
+the train the last time I went to York."
+
+"That may be, and still he may be a bad one."
+
+"Never, with such a face! It is as honest as thine, Robert. Of that I am
+certain, and if thee will only talk with him, I am convinced thee will
+think as I do. Nor will thee relock the door that I left open?"
+
+"What!" exclaimed the sheriff; "you haven't left his cell-door unlocked,
+mother, after the strict charges I gave you concerning that very thing?"
+
+"Yes, I have, Robert," answered the old lady, calmly; "and but for the
+others I would have left the corridor-door unlocked also. I was mindful of
+them, though, and of thy reputation."
+
+"I'm thankful you had that much common-sense," muttered her son; "and now,
+with your permission, I will take that cup of coffee, which I suppose you
+intend for your young _protegé_, up to him myself."
+
+"And thee'll speak gently with him?"
+
+"Oh, yes. I'll talk to him like a Dutch uncle."
+
+Thus it happened that when the door at the end of the jail corridor was
+swung heavily back on its massive hinges, and Rod Blake, who had been
+gazing from one of the corridor windows, looked eagerly toward it, he was
+confronted by the stern face of the sheriff instead of the placidly sweet
+one of the old lady, whom he expected to see.
+
+"What are you doing out here, sir? Get back into your cell at once!"
+commanded the sheriff in an angry tone.
+
+"Oh, sir! please don't lock me in there again. It doesn't seem as though I
+could stand it," pleaded Rod.
+
+The sheriff looked searchingly at the lad. His face was certainly a very
+honest one, and to one old lady at least he had been kindly considerate.
+At the thought of the ready help extended by this lad to his own
+dearly-loved mother in the time of her perplexity, the harsh words that
+the sheriff had meditated faded from his mind, and instead of uttering
+them he said:
+
+"Very well; I will leave your cell-door open, if you will give me your
+promise not to attempt an escape."
+
+And Rod promised.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+LIGHT DAWNS UPON THE SITUATION.
+
+
+On leaving Rodman the sheriff was decidedly perplexed. His prisoner's
+honest face had made a decided impression upon him, and he had great
+confidence in his mother's judgment concerning such cases, though he was
+careful never to admit this to her. At the same time all the circumstances
+pointed so strongly to the lad's guilt that, as he reviewed them there
+hardly seemed a doubt of it. It is a peculiarity of sheriffs and jailers
+to regard a prisoner as guilty until he has been proved innocent.
+Nevertheless this sheriff gave his mother permission to visit Rod as
+often as she liked; only charging her to lock the corridor-door both upon
+entering and leaving the jail. So the dear old lady again toiled up the
+steep stairway, this time laden with books and papers. She found the tired
+lad stretched on his hard pallet and fast asleep, so she tiptoed softly
+away again without wakening him.
+
+While the young prisoner was thus forgetting his troubles, and storing up
+new strength with which to meet them, the sheriff was scouring the village
+and its vicinity for traces of any stranger who might be the train robber.
+But strangers were scarce in Center that day and the only one he could
+hear of was the reporter who had interviewed him that morning. He had gone
+directly to the telegraph office where he had sent off the despatch of
+which he had spoken, to the New York paper he claimed to represent. In it
+he had requested an answer to be sent to Millbank, and he had subsequently
+engaged a livery team with which he declared his intention of driving to
+that place.
+
+Center, though not on the New York and Western railway, was on another
+that approached the former more closely at this point than at any other.
+To facilitate an exchange of freight a short connecting link had been
+built by both roads between Center and Millbank. Over this no regular
+trains were run, but all the transfer business was conducted by specials
+controlled by operators at either end of the branch. Consequently the few
+travellers between the two places waited until a train happened along or,
+if they were in a hurry, engaged a team as the reporter had done.
+
+Soon after noon the owner of Juniper, the stolen horse, accompanied by the
+thick-headed young farm hand from whom the animal had been taken, appeared
+at the jail in answer to the sheriff's request for his presence. These
+visitors were at once taken to Rod's cell, where the young prisoner
+greatly refreshed by his nap, sat reading one of the books left by the
+dear old lady. His face lighted with a glad recognition at sight of
+Juniper's owner, and at the same moment that gentleman exclaimed:
+
+"Why, sheriff, this can't be the horse-thief! I know this lad. That is
+I engaged him not long since to bring that very horse up here to my
+brother's place where I am now visiting. You remember me, don't you,
+young man?"
+
+"Of course I do so, sir, and I am ever so glad to see some one who knew me
+before all these horrid happenings. Now if you will only make that fellow
+explain why he said I was the one who threatened to shoot him, and stole
+Juniper from him, when he knows he never set eyes on me before I was
+arrested, I shall be ever so much obliged."
+
+"How is this, sir?" inquired the gentleman, turning sharply upon the young
+farm hand behind him. "Didn't you tell me you were willing to take oath
+that the lad whom you caused to be arrested and the horse-thief were one
+and the same person?"
+
+"Y-e-e-s, s-i-r," hesitated the thick head.
+
+"Are you willing to swear to the same thing now?"
+
+"N-n-o, your honor,--that is, not hexactly. Someway he don't look the same
+now as he did then."
+
+"Then you don't think he is the person who took the horse from you?"
+
+"No, sir, I can't rightly say as I do now, seeing as the man with the
+pistols was bigger every way than this one. If 'e 'adn't been 'e wouldn't
+got the 'orse so heasy, I can tell you, sir. Besides it was so hearly that
+the light was dim an' I didn't see 'is face good anyway. But when we
+caught him 'e 'ad the 'orse an' the bag an' the pistols."
+
+"When you caught who?"
+
+"The 'orse-thief. I mean this young man."
+
+"And you recognized him then?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I knowed 'im by the bag, an' the 'orse."
+
+"But you say he was a much larger man than this one."
+
+"Oh, yes, sir! He was more 'n six foot an' as big across the shoulders as
+two of 'im."
+
+Rod could not help smiling at this, as he recalled the slight figure of
+the train robber who had appropriated Juniper to his own use.
+
+"This is evidently a badly-mixed case of mistaken identity," said the
+gentleman, turning to the sheriff, "and I most certainly shall not prefer
+any charge against this lad. Why, in connection with that same horse he
+recently performed one of the pluckiest actions I ever heard of." Here the
+speaker narrated the story of Rod's struggle with Juniper in utter
+darkness and within the narrow limits of a closed box-car.
+
+At its conclusion, the sheriff who was a great admirer of personal
+bravery, extended his hand to Rod, saying: "I believe you to be the honest
+lad you claim to be, and an almighty plucky one as well. As such I want to
+shake hands with you. I must also state that as this gentleman refuses to
+enter a complaint against you I can no longer hold you prisoner. In fact I
+am somewhat doubtful whether I have done right in detaining you as long as
+I have without a warrant. Still, I want you to remain with us a few hours
+more, or until the arrival of certain parties for whom I have sent to come
+and identify the train robber."
+
+"Meaning me?" asked Rod, with a smile. He could afford to smile now. In
+fact he was inclined to laugh and shout for joy over the favorable turn
+his fortunes appeared to be taking.
+
+"Yes, meaning you," replied the sheriff good-humoredly. "And to show how
+fully persuaded I am that you are the train robber, I hereby invite you to
+accompany us down-stairs in the full exercise of your freedom and become
+the honored guest of my dear mother for whom you recently performed so
+kindly a service. She told me of that at the time, and I am aware now,
+that I have not really doubted that you were what you claimed to be, since
+she recognized you as the one who then befriended her. I tell you, lad,
+it always pays in one way or another, to extend a helping hand to
+grandfathers and grandmothers, and to remember that we shall probably
+be in need of like assistance ourselves some day."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+AN ARRIVAL OF FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
+
+
+Thus it happened that although Rod had eaten his breakfast that morning
+in a prison cell he ate his dinner in the pleasant dining-room of the
+sheriff's house with that gentleman, the dear old lady, and Juniper's
+owner, for company. It was a very happy meal, in spite of the fact that
+the real train robber was still at large, and as its conversation was
+mostly devoted to the recent occurrences in which Rod had been so
+prominent an actor, his cheeks were kept in a steady glow by the praises
+bestowed upon him.
+
+Directly after dinner Juniper's owner took his departure and soon
+afterwards a special train arrived from Millbank. It consisted of a
+locomotive and a single passenger coach in which were a number of New York
+and Western railroad men. They came in answer to the sheriff's request for
+witnesses who might identify the train robber. Among these new arrivals
+were Snyder Appleby who had been sent from New York by Superintendent Hill
+to investigate the affair, Conductor Tobin who, after taking the Express
+Special to the end of his run, had been ordered back to Millbank for this
+purpose, his other brakeman who had hurried ahead at the first opportunity
+from the station at which he had been left, the fireman of the locomotive
+with which Rod had chased the robber, and several others.
+
+As this party was ushered into the sheriff's private office its members
+started with amazement at the sight of Rod Blake sitting there as calmly,
+as though perfectly at home and waiting to receive them.
+
+Upon their entrance he sprang to his feet filled with a surprise equal to
+their own, for the sheriff had not told him of their coming.
+
+"Well, sir! What are you doing here?" demanded Snyder Appleby, who was the
+first to recover from his surprise, and who was filled with a sense of his
+own importance in this affair.
+
+"I am visiting my friend, the sheriff," answered Rod, at once resenting
+the other's tone and air.
+
+"Oh, you are! And may I ask by what right you, a mere brakeman in our
+employ, took it upon yourself to desert your post of duty, run off
+with one of our engines, endanger the traffic of the line and then
+unaccountably disappear as you did last night or rather early this
+morning?"
+
+"You may ask as much as you please," answered Rod, "but I shall refuse to
+answer any of your questions until I know by what authority you ask them."
+The young brakeman spoke quietly, but the nature of his feelings was
+betrayed by the hot flush that sprang to his cheeks.
+
+"You'll find out before I'm through with you," cried Snyder savagely. "Mr.
+Sheriff I order you to place this fellow under arrest."
+
+"Upon what charge?" asked the sheriff. "Is he the train robber?"
+
+"Of course not," was the reply, "but he is a thief all the same. He is one
+of our brakemen and ran off with a locomotive."
+
+"What did he do with it?" asked the sheriff, with an air of interest.
+
+"Left it standing on the track."
+
+"Oh, I didn't know but what he carried it off with him. Did he leave it
+alone and unguarded?"
+
+Snyder was compelled to admit that the engine had been left in charge of
+its regular firemen; but still claimed that the young brakeman had
+committed a crime for which he ought to be arrested.
+
+"I suppose you want me to arrest that fireman too?" suggested the sheriff.
+
+"Oh, no. It was his duty to accompany the engine."
+
+"But why didn't he refuse to allow it to move?"
+
+"He was forced to submit by threats of personal injury made by this
+brakeman fellow. Isn't that so?" asked Snyder, and the fireman nodded an
+assent.
+
+The sheriff smiled as he glanced first at the burly form of the fireman
+and then at Rod's comparatively slight figure. "Can any of these men
+identify this alleged locomotive thief?" he asked.
+
+"Certainly they can. Tobin, tell the sheriff what you know of him."
+
+Blazing with indignation at the injustice and meanness of Snyder's absurd
+charge against his favorite brakeman, Conductor Tobin answered promptly:
+"I know him to be one of the best brakemen on the road, although he is the
+youngest. He is one of the pluckiest too and as honest as he is plucky.
+I'll own he might have made a mistake in going off with that engine; but
+all the same it was a brave thing to do and I am certain he thought he was
+on the right track."
+
+"Do you know him too?" asked the sheriff of the other brakeman.
+
+"Yes, sir. I am proud to say I do and in regard to what I think of him
+Conductor Tobin's words exactly express my sentiments."
+
+"Do you also know him?" was asked of the fireman.
+
+"Yes, I know him to be the young rascal who ran me twice into such a storm
+of bullets from the train robber's pistols that it's a living wonder I'm
+not full of holes at this blessed minute."
+
+"What else did he do?"
+
+"What else? Why, he jumped from the engine while she was running a good
+twenty mile an hour, and started off like the blamed young lunatic he is
+to chase after the train robber afoot. Wanted me to go with him too, but I
+gave him to understand I wasn't such a fool as to go hunting any more
+interviews with them pistols. No, sir; I stuck where I belonged and if
+he'd done the same he wouldn't be in the fix he's in now."
+
+"And yet," said the sheriff, quietly, "this 'blamed young lunatic,' as you
+call him, succeeded in overtaking that train robber after all. He also
+managed to relieve him of his pistols you seem to have dreaded so greatly,
+recover the valuable property that had been stolen from the express car,
+and also a fine horse that the robber had just appropriated to his own
+use. On the whole gentleman, I don't think I'd better arrest him, do
+you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+WHERE ARE THE DIAMONDS?
+
+
+"Yes, sir. I think he ought to be arrested," said Snyder Appleby in reply
+to the sheriff's question, "and if you refuse to perform that duty I shall
+take it upon myself to arrest him in the name of the New York and Western
+Railway Company of which I am the representative here. I shall also take
+him back with me to the city where he will be dealt with according to his
+desserts by the proper authorities." Then turning to the members of his
+own party the self-important young secretary added: "In the meantime I
+order you two men to guard this fellow and see that he does not escape,
+as you value your positions on the road."
+
+"You needn't trouble yourself, Snyder, nor them either," said Rod
+indignantly, "for I sha'n't require watching. I am perfectly willing to go
+to New York with you, and submit my case to the proper authorities. In
+fact I propose to do that at any rate. At the same time I want you to
+understand that I don't do this in obedience to any orders from you, nor
+will I be arrested by you."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," replied Snyder, carelessly. "So long as we get you
+there I don't care how it is done. Now, Mr. Sheriff," he continued, "we
+have already wasted too much time and if you will take us to see the bold
+train robber whom you say this boy captured single-handed and alone, we
+will finish our business here and be off."
+
+"I didn't say that he captured the train robber," replied the sheriff. "I
+stated that he overtook him, relieved him of his pistols, and recovered
+the stolen property; but I am quite certain that I said nothing regarding
+the capture of the robber."
+
+"Where is he now?" asked Snyder.
+
+"I don't know. This lad left him lying senseless in the road, where he had
+been flung by a stolen horse, and went for assistance. Being mistaken for
+the person who had appropriated the horse he was brought here. In the
+meantime the train robber recovered his senses and made good his escape.
+That is, I suppose he did."
+
+"Then why did you telegraph that you had the train robber in custody, and
+bring us here to identify him?" demanded Snyder sharply.
+
+"I didn't," answered the sheriff, with a provoking smile, for he was
+finding great pleasure in quizzing this pompously arbitrary young man. "I
+merely sent for a few persons who could identify the train robber to come
+and prove that this lad was not he. This you have kindly done to my entire
+satisfaction."
+
+"What!" exclaimed Snyder. "Did you suspect Rod, I mean this brakeman, of
+being the train robber?"
+
+"I must confess that I did entertain such a suspicion, and for so doing I
+humbly beg Mr. Blake's pardon," replied the sheriff.
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me if he should prove to be connected with it, after
+all, for I believe him to be fully capable of such things," sneered
+Snyder.
+
+At this cruel remark there arose such a general murmur of indignation, and
+the expression of Rod's face became so ominous that the speaker hastened
+to create a diversion of interest by asking the sheriff what had been done
+with the valuables recovered from the robber.
+
+"They are in my safe."
+
+"You will please hand them over to me."
+
+"I shall do nothing of the kind," retorted the sheriff, as he drew the
+stout leather bag from its place of security. "I shall hand this bag, with
+all its contents, to the brave lad who recovered it, and entrust him with
+its safe delivery to those authorized to receive it."
+
+So saying, the sheriff handed the bag to Rod.
+
+Snyder turned pale with rage, and snatching an unsealed letter from his
+pocket, he flung it on the table, exclaiming angrily: "There is my
+authority for conducting this business and for receiving such of the
+stolen property as may be recovered. If you fail to honor it I will have
+you indicted for conspiracy."
+
+"Indeed!" said the sheriff, contemptuously. "That would certainly be a
+most interesting proceeding--for you." Then to Rod, to whom he had already
+handed the bag, he said: "If you decide to deliver this property to that
+young man, Mr. Blake, I would advise you to examine carefully the contents
+of the bag in presence of these witnesses and demand an itemized receipt
+for them."
+
+"Thank you, I will," replied Rod, emptying the contents of the bag on the
+table as he spoke.
+
+There was a subdued exclamation from the railroad men at the sight of the
+wealth thus displayed in packages of bills and rolls of coin. Rodman
+requested the sheriff to call off the amount contained in each of these
+while he made out the list. At the same time Snyder drew from his pocket
+a similar list of the property reported to be missing from the express
+messenger's safe.
+
+When Rod's list was completed, Snyder, who had carefully checked off its
+items on his own, said: "That's all right so far as it goes, but where are
+the diamonds?"
+
+"What diamonds?" asked Rod and the sheriff together.
+
+"The set of diamond jewelry valued at seven thousand five hundred dollars,
+in a morocco case, that has been missing ever since the robbery of the
+express car," was the answer.
+
+"I know nothing of it," said Rod.
+
+"This is the first I have heard of any diamonds," remarked the sheriff.
+
+[Illustration: THE SHERIFF HANDS ROD THE LEATHER BAG.--(_Page 201._)]
+
+"Has the bag been out of your possession since the arrest of
+this--person?" asked Snyder, hesitating for a word that should express his
+feelings toward the lad who had once beaten him in a race, but who was now
+so completely in his power.
+
+"No, sir, it has not," promptly replied the sheriff.
+
+"You have opened it before this, of course?"
+
+"Yes, I glanced at its contents when it was first placed in my keeping,
+but made no examination of them, as I should have done had not other
+important matters claimed my attention."
+
+"How long was the bag in your possession?" asked Snyder, turning to Rod.
+
+"About half an hour, but----"
+
+"Was any one with you during that half hour?" interrupted the questioner.
+
+"No; but as I was going to say----"
+
+"That is sufficient. I don't care to hear what you were going to say.
+Others may listen to that if they choose when the proper time comes. What
+I have to say regarding this business is, that in view of this new
+development I am more than ever desirous of delivering you into the hands
+of the proper authorities in New York. I would also suggest that your
+short and brilliant career as a railroader has come to a disgraceful end
+more quickly than even I suspected it would."
+
+"Do you mean to say that you think I stole those diamonds?" demanded Rod,
+hotly.
+
+"Oh, no," answered Snyder. "I don't say anything about it. The
+circumstances of the case speak so plainly for themselves that my
+testimony would be superfluous. Now, Mr. Sheriff, as our business here
+seems to be concluded, I think we will bid you good-by and be moving
+along."
+
+"You needn't bid me good-by yet," responded the sheriff, "for I have
+decided to go with you."
+
+"I doubt if I shall be able to find room for you in my special car," said
+Snyder, who for several reasons was not desirous of the sheriff's company.
+
+"Very well. Then you will be obliged to dispense with Mr. Blake's company
+also, for in view of the recent developments in this case I feel that I
+ought not to lose sight of him just yet."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!
+
+
+The sheriff's concluding argument at once prevailed. Snyder was so eager
+to witness his rival's humiliation and to hear the Superintendent
+pronounce his sentence of dismissal from the company's employ, that he
+would have sacrificed much of his own dignity rather than forego that
+triumph. As matters now stood he could not see how Rod, even though he
+should not be convicted of stealing the missing diamonds, could clear
+himself from the suspicion of having done so.
+
+Neither could poor Rod see how it was to be accomplished. For mile after
+mile of that long ride back toward New York he sat in silence, puzzling
+over the situation. In spite of the attempts of the sheriff and Conductor
+Tobin to cheer him up, he grew more and more despondent at the prospect of
+having to go through life as one who is suspected. It was even worse than
+being locked into a prison cell, for he had known that could not last
+long, while this new trouble seemed interminable.
+
+The lad's sorrowful reflections were interrupted by an ejaculation from
+the sheriff who sat beside him. On that gentleman's knee lay an open
+watch, at which he had been staring intently and in silence for some time.
+He had also done some figuring on a pad of paper. Finally he uttered a
+prolonged "Wh-e-w!"
+
+Both Rod and Conductor Tobin looked at him inquiringly.
+
+"Do you know," he said, "that we have just covered a mile in forty-two
+seconds, and that we are travelling at the rate of eighty-five miles an
+hour?"
+
+"I shouldn't be surprised," replied Conductor Tobin, quietly; "I heard Mr.
+Appleby tell the engineman at the last stop that if better time wasn't
+made pretty soon he'd go into the cab himself and show 'em how to do it.
+The idea of his talking that way to an old driver like Newman. Why, I
+don't believe he knows the difference between a throttle and an injector.
+A pretty figure he'd cut in a cab! Newman didn't answer him a word, only
+gave him a queer kind of a look. Now he's hitting her up for all she's
+worth, though, and, judging from appearances, Mr. Appleby wishes he'd held
+his tongue."
+
+Snyder certainly was very pale, and was clutching the arms of his seat as
+though to keep himself from being flung to the floor during the frightful
+lurchings of the car as it spun around curves.
+
+"But isn't it middling dangerous to run so fast?" asked the sheriff, as
+the terrific speed seemed to increase.
+
+"Not so very," answered the Conductor. "I don't consider that there is any
+more danger at a high rate of speed than there is at forty or fifty miles
+an hour! If we were to strike a man, a cow, a wagon, or even a pile of
+ties while going at this rate we'd fling the obstacle to one side like a
+straw and pay no more attention to it. If we were only doing fifteen or
+twenty miles though, instead of between eighty and ninety, any one of
+these things would be apt to throw us off the track. I tell you,
+gentleman, old man Newman is making things hum though! You see he has got
+number 385, one of the new compound engines. He claims that she can do one
+hundred miles an hour just as well as not, and that he is the man to get
+it out of her. He says he can stand it if she can. He made her do a mile
+in 39-1/4 seconds on her trial trip, and claims that about a month ago
+when he was hauling the grease wagon[1] she did 4-1/10 miles in 2-1/2
+minutes, which is at the rate of 98.4 miles an hour.[2] His fireman backs
+him up, and says he held the stop-watch between stations. The paymaster
+was so nearly scared to death that time that Newman was warned never to
+try for his hundred-mile record again without special orders. Now I
+suppose he considers that he has received them and is making the most of
+his chance."
+
+  [1] Pay-car.
+
+  [2] This time has actually been made by an American locomotive on an
+  American railroad.--K. M.
+
+"It's awful!" gasped Snyder, who had drawn near enough to the group to
+overhear the last of Conductor Tobin's remarks. "The man must be crazy.
+Isn't there some way of making him slow down?"
+
+"Not if he is crazy, as you suggest, sir," replied Conductor Tobin, with a
+sly twinkle in his eyes. "It would only make matters worse to interfere
+with him now, and all we can do is to hope for the best."
+
+"It's glorious!" shouted Rod, forgetting all his troubles in the
+exhilaration of this wild ride. "It's glorious! And I only hope he'll
+make it. Do you really think a hundred miles an hour is within the
+possibilities, Mr. Tobin?"
+
+"Certainly I do," answered the Conductor. "It not only can be done, but
+will be, very soon. I haven't any doubt but what by the time the Columbian
+Exposition opens we shall have regular passenger trains running at that
+rate over some stretches of our best roads, such as the Pennsylvania, the
+Reading, the New York Central and this one. Moreover, when electricity
+comes into general use as a motive power I shall expect to travel at a
+greater speed even than that. Why, they are building an electric road now
+on an air line between Chicago and St. Louis, on which they expect to make
+a hundred miles an hour as a regular thing."
+
+"I hope I shall have a chance to travel on it," said Rod.
+
+"I have heard of another road," continued Conductor Tobin, "now being
+built somewhere in Europe, Austria I believe, over which they propose to
+run trains at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five miles an hour."
+
+Here the conversation was interrupted by Snyder Appleby, who, in a frenzy
+of terror that he could no longer control, shouted "Stop him! Stop him! I
+order you to stop him at once!"
+
+"All right, sir, I'll try," answered Conductor Tobin, with a scornful
+smile on his face. Just as he lifted his hand to the bell-cord there came
+a shriek from the locomotive whistle. It was instantly followed by such a
+powerful application of brakes that the car in which our friends were
+seated quivered in every joint and seemed as though about to be wrenched
+in pieces.
+
+As the special finally came to a halt, and its occupants rushed out to
+discover the cause of its violent stoppage, they found the hissing
+monster, that had drawn them with such fearful velocity, standing
+trembling and panting within a few feet of one of the most complete and
+terrible wrecks any of them had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+SNATCHING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT.
+
+
+The wreck by which the terrific speed of the special had been so suddenly
+checked was one of those that may happen at any time even on the best and
+most carefully-managed of railroads. The through freight, of which
+ex-Brakeman Joe was now conductor, had made its run safely and without
+incident to a point within twenty miles of New York. It was jogging along
+at its usual rate of speed when suddenly and without the slightest warning
+an axle under a "foreign" car, near the rear of the train, snapped in two.
+In an instant the car leaped from the rails and across the west-bound
+tracks, dragging the rear end of the freight, including the caboose, after
+it. Before the dazed train-hands could realize what was happening, the
+heavy locomotive of a west-bound freight that was passing the east-bound
+train at that moment crashed into the wreck. It struck a tank-car filled
+with oil. Like a flash of lightning a vast column of fire shot high in the
+air and billows of flame were roaring in every direction. These leaped
+from one to another of the derailed cars, until a dozen belonging to both
+trains, as well as the west-bound locomotive, were enveloped in their
+cruel embrace.
+
+Conductor Joe escaped somehow, but he was bruised, shaken, and stunned
+by the suddenness and awfulness of the catastrophe. In spite of his
+bewilderment, however, his years of training as a brakeman were not
+forgotten. Casting but a single glance at the blazing wreck, he turned and
+ran back along the east-bound track. He was no coward running away from
+duty and responsibility, though almost any one who saw him just then might
+have deemed him one. No, indeed! He was doing what none but a faithful
+and experienced railroad man would have thought of doing under the
+circumstances; doing his best to avert further calamity by warning
+approaching trains from the west of the danger before them. He ran half a
+mile and then placed the torpedoes, which, with a brakeman's instinct, he
+still carried in his pocket.
+
+_Bang-bang!_ BANG! Engineman Newman, driving locomotive number 385 at
+nearer one hundred miles an hour than it had ever gone before, heard the
+sharp reports above the rattling roar of his train, and realized their
+dread significance. It was a close call, and only cool-headed promptness
+could have checked the tremendous speed of that on-rushing train in the
+few seconds allowed for the purpose. As it was, 385's paint was blistering
+in the intense heat from the oil flames as it came to a halt and then
+slowly backed to a place of safety.
+
+Conductor Joe had already returned to the scene of the wreck and was
+sending out other men with torpedoes and flags in both directions. Then he
+joined the brave fellows who were fighting for the lives of those still
+imprisoned in the wrecked caboose. Among these were Rod Blake, Conductor
+Tobin, and the sheriff. Snyder Appleby had turned sick at the heartrending
+sights and sounds to be seen and heard on all sides, and had gone back to
+his car to escape them. He did not believe a soul could be saved, and he
+had not the nerve to listen to the pitiful cries of those whom he
+considered doomed to a certain destruction.
+
+In thus accepting defeat without a struggle, Snyder exhibited the worst
+form of cowardice, and if the world were made up of such as he, there
+would be no victories to record. But it is not. It not only contains those
+who will fight against overwhelming odds, but others who never know that
+they are beaten, and where indomitable wills often snatch victory from
+what appears to be defeat. General Grant was one of these, and Rod Blake
+was made of the same stuff.
+
+Again and again he and those with him plunged into the stifling smoke to
+battle with the fierce flames in their stronghold. They smothered them
+with clods of earth and buckets of sand. They cut away the blazing
+woodwork with keen-edged wrecking axes torn from their racks in the
+uninjured caboose and in Snyder Appleby's special car. One by one they
+released and dragged out the victims, of whom the fire had been so
+certain, until none was left, and a splendid victory had been snatched
+from what had promised to be a certain defeat.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE RAILROAD WRECK.--(_Page 215._)]
+
+There was a farm-house not far away, to which the victims of the disaster
+were tenderly borne. Here, too, came their rescuers, scorched,
+blackened, and exhausted; but forgetful of their own plight in their
+desire to further relieve the sufferings of those for whom they had done
+such brave battle. In one of the wounded men Rod Blake was especially
+interested, for the young brakeman had fought on with a stubborn
+determination to save him after the others had declared it to be
+impossible. The man had been a passenger in the caboose of the through
+freight, and was so crushed and held by the shattered timbers of the car
+that, though the rescuing party reached his side, they were unable to drag
+him out. A burst of flame drove them back and forced them to rush into the
+open air to save their own lives. Above the roar of the fire they could
+distinguish his piteous cries, and this was more than Rod could stand.
+With a wet cloth over his mouth and axe in hand he dashed back into the
+furnace. He was gone before the others knew what he was about to attempt,
+and now they listened with bated breath to the sound of rapid blows coming
+from behind the impenetrable veil of swirling smoke. As it eddied upward
+and was lifted for an instant they caught sight of him, and rushing to the
+spot, they dragged him out, with his arms tightly clasped about the
+helpless form he had succeeded in releasing from its fiery prison.
+
+At that moment the young brakeman presented a sorry picture, blackened
+beyond recognition by his dearest friends, scorched, and with clothing
+hanging in charred shreds. By some miracle he was so far uninjured that a
+few dashes of cold water gave him strength to walk, supported by Conductor
+Tobin, to the farm-house, whither the others bore the unconscious man
+whom he had saved. The lad wished to help minister to the needs of the
+sufferer, but those who had cheered his act of successful bravery now
+insisted upon his taking absolute rest. So they made him lie down in a
+dimly-lighted room, where the sheriff sat beside him, and, big rough man
+that he was, soothed the exhausted lad with such tender gentleness, that
+after awhile the latter fell asleep. When this happened and the sheriff
+stole quietly out to where the others were assembled, he said
+emphatically:
+
+"Gentlemen, I am prouder to know that young fellow than I would be of the
+friendship of a president."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+A WRECKING TRAIN.
+
+
+While Rod lay in a dreamless sleep, which is the best and safest of
+remedies for every ill, mental or physical, that human flesh is heir to, a
+wrecking train arrived from New York. With it came a doctor, who was at
+once taken to the farm-house. He first looked at the sleeping lad, but
+would not allow him to be wakened, then he turned his attention to the
+victims of the disaster, whose poor maimed bodies were so sadly in need of
+his soothing skill.
+
+During the long hours of the night, while the doctor was busy with his
+human wrecks, the gang of experienced workmen who had come by the same
+train, was rapidly clearing the wreck of cars from the tracks and putting
+them in order for a speedy resumption of traffic. The wrecking train to
+which they belonged was made up of a powerful locomotive and three cars.
+The first of these was an immensely strong and solid flat, supporting a
+small derrick, which was at the same time so powerful as to be capable of
+lifting enormous weights. Besides the derrick and its belongings the flat
+carried only a few spare car trucks.
+
+Next to it came a box-car, filled with timber ends for blocking, hawsers,
+chains, ropes, huge single-, double-, and treble-blocks, iron clamps, rods
+and bolts, frogs, sections of rail, heavy tarpaulins for the protection of
+valuable freight, and a multitude of other like supplies, all so neatly
+arranged as to be instantly available.
+
+Last, and most interesting of all, came the tool-car, which was divided
+by partitions into three rooms. Of these, the main one was used by the
+members of the wrecking gang as a living-room, and was provided with
+bunks, a cooking-stove and utensils, and a pantry, well stocked with
+flour, coffee, tea, and canned provisions. The smaller of the two end
+rooms contained a desk, table, chairs, stationery and electrical supplies.
+It was used by the foreman of the wrecking gang, as an office in which to
+write his reports, and by the telegraph operator, who always accompanies
+a train of this description. This operator's first duty is to connect an
+instrument in his movable office with the railroad wire, which is one of
+the many strung on poles beside the track. From the temporary station thus
+established he is in constant communication with headquarters, to which he
+sends all possible information concerning the wreck, and from which he
+receives orders.
+
+In the tool-room at the other end of this car was kept everything that
+experience could suggest or ingenuity devise for handling and removing
+wrecked cars, freight, or locomotives. Along the sides were ranged a score
+or so of jack-screws, some of them powerful enough to lift a twenty-ton
+weight, though worked by but one man. There were also wrenches, axes,
+saws, hammers of all sizes, crowbars, torches, lanterns, drills, chisels,
+files, and, in fact, every conceivable tool that might be of use in an
+emergency.
+
+In less than three hours after the arrival of the wrecking train at the
+scene of the accident on the New York and Western road, the disabled
+locomotive, which had lain on its side in the ditch, had been picked up
+and replaced on the track. Such of the derailed cars as were not burned
+or crushed beyond hope of repair had also been restored to their original
+positions, scattered freight had been gathered up and reloaded, all
+inflammable _débris_ was being burned in a great heap at one side, the
+tracks were repaired, and so little remained to tell of the disaster, that
+passengers by the next day's trains looked in vain for its traces.
+
+The first train to go through after the accident was Snyder Appleby's
+special. The private secretary had visited the farm-house to insist that
+Rod Blake should accompany him to New York; but he was met at the door by
+the watchful sheriff, who sternly refused to allow his sleeping charge to
+be awakened or in any way disturbed.
+
+"You needn't worry yourself about him," said the sheriff. "He'll come
+to New York fast enough, and I'll come with him. We'll hunt the
+Superintendent's office as quick as we get there, and maybe you won't be
+so glad to see us as you think you will. That's the best I can promise
+you, for that young fellow isn't going to be disturbed before he gets good
+and ready to wake up of his own accord. Not if I can help it, and I rather
+think I can."
+
+"Oh, well," replied Snyder, who in the seclusion of his car had heard
+nothing of Rod's brave fight. "If he is such a tender plant that his sleep
+can't be interrupted, I suppose I shall have to go on without him, for my
+time is too valuable to be wasted in waiting here any longer. But I warn
+you, sir, that if you don't produce the young man in our office at an
+early hour to-morrow morning the company will hold you personally
+responsible for the loss of those diamonds."
+
+So saying, and ordering Conductor Tobin with the other witnesses to
+accompany him, the self-important young secretary took his departure,
+filled with anger against Rod Blake, the sheriff who had constituted
+himself the lad's champion, the wreck by which he had been delayed, and
+pretty nearly everything else that happened to cross his mind at that
+moment.
+
+As for Rod, he slept so peacefully and soundly until long after sunrise,
+that when he awoke and gazed inquiringly about him, he was but little the
+worse for his thrilling experiences of the previous night. His first
+question after collecting his scattered thoughts was concerning the
+welfare of the man for whom he had risked so much a few hours before.
+
+"The poor fellow died soon after midnight," replied the sheriff. "He did
+not suffer, for he was unconscious to the last, but in spite of that he
+left you a legacy, which I believe you will consider an ample reward for
+your brave struggle to save him. At any rate, I know it is one that you
+will value as long as you live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+ROD ACCEPTS THE LEGACY.
+
+
+"I sha'n't accept it," declared Rod. "I couldn't take a reward for trying
+to save a man's life. You couldn't yourself, sir. You know that all the
+money in the world wouldn't have tempted you into those flames, while you
+were ready enough to go on the simple chance of saving a human being from
+an awful death. I'm sure you must feel that way, and so you know just how
+I feel about it. I only wish he could have known it too, and known how
+willingly we tried to save him. If he only had, he wouldn't have thought
+of offering us a reward. Did you find out who he was?"
+
+"Yes, I found out," answered the sheriff, with a queer little smile. "I
+found out, too, that he was some one whom you knew quite well and were
+deeply interested in."
+
+"Some one I knew!" cried Rod, in surprise, at the same time taking a
+rapid mental note of all his railroad friends who might have been
+connected with the accident. "Who was he? Was he a railroad man?"
+
+"No, he was not a railroad man, and I can't tell you his name, but if you
+feel strong enough, I should like to have you come and take a look at
+him."
+
+"Of course I do," replied Rod whose curiosity was now fully aroused. "I
+feel almost as well as ever I did, excepting a little shaky, and with a
+smart here and there in the burned places."
+
+As the two entered an adjoining room, Rod's attention was instantly
+attracted by the motionless form, covered with a sheet, that lay on a bed.
+Several persons were engaged in a low-voiced conversation at one end of
+the room; but at first the lad did not notice them. He was too anxious to
+discover which of all his friends lay there so silently, to heed aught
+else just then.
+
+As he and the sheriff stepped to the side of the bed, the latter gently
+withdrew the covering and disclosed a peaceful face, from which every
+trace of grime and smoke had been tenderly removed.
+
+Rod instantly recognized it. It was the same that he had last seen only
+the morning before lying by the forest roadside more than a hundred miles
+away. In a tone of awed amazement he exclaimed, "the train robber!"
+
+"I think that settles it, gentlemen," said the sheriff quietly, and
+turning to the other occupants of the room who had gathered close behind
+Rod. "We thought it must be the train robber," he continued, addressing
+the latter "because we found the missing diamonds in a breast pocket of
+his coat; but we wanted your evidence to establish the fact. I have also
+recognized him as the alleged reporter who interviewed me yesterday
+morning, and who was accidentally left alone for a minute with the leather
+bag in my office. The moment I discovered that the diamonds were missing I
+suspected that he must have taken them, but thought it best to keep my
+suspicions to myself until I could trace him. I learned that a man
+answering his description had boarded the east-bound freight somewhere
+this side of Millbank and telegraphed Conductor Joe Miller to keep him in
+sight. By making use of Mr. Appleby's special I hoped to overtake and pass
+him before he reached New York. I thus expected to be on hand to welcome
+and arrest him at his journey's end, and by so doing relieve you of all
+suspicion of being anything but the honest plucky lad you have proved
+yourself. At the same time I looked forward to taking some of the conceit
+out of that young sprig of a secretary. That all my calculations were not
+upset by last night's accident was largely owing to you, for I must
+confess that, but for the shame of being outdone in bravery by a mere slip
+of a boy, I should have given up the fight to save this man long before
+the victory was won. Of course the evidence of his crime would have
+vanished with him, and we should never have known for a certainty what had
+become of the train robber or the diamonds. Some persons might even have
+continued to suspect you of being connected with their disappearance,
+while now your record is one that any man may well envy. Was I not right
+then, in saying that this poor fellow had left you a reward for your
+bravery that you will value so long as you live?"
+
+"Indeed you were," answered Rod, in a low tone, "and it is a legacy that I
+can most gratefully accept, I wish he might have lived, though. It is
+terrible to think that by following him as I did I drove him to his
+death."
+
+"You must not think of it in that way," said one of the other witnesses of
+the scene, taking the lad's hand as he spoke, and at the same time
+disclosing the well-known features of Mr. Hill, the Superintendent, "You
+must only remember that you have done your duty faithfully and splendidly.
+Although I should not have approved the course you took at the outset, the
+results fully justify all that you have done, and I am very proud to
+number you among the employees of our company. You have certainly
+graduated with honors from the ranks of brakemen, and have fairly won your
+promotion to any position that you feel competent to fill. It only rests
+with you to say what it shall be."
+
+"If the young man would accept a position with us," interrupted another
+gentleman, whom Rod knew to be a superintendent of the Express Company,
+"we should be only too happy to offer him one, that carries with it a
+handsome salary and the promise of speedy promotion."
+
+"No, indeed! You can't have him!" exclaimed Mr. Hill. "A railroad company
+is said to be a soulless corporation, but it has at least soul enough to
+appreciate and desire to retain such services as this lad has shown
+himself capable of rendering. He has chosen to be a railroad man, and I
+don't believe he is ready to switch off on any other line just yet. How is
+it, Blake? Have you had enough of railroading?"
+
+"No, sir," replied Rod, earnestly. "I certainly have not. I have only had
+enough of it to make me desirous of continuing in it, and if you think I
+could make a good enough fireman, I should be very glad to take Milt
+Sturgis' place on number 10, and learn to run a locomotive engine under
+Mr. Stump."
+
+"A fireman!" exclaimed Mr. Hill, in surprise. "Is that the height of your
+ambition?"
+
+"I think it is at present, sir," replied Rod, modestly.
+
+"But I thought you knew how to run an engine. It looked that way yesterday
+morning when you started off with the one belonging to the express
+special."
+
+"I thought I did too, sir; but by that very trial I found that I knew just
+nothing at all about it. I do want to learn though, and if you haven't
+anyone else in view----"
+
+"Of course you shall have the place if you want it," interrupted Mr. Hill.
+"Stump has already applied for you, and you should have had it even if all
+the events of yesterday had not happened. I must tell you though, that Joe
+Miller wants to resign his conductorship of the through freight to accept
+a position on a private car belonging to a young millionaire oil prince,
+and I was thinking of offering you his place."
+
+"Thank you ever so much, sir; but if you don't mind, I would rather run on
+number 10."
+
+"Very well," replied the Superintendent, "you have earned the right to do
+as you think best. Now, as the track is again clear, we will all go back
+to the city in the wrecking train, which is ready to start."
+
+When Mr. Hill entered his office an hour later his secretary handed him a
+report of his investigations in the matter of the express robbery. This
+report cast grave suspicions upon Rod Blake as having been connected with
+the affair, and advised his arrest. Snyder had spent some hours in
+preparing this document, and now awaited with entire self complaisance the
+praise which he was certain would reward his efforts. What then was his
+amazement when his superior, after glancing through the report,
+deliberately tore it into fragments, which he dropped into a waste-basket.
+At the same time he said:
+
+"I am pleased to be able to inform you, Mr. Appleby, that the property you
+describe as missing has been recovered through the agency of this very
+Rodman Blake. I must also warn you that the company has no employee of
+whose integrity and faithfulness in the performance of duty they are more
+assured than they are of his. As you have evidently failed to discover
+this in your dealings with Mr. Blake, and as you have blundered through
+this investigation from first to last, I shall hereafter have no use for
+your services outside of routine office work." Thus saying, Mr. Hill
+closed the door of his private office behind him, leaving Snyder
+overwhelmed with bewilderment and indignation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+FIRING ON NUMBER 10.
+
+
+In regard to Rod Blake's new appointment, nothing more was said that day;
+but, sure enough, he received an order the following morning to report to
+the master mechanic for duty as fireman on engine number 10.
+
+Proud enough of his promotion, the lad promptly obeyed the order; and when
+that same evening he climbed into the cab of number 10, as the huge
+machine with a full head of steam on stood ready to start out with Freight
+Number 73, he felt that one of his chief ambitions was in a fair way of
+being realized. He tried to thank Truman Stump for getting him the job;
+but the old engineman only answered "Nonsense, you won the place for
+yourself, and I'm glad enough to have such a chap as you. The only trouble
+is that you'll learn too quick, and be given an engine of your own, just
+as you are getting the hang of my ways. I won't teach you anything
+though, except how to fire properly, so you needn't expect it."
+
+That is what he said. What he did was to take every opportunity for
+showing the young fireman the different parts of the wonderful machine on
+which they rode, and of explaining them to him in the clearest possible
+manner. He encouraged him to ask questions, often allowed him to handle
+the throttle for short distances, and evidently took the greatest pride in
+the rapid progress made by his pupil.
+
+Since first obtaining employment on the railroad, Rod had, according to
+his promise, written several times to his faithful friend Dan the stable
+boy on his uncle's place with requests that he would keep him informed of
+all that took place in the village. Dan sent his answers through the
+station agent at Euston, and Rod had only been a fireman a few days when
+he received a note which read as follows:
+
+     "DEAR MR. ROD:
+
+     "They is a man here, who I don't know, but who is asking all about
+     you. He asked me many questions, and has talk with your uncle. He
+     may mean good or he may mean bad, I don't know which. If I find out
+     ennything more I will let you know.           Yours respectful,
+
+                                                                  "DAN."
+
+Rod puzzled over this note a good deal, and wondered who on earth could be
+making inquiries about him. If he had known that it was Brown the railroad
+detective, he would have wondered still more. He finally decided that, as
+he was not conscious of having done anything wrong, he had no cause for
+worry. So he dismissed the affair, and devoted his whole attention to
+learning to be a fireman.
+
+Most people imagine it to be a very simple matter to shovel coal into a
+locomotive furnace, and so it is; but this is only a small part of a
+fireman's responsibility. He must know when to begin shovelling coal, and
+when to stop; when to open the blower and when to shut it off; when to
+keep the furnace door closed, and when to open it; how to regulate the
+dampers; when and how to admit water to the boiler; when to pour oil into
+the lubricating cups of the cylinder valves and a dozen other places; when
+to ring the bell, and when and how to do a multitude of other things,
+every one of which is important. He must keep a constant watch of the
+steam-gauge, and see that its pointer does not fall below a certain mark.
+The water-gauge also comes in for a share of his attention. Above all, he
+must learn, as quickly as possible, how to start, stop, and reverse the
+engine, and how to apply, or throw off the air brakes, so that he can
+readily do any of these things in an emergency, if his engineman happens
+to be absent.
+
+In acquiring all this information, and at the same time attending to his
+back-breaking work of shovelling coal, Rod found himself so fully and
+happily occupied that he could spare but few thoughts to the stranger who
+was inquiring about him in Euston. After a few days of life in the cab of
+locomotive number 10, he became so accustomed to dashing through tunnels
+amid a blackness so intense that he could not see a foot beyond the cab
+windows, to whirling around sharp curves, to rattling over slender
+trestles a hundred feet or more up in the air, and to rushing with
+undiminished speed through the darkness of storm-swept nights, when the
+head-lights seemed of little more value than a tallow candle, that he
+ceased to think of the innumerable dangers connected with his position as
+completely as though they had not existed.
+
+There came a day, however, when they were recalled to his mind in a
+startling manner. It was late in the fall, and for a week there had been
+a steady down-pour of rain that filled the streams to overflowing, and
+soaked the earth until it seemed like a vast sponge. It made busy work for
+the section gangs, who had their hands more than full with landslides,
+undermined culverts, and overflowing ditches, and it caused enginemen
+to strain their eyes along the lines of wet track, with an unusual
+carefulness. At length the week of rain ended with a storm of terrific
+violence, accompanied by crashing thunder and vivid lightnings. While this
+storm was at its height, locomotive number 10, drawing a heavy freight,
+pulled in on the siding of a station to wait for the passing of a
+passenger special, and a regular express.
+
+Truman Stump sat on his side of the cab, calmly smoking a short, black
+pipe; and his fireman stood at the other side, looking out at the storm as
+the special, consisting of a locomotive and two cars, rushed by without
+stopping. As it was passing, a ball of fire, accompanied by a rending
+crash of thunder, illumined the whole scene with an awful, blinding glare.
+For an instant Rod saw a white face pressed against one of the rear
+windows of the flying train. He was almost certain that it was the face of
+Eltje Vanderveer.
+
+A moment later the telegraph operator of that station came running toward
+them, bareheaded, and coatless, through the pitiless rain. The head-light
+showed his face to be bloodless and horror-stricken.
+
+"Cut loose from the train, Rod!" he cried in a voice husky and choked
+with a terrible dread. "True, word was just coming over the wire that the
+centre pier of Minkskill bridge had gone out from under the track, and for
+me to stop all trains, when that last bolt struck the line, and cut me
+off. If you can't catch that special there's no hope for it. It's the only
+thing left to try."
+
+Without waiting to hear all this Rod had instantly obeyed the first order,
+sprung to the rear of the tender, drawn the coupling-pin, and was back in
+the cab in less time than it takes to write of it. Truman Stump did not
+utter a word; but, before the operator finished speaking, number 10 was in
+motion. He had barely time to leap to the ground as she gathered headway
+and began to spring forward on the wildest race for life or death ever run
+on the New York and Western road.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+THE ONLY CHANCE OF SAVING THE SPECIAL.
+
+
+So well did Truman Stump and his young fireman understand each other,
+that, as locomotive number 10 sprang away on her race after the special,
+there was no necessity for words between them. Only after Rod had done
+everything in his power to ensure a full head of steam and paused for a
+moment's breathing-spell, did he step up behind the engineman and ask,
+"What is it, True?"
+
+"Minkskill bridge gone! We are trying to catch the special," answered
+the driver, briefly, without turning his head. It was enough; and Rod
+instantly comprehended the situation. There was a choking sensation in his
+throat, as he remembered the face disclosed by the lightning a few moments
+before, and realized the awful danger that now threatened the sunny-haired
+girl who had been his playmate, and was still his friend. With a
+desperate energy he flung open the furnace-door, and toiled to feed the
+roaring flames behind it. They almost licked his face in their mad
+leapings, as their scorching breath mingled with his. He was bathed in
+perspiration; and, when the front windows of the cab were forced open by
+the fierce pressure of the gale, he welcomed the cold blast and hissing
+rain that swept through it.
+
+Number 10 had now attained a fearful speed, and rocked so violently from
+side to side that its occupants were obliged to brace themselves and cling
+to the solid framework. It was a miracle that she kept the track. At each
+curve, and there were many of them on this section, Rod held his breath,
+fully expecting the mighty mass of iron to leap from the rails and plunge
+headlong into the yawning blackness. But she clung to them, and the steady
+hand at the throttle opened it wider, and still a little wider, until the
+handle had passed any limit that even the old engineman had ever seen.
+Still the young fireman, with set teeth and nerves like steel, watched the
+dial on the steam-gauge, and flung coal to the raging flames behind the
+glowing furnace-door.
+
+Mile after mile was passed in half the same number of minutes, and outside
+objects were whirled backward in one continuous, undistinguishable blur.
+The limb of a tree, flung to the track by the mighty wind, was caught up
+by the pilot and dashed against the head-light, instantly extinguishing
+it. So they rushed blindly on, through a blackness intensified by gleams
+of electric light, that every now and then ran like fiery serpents along
+the rails, or bathed the flying engine with its pallid flames.
+
+They were not more than two miles from the deadly bridge when they first
+saw the red lights on the rear of the special. The engineman's hand
+clutched the whistle lever; and, high above the shriek of the storm,
+sounded the quick, sharp blasts of the danger signal. A moment later they
+swept past a glare of red fire blazing beside the track. The enginemen of
+the special had not understood their signal, and had thrown out a fusee to
+warn them of his presence immediately in front of them.
+
+"I'll have to set you aboard, Rod," shouted Truman Stump, and the young
+fireman knew what he meant. He did not answer; but crawling through the
+broken window and along the reeling foot-board, using his strength and
+agility as he had never used them before, the boy made his way to the
+pilot of the locomotive. Crouching there, and clinging to its slippery
+braces, he made ready for the desperate spring that should save or lose
+everything.
+
+Foot by foot, in reality very quickly, but seemingly at a laggard pace, he
+was borne closer and closer to the red lights, until they shone full in
+his face. Then, with all his energies concentrated into one mighty effort,
+he launched himself forward, and caught, with outstretched hands, the iron
+railing of the platform on which were the lights. Drawing himself up on
+it, he dashed into the astonished group standing in the glass-surrounded
+observation-room, that occupied the rear of the car, crying:
+
+"Stop the train! Stop it for your lives!"
+
+[Illustration: "HE LAUNCHED HIMSELF FORWARD."--(_Page 240._)]
+
+Prompt obedience to orders, without pausing to question them, comes so
+naturally to a railroad man, that President Vanderveer himself now obeyed
+this grimy-faced young fireman as readily as though their positions had
+been reversed. With a quick movement he touched a button at one side of
+the car, and instantly a clear-voiced electric bell, in the cab of the
+locomotive that was dragging his train toward destruction, rang out an
+imperative call for brakes. The engineman's right hand sought the little
+brass "air" lever as he heard the sound. With his left he shut off steam.
+Ten seconds later the special stood motionless, with its pilot pointing
+out over the Minkskill bridge.
+
+President Vanderveer had not recognized the panting, coal-begrimed,
+oil-stained young fireman who had so mysteriously boarded his car while it
+was running at full speed; but Eltje knew his voice. Now, as her father
+turned from the electric button to demand an explanation, he saw the girl
+seize the stranger's hand. "It's Rod, father! It's Rodman Blake!" she
+cried.
+
+"So it is!" exclaimed the President, grasping the lad's other hand, and
+scanning him closely. "But what is the matter, Rodman? How came you here?
+Why have you stopped us, and what is the meaning of this disguise?"
+
+A few words served to explain the situation.
+
+Then the President, with Rod and the conductor of the special, left the
+car, lanterns in hand, to go ahead and discover how far they were from
+the treacherous bridge. As they reached the ground they were joined by
+Truman Stump, who had slowed the terrific speed of his locomotive at
+the moment of his fireman's leap from its pilot, and brought it to a
+standstill close behind the special. In a voice trembling with emotion
+the old engineman said:
+
+"It was the finest thing I've seen done in thirty years of running, Rod,
+and I thank God for your nerve."
+
+A minute later, when President Vanderveer realized the full extent of the
+threatened danger, and the narrowness of their escape, he again held the
+young fireman's hand, as he said:
+
+"And I thank God, Rodman, not only for your nerve, but that he permitted
+you to be on time. A few seconds later and our run on this line would have
+been ended forever."
+
+After a short consultation it was decided that the special should remain
+where it was, while locomotive number 10 should run back to the station,
+where its train still waited, bearing a message to be telegraphed to the
+nearest gang of bridge carpenters.
+
+How different was that backward ride from the mad, breathless race, with
+all its dreadful uncertainties, that Truman Stump and Rod Blake had just
+made over the same track. How silent they had been then, and how they
+talked now. How cheerily their whistle sounded as they approached the
+station! How lustily Rod pulled at the bell-rope, that the glad tidings
+of number 10's glorious run might the sooner be guessed by the anxious
+watchers, who awaited their coming. What an eager throng gathered round
+the old locomotive as it rolled proudly up to the station. It almost
+seemed conscious of having performed a splendid deed. Long afterwards, in
+cab and caboose, or wherever the men of the N. Y. and W. road gathered,
+all fast time was compared with the great run made by number 10 on that
+memorable night.
+
+The storm had passed and the moon was shining when the station was
+reached. Already men were at work repairing the telegraph line, and an
+hour later a bridge gang, with a train of timber-laden flats, was on its
+way to the Minkskill bridge. Number 10 drew this train, and Rod was
+delighted to have this opportunity to learn something of bridge building.
+He was glad, too, to escape from the praises of the railroad men; for
+Truman Stump insisted on telling the story of his young fireman's brave
+deed to each new crew as it reached the station, and they were equally
+determined to make a hero of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+INDEPENDENCE OR PRIDE
+
+
+Smiler, the railroad dog, appeared on the scene with the bridge gang,
+though no one knew where he came from; and, quickly discovering Rod, he
+followed him into the cab of locomotive number 10. Here he took possession
+of the cushion on the fireman's side of the cab, and sat on it with a wise
+expression on his honest face, that said as plainly as words: "This is an
+important bit of work, and it is clearly my duty to superintend it." Rod
+was delighted to have this opportunity of introducing the dear dog to
+Eltje, and they became friends immediately. As for the President, Smiler
+not only condescended to recognize him, but treated him with quite as much
+cordiality as though he had been a fireman or a brakeman on a through
+freight.
+
+Rod got a few hours' sleep that night after all, and in the morning he and
+Engineman Stump accepted an invitation to take breakfast with President
+Vanderveer, his daughter, and Smiler, in the President's private car. This
+car had just returned from the extended western trip on which it had
+started two months before, when Rod was seeking employment on the road. As
+neither Eltje nor her father had heard a word concerning him in all that
+time, they now plied him with questions. When he finished his story Eltje
+exclaimed:
+
+"I think it is perfectly splendid, Rod, and if I were only a boy I would
+do just as you have done! Wouldn't you, papa?"
+
+"I am not quite sure that I would, my dear," answered her father, with a
+smile. "While I heartily approve of a boy who wishes to become a railroad
+man, beginning at the very bottom of the ladder and working his way up, I
+cannot approve of his leaving his home with the slightest suspicion of a
+stain resting on his honor if he can possibly help it. Don't you think,
+Rodman," he added kindly, turning to the lad, "that the more manly course
+would have been to have stayed in Euston until you had solved the problem
+of who really did disable your cousin's bicycle?"
+
+"I don't know but what it would," replied the young man, thoughtfully;
+"but it would have been an awfully hard thing to do."
+
+"Yes, I know it would. It would have been much harder than going hungry or
+fighting tramps or capturing express robbers; still it seems to me that it
+would have been more honorable."
+
+"But Uncle turned me out of the house."
+
+"Did he order you to leave that very night, or did he ask you to make
+arrangements to do so at some future time, and promise to provide for you
+when you did go?"
+
+"I believe he did say something of that kind," replied Rod, hesitatingly.
+
+"Do you believe he would have said even that the next morning!"
+
+"Perhaps not, sir."
+
+"You know he wouldn't, Rodman. You know, as well as I do, that Major
+Appleby says a great many things on the impulse of the moment that he
+sincerely regrets upon reflection. He told me himself the morning I left
+Euston how badly he felt that you should have taken his hasty words so
+literally. He said that he should do everything in his power to cause you
+to forget them the moment you returned, as he hoped you would in a day or
+two. He gave Snyder instructions to use every effort to discover you in
+the city, where it was supposed you had gone, and provided him liberally
+with money to be expended in searching for you. I am surprised that Snyder
+has not found you out before this, especially as you are both in the
+employ of the same company. Didn't you know that he was private secretary
+to our superintendent?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I did," replied Rod, "and----" He was about to add, "And he
+knows where I am"; but obeying a more generous impulse, he changed it to
+"and I have taken pains to avoid him."
+
+"I am sorry for that," said the President; "for if he had only met you and
+delivered your uncle's message you would have been reconciled to that most
+impetuous but most kindly-hearted of gentlemen long ago. Now, however, you
+will go home with us and have a full explanation with him, will you not?"
+
+"I think not, sir," replied Rod, with a smile. "In the first place, I
+can't leave Mr. Stump, here, to run number 10 without a fireman, and in
+the second I would a great deal rather wait until I hear directly from my
+uncle that he wants me. Besides, I don't want to give up being a railroad
+man; for, after the experience I have gained, I am more determined than
+ever to be one."
+
+"It would be a great pity, sir, to have so promising a young railroader
+lost to the business," said Truman Stump, earnestly, "and I do hope you
+won't think of taking him from us."
+
+"I should think, papa, that you would be glad to have anybody on the road
+who can do such splendid things as Rod can," said Eltje, warmly. "I'm sure
+if I were president, I'd promote him at once, and make him conductor, or
+master of something, instead of trying to get rid of him. Why, it's a
+perfect shame!"
+
+"I've no doubt, dear, that if you were president, the road would be
+managed just as it should be. As you are not, and I am, I beg leave to say
+that I have no intention of letting Rodman leave our employ, now that he
+has got into it, and proved himself such a valuable railroad man. He
+sha'n't go, even if I have to make him 'master of something,' as you
+suggest, in order to retain his services. All that I want him to do is to
+visit Euston and become reconciled to his uncle. I am certain the dear old
+gentleman has forgotten by this time that he ever spoke an unkind word to
+his nephew, and is deeply grieved that he does not return to him. However,
+so long as Rodman's pride will not permit him to make the first advances
+towards a reconciliation, I will do my best to act as mediator between
+them. Then I shall expect our young fireman to appear in Euston as quickly
+as possible after receiving Major Appleby's invitation, even if he has to
+leave his beloved number 10 for a time to do so."
+
+"All right, sir, I will," laughed Rod, "and I thank you ever so much for
+taking such an interest in me and my affairs."
+
+"My dear boy," replied the President, earnestly, "you need never thank me
+for anything I may do for you. I shall not do more than you deserve; and
+no matter what I may do, it can never cancel the obligation under which
+you and Truman Stump placed me last night."
+
+"It looks as though you and I were pretty solid on this road, doesn't it,
+Rod?" remarked the engineman, after the bridge had been repaired, and
+they were once more seated in the cab of locomotive number 10, which was
+again on its way toward the city.
+
+"It does so," replied the young fireman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+A MORAL VICTORY.
+
+
+The special was the first train to cross the Minkskill bridge after it was
+repaired and pronounced safe, and as it was followed by all the delayed
+passenger trains, the through freight did not pull out for more than an
+hour later. As the special moved at the rate of nearly three miles to the
+freight's one, and as it made but one stop, which was at Euston, where
+Eltje was left, President Vanderveer reached the terminus of the road in
+the evening; while Rod Blake did not get there until the following
+morning.
+
+After devoting some time to the discussion of important business matters
+with Superintendent Hill, the President suddenly asked: "By the way, Hill,
+do you happen to have a personal acquaintance with a young fireman in our
+employ named Rodman Blake?"
+
+"Yes, indeed I have," replied the Superintendent, and he related the
+incidents connected with the first meeting between himself and Rod. He
+also told of the imputation cast upon the lad's character by his private
+secretary. "In regard to this," he said, "I have been awaiting your
+return, before taking any action, because my secretary came to me with
+your recommendation. After Brown finished with the matter of the freight
+thieves, I sent him to Euston to make a thorough investigation of this
+charge against young Blake, and here is his report."
+
+President Vanderveer read the report carefully, and without comment, to
+the end; but a pained expression gradually settled on his face. As he
+handed it back, he said, "So Brown thinks Appleby did it himself?"
+
+"He has not a doubt of it," replied Mr. Hill.
+
+"Well," said the President, "I am deeply grieved and disappointed; but
+justice is justice, and the innocent must not be allowed to suffer for the
+guilty, if it can be helped. I am going to Euston to-night, and I wish
+that, without mentioning this affair to him, you would send Appleby out
+there to see me in the morning."
+
+"Very well, sir," replied the Superintendent, and then they talked of
+other matters.
+
+In the meantime, during the long run in from the Minkskill bridge, Rod
+had plenty of time to think over his recent interview with President
+Vanderveer. He recalled all the kindness shown him by his uncle, and
+realized now, what he had not allowed himself even to suspect before, that
+a selfish pride had been the motive of his whole course of action, ever
+since that unfortunate bicycle race. Pride had driven him from his uncle's
+house. Pride had restrained him from letting that uncle know where he was,
+or what he was doing. Even now, though he knew that his dear mother's only
+brother was willing and anxious to receive him again, pride forbade him to
+go to him. Should he continue to be the slave of pride, and submit to its
+dictates? or should he boldly throw off its yoke and declare himself free
+and independent? "Yes, I will," he said aloud; "I won't give in to it any
+longer."
+
+"Will what, and won't what?" asked the engineman, whose curiosity was
+aroused by these words. Then Rod told him of the struggle that had been
+going on in his mind, and of the decision he had just reached. When he
+finished, the other exclaimed: "Right, you are, lad! and True Stump thinks
+more of you for expressing those sentiments than he did when he saw you
+board the special last night, and that is saying a good deal. To fight
+with one's own pride and whip it, is a blamed sight harder thing to do
+than anything else that I know of in this world."
+
+They had already passed Euston, and Rod could not have left his post of
+duty then, even if they had not; but he determined to return on the very
+first train from the city, and seek a complete reconciliation with his
+uncle.
+
+The day express had already left when the freight got in, and so he was
+obliged to wait for an excursion train that was to go out an hour later.
+It was made up of several coaches and a baggage car; but Rod did not care
+to ride in any of these. He already felt more at home on the locomotive
+than on any other part of the train, and so he swung himself into the cab,
+where he was cordially welcomed by the engineman and his assistant. They
+were glad of the chance to learn from him all the particulars of what had
+happened up the road during the great storm, and plied him with
+questions.
+
+In spite of their friendliness, and of his recent resolution, Rod could
+not help feeling some uneasiness at the sight of Snyder Appleby sauntering
+down the platform and stepping aboard the train just as it started. He
+hoped his adopted cousin was not going to Euston. That is just where
+Snyder was going, though; and, having missed the express which he had been
+ordered to take, by his failure to be on time for it, he was obliged
+to proceed by the "excursion extra." He was feeling particularly
+self-important that morning, in consequence of having been sent for on
+business by the President, and he sauntered through the train with an
+offensive air of proprietorship and authority. Not choosing to remain in
+one of the ordinary coaches, with ordinary excursionists, he walked into
+the empty baggage car, and stood looking through the window in its forward
+door. The moment he spied Rod, comfortably seated in the cab of the
+locomotive, all his old feeling of jealousy was aroused. He had applied
+to the engineman for permission to ride there a few minutes before Rod
+appeared, and it had been refused. Now to see the person whom he had most
+deeply injured, and consequently most thoroughly disliked, riding where he
+could not, was particularly galling to his pride.
+
+During the first stop made by the train, he walked to the locomotive, and,
+in a most disagreeable tone, asked Rod if he had a written order
+permitting him to ride there.
+
+"I have not," answered the young fireman.
+
+"Then I shall consider it my duty to report both you and the engineman,
+for a violation of rule 116, which provides that no person, except those
+employed upon it, shall be permitted to ride on a locomotive without a
+written order from the proper authority," said Snyder, as he turned away.
+
+This unwarranted assumption of authority made Rod furious; and, as he
+looked back and saw Snyder regarding him from the baggage car, he longed
+for an opportunity of giving the young man a piece of his mind. His
+feelings were fully shared by the other occupants of the cab. While they
+were still discussing the incident, the train plunged into a tunnel, just
+east of the Euston grade. Here, before it quite reached the other end, it
+became involved in one of the most curious and startling accidents known
+in the history of railroads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+SNYDER IS FORGIVEN.
+
+
+As the locomotive was beginning to emerge from the blackness of the
+tunnel, and those in its cab were just able to distinguish one another's
+faces by the rapidly increasing light from the tunnel's mouth, there came
+an awful crash and a shock like that of an earthquake. A shower of loose
+rocks fell on, and into, the cab. The locomotive was jerked backward with
+a sickening violence, and for a moment its driving wheels spun furiously
+above the track. Then it broke loose from the train, and sprang forward.
+In another moment it emerged from the tunnel, and was brought to a
+standstill, like some panting, frightened animal, a few yards beyond its
+mouth.
+
+The occupants of the cab, bruised and shaken, stared at each other with
+blanched, awe-stricken faces. They had seen the train behind them
+swallowed by a vast tumbling mass of rock, and believed themselves the
+only survivors of one of the most hideous of railroad disasters. Only
+Rod thought he had seen the end of the baggage car protruding from the
+crushing mass, just as the locomotive became released and sprang forward.
+
+"The tunnel roof has caved in," said the engineman with a tone of horror;
+"and not a soul can have escaped beside ourselves. All those hundreds of
+people are lying in there, crushed beyond recognition. Oh, it is terrible!
+terrible!" and tears, expressive of the agony of his mind, coursed down
+the strong man's cheeks. Partially recovering himself in a moment, he
+said, "There is nothing left for us to do but go on to Euston, report what
+has happened, and stop all trains."
+
+Rod Blake agreed that this was the engineman's first duty; but declared
+his intention of staying behind, and of going back into the tunnel, to see
+if there was not some one who might yet be saved. In vain they urged him
+not to, and pointed out the danger as well as the hopelessness of the
+attempt. He was certain that the end of the baggage car could be reached,
+and remembered the figure he had seen standing in it, as they entered the
+tunnel. He felt no trace of resentment against Snyder Appleby now; only a
+great overwhelming pity, coupled with the conviction that he was still
+within reach of help.
+
+Finally they left him; and, armed with an axe from the tender, the young
+fireman again entered the dreadful darkness. Loose stones were still
+falling from the roof of the tunnel, and more than one of these struck and
+painfully bruised him. The air was stifling with clouds of dust and smoke.
+Only the lad's dauntless will and splendid courage enabled him to keep on.
+All at once the splintered end of a car assumed shape in the obscurity
+ahead of him. He heard a slow rending of wood, as one after another of its
+stout timbers gave way, and then, above all other sounds, came an agonized
+human cry.
+
+How Rod cut his way into that car, how he found and dragged out Snyder
+Appleby's mangled form, or how he managed to bear its helpless weight to
+the open air and lay it on the ground beside the track, he never knew. He
+only knew, after it had been done, that he had accomplished all this
+somehow, and that he was weak and faint from his exertions. He also knew
+that he had barely escaped from the baggage car with his precious burden,
+when it was wholly crushed, and buried beneath the weight of rock from
+above.
+
+Snyder had been conscious, and had spoken to him when he found him,
+pinned to the side of the car by its shattered timbers; but now he lay
+insensible, and apparently lifeless. Rod dashed water in his face, and in
+a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing a faint color flush the
+pallid cheeks. Then the closed eyes opened once more, and gazed into the
+young fireman's face. The lips moved, and Rod bent his head to catch the
+faint sound.
+
+"The cup is fairly yours, Rod; for I put the emery in my wheel myself. Can
+you forgive--" was what he heard.
+
+Rodman's eyes were filled with tears as he answered, "Of course I forgive
+you, fully and freely, old man. But don't worry about that now. Keep quiet
+and don't try to talk. We'll soon have you at home, where you'll be all
+right, and get over this shake-up in no time."
+
+A bright smile passed over Snyder's face, and glorified it. Then his eyes
+closed wearily, never again to be opened in this world. When help came,
+and the poor, torn body was tenderly lifted, its spirit had fled. His
+faults had found forgiveness, here, from the one whom he had most deeply
+injured. Is there any doubt but what he also found it in the home to which
+he had gone so peacefully, and with so happy a smile lighting his face?
+
+Strange as it may seem, Snyder Appleby was the only victim of this curious
+accident; for the entire mass of falling material in the tunnel descended
+on the baggage car, of which he was the sole occupant. The hundreds of
+excursionists in the coaches were badly shaken up, and greatly frightened
+by the sudden stopping of the train; but not one was seriously injured.
+
+President Vanderveer first heard of the accident at Major Appleby's house,
+where he was engaged in an earnest conversation with that gentleman, about
+his nephew and his adopted son. While they were still talking, a carriage
+drove to the door, bearing Rod Blake and the lifeless form of him whom the
+young fireman had risked his life to save.
+
+After the Major had listened to the story of the lad who brought to him at
+the same time joy and grief, the tears streamed down his furrowed cheeks,
+and he exclaimed, "My boy! my dear boy! the pride and hope of my old age!
+Forgive me as you have forgiven him, and never leave me again."
+
+"I never will, Uncle," was the answer.
+
+At Snyder's funeral the most beautiful floral tribute was an exact copy
+of the Steel Wheel Club's railroad cup, in Parma violets, with the
+inscription, woven of white violets, "Forgive us our Trespasses." Directly
+behind the coffin, the members of the club marched in a body, headed by
+their captain, Rod Blake, whose resignation had never been accepted.
+
+As for the young captain's future, the events on which this story is
+founded, are of too recent occurrence for it to be predicted just yet.
+That he will become a prominent railroad man, in some one of the many
+lines now opening before him, is almost certain. He finished his
+apprenticeship with Truman Stump, on locomotive number 10, and became so
+fully competent to act as engineman himself, that the master mechanic
+offered him the position. At the same time President Vanderveer invited
+him to become his private secretary, which place Rod accepted, as it
+seemed to him the best school in which to study the higher branches of
+railroad management. He is still one of the most popular fellows on the
+road, and his popularity extends to every branch of the company's service.
+Even Smiler, the railroad dog, will leave his beloved trains for days at a
+time, to sit in the President's office, and mount guard over the desk of
+the private secretary.
+
+Not long ago, when the chief officer of the road was asked to explain the
+secret of Rod Blake's universal popularity, he replied: "I'm sure I don't
+know, unless it is that he never allows his pride to get the better of his
+judgment, and always performs his duties on time."
+
+
+
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+<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cab and Caboose, by Kirk Munroe</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Cab and Caboose</p>
+<p>       The Story of a Railroad Boy</p>
+<p>Author: Kirk Munroe</p>
+<p>Release Date: September 4, 2007  [eBook #22497]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAB AND CABOOSE***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Anne Storer,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;">
+<img src="images/imgcover.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h4>OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL</h4>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr>  <td align='left'><span class="small">Honorary President, THE HON. WOODROW WILSON</span></td> <td class="tdp"></td>  <td align='left'><span class="small">Vice-President, MILTON A. McRAE, Detroit. Mich.</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='left'><span class="small">Honorary Vice-President, HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT</span></td> <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'><span class="small">Vice-President, DAVID STARR JORDAN, Stanford University, Cal.</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='left'><span class="small">Honorary Vice-President, COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT</span></td> <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'><span class="small">Vice-President, F. L. SEELY, Asheville, N. C.</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='left'><span class="small">President, COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE, Washington, D. C.</span></td> <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'><span class="small">Vice-President, A. STAMFORD WHITE, Chicago, Ill.</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='left'><span class="small">Vice-President, B. L. DULANEY, Bristol, Tenn.</span></td> <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'><span class="small">Chief Scout, ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, Greenwich, Connecticut</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'></td> <td align='left'><span class="small">National Scout Commissioner, DANIEL CARTER BEARD, Flushing, N. Y.</span></td>  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div id="container">
+	<div id="left_col">
+	FINANCE COMMITTEE<br />
+	John Sherman Hoyt,<br />
+	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chairman<br />
+	August Belmont<br />
+	George D. Pratt<br />
+	Mortimer L. Schiff<br />
+	H. Rogers Winthrop
+	</div>
+
+
+	<div id="page_content">
+	<h4>NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS</h4>
+    <h2>BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA</h2>
+
+    THE FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING, 200 FIFTH AVENUE<br />
+    TELEPHONE GRAMERCY 545<br />
+    NEW YORK CITY<br />
+    ========================================<br />
+	ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD<br />
+
+
+	<div id="right_col">
+	GEORGE D. PRATT<br />
+	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Treasurer<br />
+	<br />
+	JAMES E. WEST<br />
+	&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chief Scout Executive
+	</div>
+</div></div>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="20" summary="">
+
+<tr>
+  <td align='left'><span class="small">Ernest P. Bicknell<br />
+  Robert Garrett<br />
+  Lee F. Hanmer<br />
+  John Sherman Hoyt<br />
+  Charles C. Jackson
+  </span></td>
+
+  <td align='left'><span class="small">Prof. Jeremiah W. Jenks<br />
+  William D. Murray<br />
+  Dr. Charles P. Neill<br />
+  George D. Porter<br />
+  Frank Presbrey</span></td>
+
+  <td align='left'><span class="small">Edgar M. Robinson<br />
+  Mortimer L. Schiff<br />
+  Lorillard Spencer<br />
+  Seth Sprague Terry</span></td></tr>
+
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p><span style="margin-left: 42em;">July 31st, 1913.</span></p>
+
+<p>TO THE PUBLIC:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>In the execution of its purpose to give educational value and moral worth
+to the recreational activities of the boyhood of America, the leaders of
+the Boy Scout Movement quickly learned that to effectively carry out its
+program, the boy must be influenced not only in his out-of-door life but
+also in the diversions of his other leisure moments. It is at such times
+that the boy is captured by the tales of daring enterprises and
+adventurous good times. What now is needful is not that his taste should
+be thwarted but trained. There should constantly be presented to him the
+books the boy likes best, yet always the books that will be best for the
+boy. As a matter of fact, however, the boy&#8217;s taste is being constantly
+vitiated and exploited by the great mass of cheap juvenile literature.</p>
+
+<p>To help anxiously concerned parents and educators to meet this grave
+peril, the Library Commission of the Boy Scouts of America has been
+organized. EVERY BOY&#8217;S LIBRARY is the result of their labors. All the
+books chosen have been approved by them. The Commission is composed of the
+following members: George F. Bowerman, Librarian, Public Library of the
+District of Columbia, Washington, D. C.; Harrison W. Graver, Librarian,
+Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Claude G. Leland, Superintendent,
+Bureau of Libraries, Board of Education, New York City; Edward F.
+Stevens, Librarian, Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, New York;
+together with the Editorial Board of our Movement, William D. Murray,
+George D. Pratt and Frank Presbrey, with Franklin K. Mathiews, Chief Scout
+Librarian, as Secretary.</p>
+
+<p class="center">&ldquo;DO A GOOD TURN DAILY.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In selecting the books, the Commission has chosen only such as are of
+interest to boys, the first twenty-five being either works of fiction or
+stirring stories of adventurous experiences. In later lists, books of a
+more serious sort will be included. It is hoped that as many as
+twenty-five may be added to the Library each year.</p>
+
+<p>Thanks are due the several publishers who have helped to inaugurate this
+new department of our work. Without their co-operation in making available
+for popular priced editions some of the best books ever published for
+boys, the promotion of EVERY BOY&#8217;S LIBRARY would have been impossible.</p>
+
+<p>We wish, too, to express our heartiest gratitude to the Library
+Commission, who, without compensation, have placed their vast experience
+and immense resources at the service of our Movement.</p>
+
+<p>The Commission invites suggestions as to future books to be included in
+the Library. Librarians, teachers, parents, and all others interested in
+welfare work for boys, can render a unique service by forwarding to
+National Headquarters lists of such books as in their judgment would be
+suitable for EVERY BOY&#8217;S LIBRARY.</p>
+
+<p><span style="margin-left: 18em;">Signed</span></p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 200px;">
+<img src="images/img002.jpg" width="200" height="55" alt="Signature James E. West" title="" />
+<span style="margin-right: 0em;">Chief Scout Executive.</span>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><a name="imgfrontis" id="imgfrontis"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 356px;">
+<img src="images/imgfrontis.jpg" width="356" height="500" alt="Frontispiece" title="" />
+<span class="caption">the pursuit of the train robber.&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_156">156</a>.</em>)
+<em>Frontispiece.</em></span>
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<h2>EVERY BOY&#8217;S LIBRARY&mdash;BOY SCOUT EDITION</h2>
+
+<div class="centerbox bbox">
+
+<h1>CAB AND CABOOSE</h1>
+<h2><em>The Story of a Railroad Boy</em></h2>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">BY</p>
+<h2>KIRK MUNROE</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">author of<br />
+under orders, prince dusty,<br />
+the coral ship, etc.</span></p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">ILLUSTRATED</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 36px;">
+<img src="images/img5.jpg" width="36" height="31" alt="Page decoration" title="" />
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">NEW YORK</p>
+<h2>GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</h2>
+<p class="center">PUBLISHERS</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1892<br />
+<span class="smcap">by</span><br />
+KIRK MUNROE</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="center">This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers<br />
+<span class="smcap">G. P. Putnam&#8217;s Sons, New York and London</span></p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;">
+<img src="images/press.jpg" width="250" height="20" alt="The Knickerbocker Press, New York" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="14" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr>  <td align='right'><span class="smcap">chapter</span>.</td>  <td align='left'></td>  <td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span>.</td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>I.</td>  <td align='left'>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Railroad Blake</span>&rdquo;</td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>II.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Race for the Railroad Cup</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">8</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>III.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Cruel Accusation</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">16</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>IV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Starting into the World</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">22</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>V.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Choosing a Career</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">27</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>VI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Smiler, the Railroad Dog</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">34</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>VII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rod, Smiler, and the Tramp</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">40</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>VIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Earning a Breakfast</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">52</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>IX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gaining a Foothold</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">59</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>X.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Thrilling Experience</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">66</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Battle with Tramps</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">71</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bound, Gagged, and a Prisoner</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">79</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">How Brakeman Joe was Saved</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">86</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XIV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Superintendent Investigates</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">92</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Smiler to the Rescue</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">99</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XVI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Snyder Appleby&#8217;s Jealousy</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">106</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XVII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rod as a Brakeman</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">115</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XVIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Working for a Promotion</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">121</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XIX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Express Special</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">126</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Trouble in the Money Car</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">135</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Over the Top of the Train</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">142</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Stop Thief!</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">148</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Race of Locomotives</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">155</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXIV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Arrested on Suspicion</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">161</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Train Robber Learns of Rod&#8217;s Arrest</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">168</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXVI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Welcome Visitor</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">174</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXVII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sheriff is Interviewed</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">180</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXVIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Light Dawns upon the Situation</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">186</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXIX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Arrival of Friends and Enemies</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">192</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Where are the Diamonds?</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">198</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">One Hundred Miles an Hour!</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">205</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Snatching Victory from Defeat</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">211</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Wrecking Train</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">217</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXIV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rod Accepts the Legacy</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">223</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXV.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Firing on Number 10</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">231</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXVI.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Only Chance of Saving the Special</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">237</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXVII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Independence or Pride</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">245</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXVIII.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Moral Victory</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">252</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'>XXXIX.</td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">Snyder is Forgiven</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">258</a></td>  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="14" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">the pursuit of the train robber</span></td>  <td align='right'><em><a href="#imgfrontis">Frontispiece</a></em></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'></td>  <td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">rod blake wins by a length</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg15">15</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">smiler drives off the tramp</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg55">42</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">in the hands of the enemy</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg97">82</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">rod assists the young man to the &ldquo;limited&rdquo;</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg149">132</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">the sheriff hands rod the leather bag</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg221">202</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">in the railroad wreck</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg235">214</a></td>  </tr>
+<tr>  <td align='right'></td>  <td align='left'><span class="smcap">&ldquo;he launched himself forward&rdquo;</span></td>  <td align='right'><a href="#imgpg263">240</a></td>  </tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 1]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>
+CAB AND CABOOSE: THE STORY OF A RAILROAD BOY.</h2>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>&ldquo;RAILROAD BLAKE.&rdquo;</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>&ldquo;Go it, Rod! You&#8217;ve got to go! One more spurt and you&#8217;ll have him! There
+you are over the line! On time! On railroad time! Three cheers for
+Railroad Blake, fellows! &#8217;Rah, &#8217;rah, &#8217;rah, and a tigah! Good for you, Rod
+Blake! the cup is yours. It was the prettiest race ever seen on the Euston
+track, and &lsquo;Cider&rsquo; got so badly left that he cut off and went to the
+dressing-room without finishing. Billy Bliss was a good second, though,
+and you only beat him by a length.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Amid a thousand such cries as these, from the throats of the excited boys
+and a furious waving<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 2]</span> of hats, handkerchiefs, and ribbon-decked parasols
+from the grand stand, the greatest bicycling event of the year so far as
+Euston was concerned, was finished, and Rodman Blake was declared winner
+of the Railroad Cup. It was the handsomest thing of the kind ever seen in
+that part of the country, and had been presented to the Steel Wheel Club
+of Euston by President Vanderveer of the great New York and Western
+Railroad, who made his summer home at that place. The race for this trophy
+was the principal event at the annual meet of the club, which always took
+place on the first Wednesday of September. If any member won it three
+years in succession it was to be his to keep, and every winner was
+entitled to have his name engraved on it.</p>
+
+<p>Snyder Appleby or &ldquo;Cider Apples&rdquo; as the boys, with their love for
+nicknames, sometimes called him, had won it two years in succession, and
+was confident of doing the same thing this year. He had just obtained,
+through President Vanderveer, a position in the office of the Railroad
+Company, and only waited to ride this last race for the &ldquo;Railroad Cup,&rdquo;
+as it was called in honor of its donor,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 3]</span> before going to the city and
+entering upon his new duties.</p>
+
+<p>Now to be beaten so badly, and by that young upstart, for so he called
+Rod Blake, was a mortification almost too great to be borne. As Snyder
+left the track without finishing the last race and made his way to the
+dressing-room under the grand stand, he ground his teeth, and vowed to get
+even with his victorious rival yet. The cheers and yells of delight with
+which the fellows were hailing the victor, made him feel his defeat all
+the more bitterly, and seek the more eagerly for some plan for that
+victor&#8217;s humiliation.</p>
+
+<p>Snyder Appleby was generally considered by the boys as one of the meanest
+fellows in Euston, and that is the reason why they called him &ldquo;Cider
+Apples&rdquo;; for those, as everybody knows, are most always the very poorest
+of the picking. So the name seemed to be appropriate, as well as a happy
+parody on that to which he was really entitled. He was the son, or rather
+the adopted son, of Major Arms Appleby, who, next to President Vanderveer,
+was the richest man in Euston, and lived in the great, rambling stone
+mansion that had been in his family for generations.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 4]</span>The Major, who was a bachelor, was also one of the kindest-hearted, most
+generous, and most obstinate of men. He loved to do good deeds; but he
+loved to do them in his own way, and his way was certain to be the one
+that was contrary to the advice of everybody else. Thus it happened that
+he determined to adopt the year-old baby boy who was left on his doorstep
+one stormy night, a little more than sixteen years before this story
+opens. He was not fond of babies, nor did he care to have children about
+him. Simply because everybody advised him to send this one to the county
+house, where it might be cared for by the proper authorities, he declared
+he would do nothing of the kind; but would adopt the little waif and bring
+him up as his own son.</p>
+
+<p>As the boy grew, and developed many undesirable traits of character, Major
+Appleby was too kind-hearted to see them, and too obstinate to be warned
+against them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&#8217;t tell me,&rdquo; he would say, &ldquo;I know more about the boy than anybody
+else, and am fully capable of forming my opinion concerning him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Thus Snyder Appleby, as he was called, because<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 5]</span> the name &ldquo;Snyder&rdquo; was
+found marked on the basket in which he had been left at the Major&#8217;s door,
+grew up with the fixed idea that if he only pleased his adopted father
+he might act about as he chose with everybody else. Now he was nearly
+eighteen years of age, big and strong, with a face that, but for its
+coarseness, would have been called handsome. He was fond of display, did
+everything for effect, was intolerably lazy, had no idea of the word
+punctuality, and never kept an engagement unless he felt inclined to do
+so. He always had plenty of pocket money which he spent lavishly, and was
+not without a certain degree of popularity among the other boys of Euston.
+He had subscribed more largely than anybody else to the Steel Wheel Club
+upon its formation, and had thus succeeded in having himself elected its
+captain.</p>
+
+<p>As he was older and stronger than any of the other members who took up
+racing, and as he always rode the lightest and best wheel that money could
+procure, he had, without much hard work, easily maintained a lead in the
+racing field, and had come to consider himself as invincible. He regarded
+himself as such a sure winner of this last<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 6]</span> race for the Railroad Cup,
+that he had not taken the trouble to go into training for it. He would not
+even give up his cigarette smoking, a habit that he had acquired because
+he considered it fashionable and manly. Now he was beaten, disgracefully,
+and that by a boy nearly two years younger than himself. It was too much,
+and he determined to find some excuse for his defeat, that should at the
+same time remove the disgrace from him, and place it upon other shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>Rodman Ray Blake, or R. R. Blake as he signed his name, and &ldquo;Railroad
+Blake&rdquo; as the boys often called him, was Major Appleby&#8217;s nephew, and the
+son of his only sister. She had married an impecunious young artist
+against her brother&#8217;s wish, on which account he had declined ever to see
+her again. When she died, after two years of poverty-stricken widowhood,
+she left a loving, forgiving letter for her brother, and in it committed
+her darling boy to his charge. If she had not done this, but had trusted
+to his generous impulses, all would have gone well, and the events that
+serve to make up this story would never have taken place. As it was, the
+Major, feeling that the boy<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 7]</span> was forced upon him, was greatly aggrieved.
+That the lad should bear a remarkable resemblance to his handsome artist
+father also irritated him. As a result, while he really became very fond
+of the boy, and was never unkind to him, he treated him with an assumed
+indifference that was keenly felt by the loving, high-spirited lad. As for
+Snyder Appleby, he was jealous of Rodman from the very first; and when,
+only a short time before the race meeting of the Steel Wheel Club, the
+latter was almost unanimously elected to his place as captain, this
+feeling was greatly increased.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 8]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A RACE FOR THE RAILROAD CUP.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Young Blake had now been in Euston two years, and was, among the boys,
+decidedly the most popular fellow in the place. He was a slightly-built
+chap; but with muscles like steel wires, and possessed of wonderful
+agility and powers of endurance. He excelled in all athletic sports, was a
+capital boxer, and at the same time found little difficulty in maintaining
+a good rank in his classes. He had taken to bicycling from the very first,
+and quickly became an expert rider, though he had never gone in for
+racing. It was therefore a great surprise, even to his friends, when, on
+the very day before the race meeting, he entered his name for the event
+that was to result in the winning or losing of the Railroad Cup. It would
+not have been so much of a surprise had anybody known of his conversation,
+a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 9]</span> few weeks before, with Eltje Vanderveer, the railroad president&#8217;s only
+daughter. She was a few months younger than Rod, and ever since he had
+jumped into the river to save her pet kitten from drowning, they had been
+fast friends.</p>
+
+<p>So, when in talking of the approaching meeting, Eltje had said, &ldquo;How I
+wish you were a racer, and could win our cup, Rod,&rdquo; the boy instantly made
+up his mind to try for it. He only answered, &ldquo;Do you? Well, perhaps I may
+go in for that sort of thing some time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then he began training, so secretly that nobody but Dan, a stable boy on
+his uncle&#8217;s place and Rod&#8217;s most ardent admirer, was aware of it; but with
+such steady determination that on the eventful day of the great race his
+physical condition was very nearly perfect.</p>
+
+<p>He was on hand at the race track bright and early; for, as captain of the
+club, Rod had a great deal to do in seeing that everything went smoothly,
+and in starting on time the dozen events that preceded the race for the
+Railroad Cup, which came last on the programme.</p>
+
+<p>While these earlier events were being run off<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 10]</span> Snyder Appleby, faultlessly
+attired, sat in the grand stand beside his adopted father, and directly
+behind President Vanderveer and his pretty daughter, to whom he tried to
+render himself especially agreeable. He listened respectfully to the
+Major&#8217;s stories, made amusing comments on the racers for Eltje&#8217;s benefit,
+and laughed heartily at the puns that her father was given to making.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But how about your own race, Mr. Appleby?&rdquo; asked Eltje. &ldquo;Don&#8217;t you feel
+any anxiety concerning it? It is to be the hardest one of all, isn&#8217;t it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Immensely flattered at being addressed as Mister Appleby, Snyder replied
+carelessly, &ldquo;Oh, yes! of course I am most anxious to win it, especially as
+you are here to see it run; but I don&#8217;t anticipate much difficulty. Bliss
+is a hard man to beat; but I have done it before, and I guess I can do it
+again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you don&#8217;t think Rodman has any chance of winning?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, hardly. You see this is his first race, and experience goes a long
+way in such affairs. Still, he rides well, and it wouldn&#8217;t surprise me to
+see him make a good third at the finish.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Eltje smiled as she answered, &ldquo;Perhaps he will<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 11]</span> finish third; but it would
+surprise me greatly to see him do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This pretty girl, with the Dutch name, had such faith in her friend Rod,
+that she did not believe he would ever be third, or even second, where he
+had once made up his mind to be first.</p>
+
+<p>Failing to catch her real meaning, Snyder replied: &ldquo;Of course he may not
+do as well as that; but he ought to. As captain of the club he ought to
+sustain the honor of his position, you know. If he doesn&#8217;t feel able to
+take at least third place in a five-starter race, he should either resign,
+or keep out of the racing field altogether. Now I must leave you; for I
+see I am wanted. You&#8217;ll wish me good luck, won&#8217;t you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; answered Eltje mischievously, &ldquo;I wish you all the luck you
+deserve.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Forced to be content with this answer, but wondering if there was any
+hidden meaning in it, Snyder left the grand stand, and strolled leisurely
+around to the dressing-room, lighting a cigarette as he went.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hurry up!&rdquo; shouted Rod, who was the soul of punctuality and was
+particularly anxious that all the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 12]</span> events of this, his first race meeting,
+should be started on time. &ldquo;Hurry up. Our race will be called in five
+minutes, and you&#8217;ve barely time to dress for it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where&#8217;s my wheel?&rdquo; asked Snyder, glancing over the dozen or more machines
+stacked at one side of the room, but without seeing his own.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I haven&#8217;t seen it,&rdquo; answered Rod, &ldquo;but I supposed you had left it in some
+safe place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I did. I left it in the club house, where there would be no chance of
+anybody tampering with it; for I&#8217;ve heard of such things happening, but I
+ordered Dan to have it down here in time for the race.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean to insinuate&mdash;&rdquo; began Rod hotly; but controlling himself, he
+continued more calmly, &ldquo;I didn&#8217;t know that you had given Dan any orders,
+and I sent him over to the house on an errand a few minutes ago. Never
+mind, though, I&#8217;ll go for your machine myself, and have it here by the
+time you are dressed.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting for a reply, the young captain started off on a run, while
+his adopted cousin began leisurely to undress, and get into his racing
+costume.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 13]</span> By the time he was ready, Rod had returned leading the beautiful
+machine, which he had not ridden for fear lest some accident might happen
+to it.</p>
+
+<p>Then the race was called, and a pistol shot sent the five young athletes
+bending low over their handle-bars spinning down the course. They all wore
+the club colors of scarlet and white; but from Rod&#8217;s bicycle fluttered the
+bit of blue ribbon that Dan had been sent to the young captain&#8217;s room to
+get, and which he had hastily knotted to the handle-bar of his machine
+just before starting. Eltje Vanderveer smiled and flushed slightly as she
+noticed it, and then all her attention was concentrated upon the varying
+fortunes of the flying wheelmen.</p>
+
+<p>It was a five-mile race, and therefore a test of endurance rather than of
+strength or skill. There were two laps to the mile, and for seven of these
+Snyder Appleby held an easy lead. His name was heard above all others in
+the cheering that greeted each passing of the grand stand, though the
+others were encouraged to stick to him and not give it up yet. That two of
+them had no intention of giving it up, was shown at the end of the eighth
+lap, when the three leading wheels whirled past the grand<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 14]</span> stand so nearly
+abreast that no advantage could be claimed for either one.</p>
+
+<p>Now the cheering was tremendous; but the names of Rod Blake and Billy
+Bliss were tossed from mouth to mouth equally with that of Snyder Appleby.
+At the end of nine laps the champion of two years had fallen hopelessly
+behind. His face wore a distressed look, and his breath came in painful
+gasps. Cigarettes had done their work with him, and his wind was gone. The
+two leaders were still abreast; but Rod had obtained the inside position,
+and if he could keep up the pace the race was his.</p>
+
+<p>Eltje Vanderveer&#8217;s face was pale, and her hands were clinched with the
+intense excitement of the moment. Was her champion to win after all? Was
+her bit of blue ribbon to be borne triumphantly to the front? Inch by inch
+it creeps into a lead. Now they are coming down the home stretch. The
+speed of that last spurt is wonderful. Nothing like it has ever been seen
+at the wind-up of a five-mile race on the Euston track. Looking at them,
+head on, it is for a few seconds hard to tell which is leading. Then a
+solitary shout for Rod Blake is heard. In an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>other moment it has swelled
+into a perfect roar of cheering, and there is a tempest of tossing hats,
+handkerchiefs, and parasols.</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg15" id="imgpg15"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 584px;">
+<img src="images/img25.jpg" width="584" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">rod blake wins by a length.&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Rod Blake has won by a length, Billy Bliss is second, Snyder Appleby was
+such a bad third that he has gone to the dressing-room without finishing,
+and the others are nowhere.</p>
+
+<p>The speed of the winning wheels cannot be checked at once, and as they go
+shooting on past the stand, the exhausted riders are seen to reel in their
+saddles. They would have fallen but for the willing hands outstretched to
+receive them. Dan is the first to reach the side of his adored young
+master, and as the boy drops into his arms, the faithful fellow says:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&#8217;ve won it, Mister Rod! You&#8217;ve won it fair and square; but you want to
+look out for Mister Snyder. I heerd him a-saying bad things about you when
+he passed me on that last lap, and I&#8217;m afeard he means some kind of
+mischief.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 16]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A CRUEL ACCUSATION.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>The attention of the spectators, including the club members, was so
+entirely given to the finish of the famous race for the Railroad Cup,
+that, for a few minutes Snyder Appleby was the sole occupant of the
+dressing-room. When a group of the fellows, forming a sort of triumphal
+escort to the victors, noisily entered it, they found him standing by his
+machine. It was supported by two rests placed under its handle bars, and
+he was gazing curiously at the big wheel, which he was slowly spinning
+with one hand.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hello, &lsquo;Cider&rsquo;!&rdquo; cried the first of the new-comers, &ldquo;what&#8217;s up? Anything
+the matter with your wheel?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe there is,&rdquo; answered the ex-captain, in such a peculiar tone of
+voice that it at once arrested attention. &ldquo;I don&#8217;t know what is wrong, and
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 17]</span>I wouldn&#8217;t make an examination until some of you fellows came in. In a
+case like this I believe in having plenty of witnesses and doing
+everything openly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo; asked one of the group, whose noisy entrance was now
+succeeded by a startled silence.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Turn that wheel and you&#8217;ll see what I mean,&rdquo; replied Snyder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, it turns as hard as though it were running on plain bearing that had
+never been oiled!&rdquo; exclaimed the member who had undertaken to turn the
+wheel as requested.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That&#8217;s just it, and I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s very surprising that I failed to
+win the race with a wheel in that condition, do you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed I do not. The only surprising thing is that you held the lead so
+long as you did, and managed to come in third. I know I couldn&#8217;t have run
+a single lap if I&#8217;d been on that wheel. What&#8217;s the matter with it? Wasn&#8217;t
+it all right when you started?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought it was,&rdquo; replied Snyder, &ldquo;but I soon found that something was
+wrong, and before I left<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 18]</span>
+the track it was all I could do to move it. Now,
+I want you fellows to find out what the matter is.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A few moments of animated discussion followed, while several of the
+fellows made a careful examination of the bicycle.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Great Scott!&rdquo; exclaimed one; &ldquo;what&#8217;s in this oil cup? It looks as though
+it were choked with black sand.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s emery powder!&rdquo; cried another, extracting a few grains of the black,
+oil-soaked stuff on the point of a knife blade. &ldquo;No wonder your wheel
+won&#8217;t turn. How on earth did it get there?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is what I would like to find out,&rdquo; answered the owner of the
+machine. &ldquo;It certainly was not there when I left the club house; for I had
+just gone over every part and assured myself that it was in perfect order.
+Since then but two persons have touched it, and I am one of them. I don&#8217;t
+think it likely that anybody will charge me with having done this thing,
+seeing that my sole interest was to win the race, and that if I so nearly
+succeeded with my wheel in this condition, I could easily have done so had
+it been all right. Nothing could be more painful to me than to bring a
+charge<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 19]</span> against one who lives under the same roof that I do; but you all
+know who had the greatest interest in having me lose this race. I think
+you all know, too, that he is the only person besides myself who handled
+my wheel immediately before it. The one whom I trusted to bring it here in
+safety was sent off by this person on some frivolous errand at the last
+moment. Then, neglecting other and important duties, he volunteered to get
+the machine himself. He was gone before I had a chance to decline his
+offer. That is all I have to say upon this most unpleasant subject, and I
+should not have said so much had not my own reputation, both as a racing
+man and a gentleman, been at stake. Now I place the whole affair in the
+hands of the club, satisfied that they will do me justice.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod Blake, seated on a camp-stool, with a heavy &ldquo;sweater&rdquo; thrown over his
+shoulders, and slowly recovering from the exhaustion of the race, had
+observed and listened to all this with a pained curiosity. He could not
+believe any member of the club guilty of such a cowardly act. When Snyder
+began to charge him with having committed it, his face became deadly pale,
+and he gazed at his adopted<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 20]</span> cousin with an expression akin to terror. As
+the latter finished, the young captain sprang to his feet, exclaiming:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Snyder Appleby, how dare you bring such an accusation against me? You
+know I am incapable of doing such a thing! Your wheel was in perfect
+condition when I delivered it to you, and you know it was.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can easily believe that the fellow who would perform the act would be
+equally ready to lie out of it,&rdquo; replied Snyder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean that I lie?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is about the size of it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This was more than the hot-tempered young athlete could bear; and almost
+before the words were out of Snyder&#8217;s mouth, a blow delivered with all the
+nervous force of Rodman&#8217;s right arm sent him staggering back. It would
+have laid him on the floor, had not several of the fellows caught him in
+their arms.</p>
+
+<p>He was furious with rage, and would have sprung at Rodman had he not been
+restrained. As it was, he hissed through his clinched teeth, &ldquo;I&#8217;ll make
+you suffer for this yet, see if I don&#8217;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 21]</span>Immediately after delivering the blow, Rod turned, without a word, and
+began putting on his clothes. The fellows watched him in silence. A minute
+later he was dressed, and stood in the doorway. Here he turned and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am going home, fellows, and I shall wait there just one hour for an
+assurance that you have faith in me, and do not believe a word of this
+horrible charge. If such a message, sent by the whole club, reaches me
+within that time, I will undertake to prove my innocence. If it does not
+come, then I cease, not only to be your captain, but a member of the
+club.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 22]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>STARTING INTO THE WORLD.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As Rod finished speaking he left the room and walked away. He had hardly
+disappeared, and the fellows were still looking at each other in a
+bewildered fashion, when a message was sent in. It was that President
+Vanderveer, who was distributing the prizes for the several races out in
+front of the grand stand, was ready to present the Railroad Cup to Rodman
+Blake, and wanted him to come and receive it. Then somebody went out and
+whispered to the President. Excusing himself for a moment to the throng of
+spectators, he visited the dressing-room, where he heard the whole story.
+It was hurriedly told; but he comprehended enough of it to know that the
+cup could not, at that moment, be presented to anybody. So he went back,
+and with a very sober face, told the people that owing to circumstances
+which he was not at liberty to explain just then, it was<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 23]</span> impossible to
+award the Railroad Cup at that meeting.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd slowly melted away; but before they left, everybody had heard
+one version or another of the story told to President Vanderveer in the
+dressing-room. Some believed Rod to be innocent of the charge brought
+against him, and some believed him guilty. Almost all of them said it was
+a pity that such races could not be won and lost honestly, and there must
+be some fire where there was so much smoke; and they told each other how
+they had noticed from the very first that something was wrong with Snyder
+Appleby&#8217;s wheel.</p>
+
+<p>Major Appleby heard the story, first from President Vanderveer, and
+afterwards from his adopted son, who confirmed it by displaying the side
+of his face which was swollen and bruised from Rodman&#8217;s blow. Fully
+believing what Snyder told him, the Major became very angry. He declared
+that no such disgrace had ever before been brought to his house, and that
+the boy who was the cause of it could no longer be sheltered by his roof.
+In vain did people talk to him, and urge him to reflect before he acted.
+He had decided upon his course, and the more they<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 24]</span> advised him, the more
+determined he became not to be moved from it.</p>
+
+<p>While he was thus storming and fuming outside the dressing-room, the
+members of the wheel club were holding a meeting behind its closed door.
+Did they believe Rodman Blake guilty of the act charged against him or did
+they not? The debate was a long and exciting one; but the question was
+finally decided in his favor. They did not believe him capable of doing
+anything so mean. They would make a thorough investigation of the affair,
+and aid him by every means in their power to prove his innocence.</p>
+
+<p>This was the purport of the message sent to the young captain by the club
+secretary, Billy Bliss; but it was sent too late. The members had taken no
+note of time in the heat of their discussion, and the hour named by Rodman
+had already elapsed before Billy Bliss started on his errand. The fellows
+did not think a few minutes more or less would make any difference, though
+they urged the secretary to hurry and deliver his message as quickly as
+possible. A few minutes however did make all the difference in the world
+to Rod Blake. With him an hour meant<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 25]</span>
+exactly sixty minutes; and when
+Billy Bliss reached Major Appleby&#8217;s house the boy whom he sought was
+nowhere to be found.</p>
+
+<p>Major Appleby and his adopted son walked home together, the former full of
+wrath at what he believed to be the disgraceful action of his nephew, and
+the latter secretly rejoicing at it. On reaching the house, the Major went
+at once to Rodman&#8217;s room where he found the boy gazing from the window,
+with a hard, defiant, expression on his face. He was longing for a single
+loving word; for a mother&#8217;s sympathetic ear into which he might pour his
+griefs; but his pride was prepared to withstand any harshness, as well as
+to resent the faintest suspicion of injustice.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, sir,&rdquo; began the Major, &ldquo;what have you to say for yourself? and how
+do you explain this disgraceful affair?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I cannot explain it, Uncle; but&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That will do, sir. If you cannot explain it, I want to hear nothing
+further. What I do want, however, is that you shall so arrange your future
+plans that you may no longer be dependent on my roof for shelter. Here is
+sufficient money for your<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 26]</span>
+immediate needs. As my sister&#8217;s child you have
+a certain claim on me. This I shall be willing to honor to the extent of
+providing you against want, whenever you have settled upon your mode of
+life, and choose to favor me with your future address. The sooner you can
+decide upon your course of action the better.&rdquo; Thus saying the
+kind-hearted, impetuous, and wrong-headed old Major laid a roll of bills
+on the table, and left the room.</p>
+
+<p>Fifteen minutes later, or five minutes before Billy Bliss reached the
+house, Rod Blake also left the room. The roll of bills lay untouched where
+his uncle had placed it, and he carried only his M. I. P. or bicycle
+travelling bag, containing the pictures of his parents, a change of
+underclothing, and a few trifles that were absolutely his own. He passed
+out of the house by a side door, and was seen but by one person as he
+plunged into the twilight shadows of the park. Thus, through the gathering
+darkness, the poor boy, proud, high-spirited, and, as he thought,
+friendless, set forth alone, to fight his battle with the world.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 27]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>CHOOSING A CAREER.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As Rod Blake, heavy-hearted, and weary, both mentally and physically from
+his recent struggles, left his uncle&#8217;s house, he felt utterly reckless,
+and paid no heed to the direction his footsteps were taking. His one idea
+was to get away as quickly, and as far as possible, from those who had
+treated him so cruelly. &ldquo;If only the fellows had stood by me,&rdquo; he thought,
+&ldquo;I might have stayed and fought it out. But to have them go back on me,
+and take Snyder&#8217;s word in preference to mine, is too much.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Had the poor boy but known that Billy Bliss was even then hastening to
+bear a message of good-will and confidence in him from the &ldquo;fellows&rdquo; how
+greatly his burden of trial would have been lightened. But he did not
+know, and so he pushed blindly on, suffering as much from his own hasty
+and ill-considered course of action, as from the more
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 28]</span> deliberate cruelty
+of his adopted cousin. At length he came to the brow of a steep slope
+leading down to the railroad, the very one of which Eltje&#8217;s father was
+president. The railroad had always possessed a fascination for him, and he
+had often sat on this bank watching the passing trains, wondering at their
+speed, and speculating as to their destinations. He had frequently thought
+he should like to lead the life of a railroad man, and had been pleased
+when the fellows called him &ldquo;Railroad Blake&rdquo; on account of his initials.
+Now, this idea presented itself to him again more strongly than ever.</p>
+
+<p>An express train thundered by. The ruddy glow from the furnace door of its
+locomotive, which was opened at that moment, revealed the engineman seated
+in the cab, with one hand on the throttle lever, and peering steadily
+ahead through the gathering gloom. What a glorious life he led! So full of
+excitement and constant change. What a power he controlled. How easy it
+was for him to fly from whatever was unpleasant or trying. As these
+thoughts flashed through the boy&#8217;s mind, the red lights at the rear of the
+train seemed to blink pleasantly at him, and invite him to follow them.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 29]</span>&ldquo;I will,&rdquo; he cried,
+springing to his feet. &ldquo;I will follow wherever they
+may lead me. Why should I not be a railroad man as well as another? They
+have all been boys and all had to begin some time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At this moment he was startled by a sound of a voice close beside him
+saying, &ldquo;Supper is ready, Mister Rod.&rdquo; It was Dan the stable boy; and, as
+Rodman asked him, almost angrily, how he dared follow him without orders,
+and what he was spying out his movements for, he replied humbly: &ldquo;I ain&#8217;t
+a-spying on you, Mister Rod, and I only followed you to tell you supper
+was ready, &#8217;cause I thought maybe you didn&#8217;t know it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I didn&#8217;t and it makes no difference whether I did or not,&rdquo; said
+Rod. &ldquo;I have left my uncle&#8217;s house for good and all, Dan, and there are no
+more suppers in it for me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was afeard so! I was afeard so, Mister Rod,&rdquo; exclaimed the boy with a
+real distress in his voice, &ldquo;an&#8217; to tell the truth that&#8217;s why I came after
+you. I couldn&#8217;t a-bear to have you go without saying good-by, and I
+thought maybe, perhaps, you&#8217;d let me go along with you. Please do, Mister
+Rod. I&#8217;ll work for you and serve you faithfully, an&#8217; I&#8217;d a heap
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 30]</span> rather go
+on a tramp, or any place along with you, than stay here without you.
+Please, Mister Rod.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, Dan, it would be impossible to take you with me,&rdquo; said Rodman, who
+was deeply touched by this proof of his humble friend&#8217;s loyalty. &ldquo;It will
+be all I can do to find work for myself; but I&#8217;m grateful to you all the
+same for showing that you still think well of me. It&#8217;s a great thing, I
+can tell you, for a fellow in my position to know that he leaves even one
+friend behind him when he is forced to go away from his only home.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You leaves a-plenty of them&mdash;a-plenty!&rdquo; interrupted the stable boy
+eagerly. &ldquo;I heerd Miss Eltje telling her father that it was right down
+cruel not to give you the cup, an&#8217; that you couldn&#8217;t do a thing, such as
+they said, any more than she could, or he could himself. An&#8217; her father
+said no more did he believe you could, an&#8217; you&#8217;d come out of it all right
+yet. Miss Eltje was right up an&#8217; down mad about it, she was. Oh, I tell
+you, Mister Rod, you&#8217;ve got a-plenty of friends; an&#8217; if you&#8217;ll only stay
+you&#8217;ll find &#8217;em jest a-swarmin&#8217;.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At this Rodman laughed outright, and said: &ldquo;Dan, you are a fine fellow,
+and you have done me good<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 31]</span> already.
+Now what I want you to do is just to
+stay here and discover some more friends for me. I will manage to let you
+know what I am doing; but you must not tell anybody a word about me, nor
+where I am, nor anything. Now good-by, and mind, don&#8217;t say a word about
+having seen me, unless Miss Eltje should happen to ask you. If she should,
+you might say that I shall always remember her, and be grateful to her for
+believing in me. Good-by.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>With this Rod plunged down the steep bank to the railroad track, and
+disappeared in the darkness. He went in the direction of the next station
+to Euston, about five miles away, as he did not wish to be recognized when
+he made the attempt to secure a ride on some train to New York. It was to
+be an attempt only; for he had not a cent of money in his pockets, and had
+no idea of how he should obtain the coveted ride. In addition to being
+penniless, he was hungry, and his hunger was increased tenfold by the
+knowledge that he had no means of satisfying it. Still he was a boy with
+unlimited confidence in himself. He always had fallen on his feet; and,
+though this was the worse fix in which he had ever found himself, he had
+faith that he would come out<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 32]</span>
+of it all right somehow. His heart was
+already so much lighter since he had learned from Dan that some of his
+friends, and especially Eltje Vanderveer, still believed in him, that his
+situation did not seem half so desperate as it had an hour before.</p>
+
+<p>Rod was already enough of a railroad man to know that, as he was going
+east, he must walk on the west bound track. By so doing he would be able
+to see trains bound west, while they were still at some distance from him,
+and would be in no danger from those bound east and overtaking him.</p>
+
+<p>When he was about half a mile from the little station, toward which he was
+walking, he heard the long-drawn, far-away whistle of a locomotive. Was it
+ahead of him or behind? On account of the bewildering echoes he could not
+tell. To settle the question he kneeled down, and placed his ear against
+one of rails of the west bound track. It was cold and silent. Then he
+tried the east bound track in the same way. This rail seemed to tingle
+with life, and a faint, humming sound came from it. It was a perfect
+railroad telephone, and it informed the listener as plainly as words could
+have told him, that a train was approaching from the west.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 33]</span>
+He stopped to note its approach. In a few minutes the rails of the east
+bound track began to quiver with light from the powerful reflector in
+front of its locomotive. Then they stretched away toward the oncoming
+train in gleaming bands of indefinite length, while the dazzling light
+seemed to cut a bright pathway between walls of solid blackness for the
+use of the advancing monster. As the bewildering glare passed him, Rod saw
+that the train was a long, heavy-laden freight, and that some of its cars
+contained cattle. He stood motionless as it rushed past him, shaking the
+solid earth with its ponderous weight, and he drew a decided breath of
+relief at the sight of the blinking red eyes on the rear platform of its
+caboose. How he wished he was in that caboose, riding comfortably toward
+New York, instead of plodding wearily along on foot, with nothing but
+uncertainties ahead of him.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 34]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>SMILER, THE RAILROAD DOG.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As Rod stood gazing at the receding train he noticed a human figure step
+from the lighted interior of the caboose, through the open doorway, to the
+platform, apparently kick at something, and almost instantly return into
+the car. At the same time the boy fancied he heard a sharp cry of pain;
+but was not sure. As he resumed his tiresome walk, gazing longingly after
+the vanishing train lights, he saw another light, a white one that moved
+toward him with a swinging motion, close to the ground. While he was
+wondering what it was, he almost stumbled over a small animal that stood
+motionless on the track, directly in front of him. It was a dog. Now Rod
+dearly loved dogs, and seemed instinctively to know that this one was in
+some sort of trouble. As he stopped to pat it, the creature uttered a
+little whine, as though <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 35]</span>asking
+his sympathy and help. At the same time it licked his hand.</p>
+
+<p>While he was kneeling beside the dog and trying to discover what its
+trouble was, the swinging white light approached so closely that he saw
+it to be a lantern, borne by a man who, in his other hand, carried a
+long-handled iron wrench. He was the track-walker of that section, who
+was obliged to inspect every foot of the eight miles of track under his
+charge, at least twice a day; and the wrench was for the tightening of
+any loose rail joints that he might discover.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hello!&rdquo; exclaimed this individual as he came before the little group,
+and held his lantern so as to get a good view of them. &ldquo;What&#8217;s the matter
+here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have just found this dog,&rdquo; replied Rod, &ldquo;and he seems to be in pain. If
+you will please hold your light a little closer perhaps I can see what has
+happened to him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man did as requested, and Rod uttered an exclamation of pleasure as
+the light fell full upon the dog; for it was the finest specimen of a bull
+terrier he had ever seen. It was white and brindled,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 36]</span> its chest was of
+unusual breadth, and its square jaws indicated a tenacity of purpose that
+nothing short of death itself could overcome. Now one of its legs was
+evidently hurt, and it had an ugly cut under the left ear, from which
+blood was flowing. Its eyes expressed an almost human intelligence; and,
+as it looked up at Rod and tried to lick his face, it seemed to say, &ldquo;I
+know you will be my friend, and I trust you to help me.&rdquo; About its neck
+was a leathern collar, bearing a silver plate, on which was inscribed:
+&ldquo;Be kind to me, for I am Smiler the Railroad Dog.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know this dog,&rdquo; exclaimed the track-walker, as he read these words,
+&ldquo;and I reckon every railroad man in the country knows him; or at any rate
+has heard of him. He used to belong to Andrew Dean, who was killed when
+his engine went over the bank at Hager&#8217;s two years ago. He thought the
+world of the dog, and it used to travel with him most always; only once in
+a while it would go visiting on some of the other engines. It was off that
+way when Andrew got killed, and since then it has travelled all over the
+country, like as though it was hunting for its old master. The dog lives
+on trains and <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 37]</span>engines, and
+railroad men are always glad to see him. Some
+of them got up this collar for him a while ago. Why, Smiler, old dog, how
+did you come here in this fix? I never heard of you getting left or
+falling off a train before.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think he must have come from the freight that just passed us,&rdquo; said
+Rod, &ldquo;and I shouldn&#8217;t wonder,&rdquo; he added, suddenly recalling the strange
+movements of the figure he had seen appear for an instant at the caboose
+door, &ldquo;if he was kicked off.&rdquo; Then he described the scene of which he had
+caught a glimpse as the freight train passed him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;d like to meet the man who&#8217;d dare do such a thing,&rdquo; exclaimed the
+track-walker. &ldquo;If I wouldn&#8217;t kick him! He&#8217;d dance to a lively tune if any
+of us railroad chaps got hold of him, I can tell you. It must have been an
+accident, though; for nobody would hurt Smiler. Now I don&#8217;t know exactly
+what to do. Smiler can&#8217;t be left here, and I&#8217;m afraid he isn&#8217;t able to
+walk very far. If I had time I&#8217;d carry him back to the freight. She&#8217;s
+side-tracked only a quarter of a mile from here, waiting for Number 8 to
+pass. I&#8217;m due at Euston inside of an hour, and I don&#8217;t dare waste any more
+time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 38]</span>&ldquo;I&#8217;ll take him if you say so,&rdquo;
+answered Rod, who had been greatly
+interested in the dog&#8217;s history. &ldquo;I believe I can carry him that far.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right,&rdquo; replied the track-walker. &ldquo;I wish you would. You&#8217;ll have to
+move lively though; for if Number 8 is on time, as she generally is, you
+haven&#8217;t a moment to lose.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;ll do my best,&rdquo; said the boy, and a moment later he was hurrying down
+the track with his M. I. P. bag strapped to his shoulders, and with the
+dog so strangely committed to his care, clasped tightly in his arms. At
+the same time the track-walker, with his swinging lantern, was making
+equally good speed in the opposite direction. As Rod rounded a curve, and
+sighted the lights of the waiting freight train, he heard the warning
+whistle of Number 8 behind him, and redoubled his exertions. He did not
+stop even as the fast express whirled past him, though he was nearly
+blinded by the eddying cloud of dust and cinders that trailed behind it.
+But, if Number 8 was on time, so was he. Though Smiler had grown heavy
+as lead in his aching arms, and though his breath was coming in panting
+gasps, he managed to climb on the rear<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 39]</span>
+platform of the caboose, just as
+the freight was pulling out. How glad he was at that moment of the three
+weeks training he had just gone through with. It had won him something,
+even if his name was not to be engraved on the railroad cup of the Steel
+Wheel Club.</p>
+
+<p>As the boy stood in the rear doorway of the caboose, gazing doubtfully
+into its interior, a young fellow who looked like a tramp, and who had
+been lying on one of the cushioned lockers, or benches, that ran along the
+sides of the car, sprang to his feet with a startled exclamation. At the
+same moment Smiler drew back his upper lip so as to display a glistening
+row of teeth, and, uttering a deep growl, tried to escape from Rod&#8217;s arms.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing in this car! and what do you mean by bringing that dog
+in here?&rdquo; cried the fellow angrily, at the same time advancing with a
+threatening gesture. &ldquo;Come, clear out of here or I&#8217;ll put you out,&rdquo; he
+added. The better to defend himself, if he should be attacked, the boy
+dropped the dog; and, with another fierce growl, forgetful of his hurts,
+Smiler flew at the stranger&#8217;s throat.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 40]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>ROD, SMILER, AND THE TRAMP.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>&ldquo;Help! Murder! Take off your dog!&rdquo; yelled the young tramp, throwing up his
+arm to protect his face from Smiler&#8217;s attack, and springing backward. In
+so doing he tripped and fell heavily to the floor, with the dog on top of
+him, growling savagely, and tearing at the ragged coat-sleeve in which his
+teeth were fastened. Fearful lest the dog might inflict some serious
+injury upon the fellow, Rodman rushed to his assistance. He had just
+seized hold of Smiler, when a kick from the struggling tramp sent his feet
+flying from under him, and he too pitched headlong. There ensued a scene
+which would have been comical enough to a spectator, but which was
+anything but funny to those who took part in it. Over and over they
+rolled, striking, biting, kicking, and struggling. The tramp was the first
+to regain his feet; but almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> at the same instant Smiler escaped from
+Rod&#8217;s embrace, and again flew at him. They had rolled over the caboose
+floor until they were close to its rear door; and now, with a yell of
+terror, the tramp darted through it, sprang from the moving train, and
+disappeared in the darkness, leaving a large piece of his trousers in the
+dog&#8217;s mouth. Just then the forward door was opened, and two men with
+lanterns on their arms, entered the car.</p>
+
+<p>They were Conductor Tobin, and rear-brakeman Joe, his right-hand man,
+who had just finished switching their train back on the main track, and
+getting it again started on its way toward New York. At the sight of Rod,
+who was of course a perfect stranger to them, sitting on the floor,
+hatless, covered with dust, his clothing bearing many signs of the recent
+fray, and ruefully feeling of a lump on his forehead that was rapidly
+increasing in size, and of Smiler whose head was bloody, and who was still
+worrying the last fragment of clothing that the tramp&#8217;s rags had yielded
+him, they stood for a moment in silent bewilderment.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&#8217;ll be blowed!&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin at length.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 42]</span>&ldquo;Me too,&rdquo; said Brakeman Joe,
+who believed in following the lead of his superior officer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;May I inquire,&rdquo; asked Conductor Tobin, seating himself on a locker close
+to where Rod still sat on the floor, &ldquo;May I inquire who you are? and where
+you came from? and how you got here? and what&#8217;s happened to Smiler? and
+what&#8217;s came of the fellow we left sleeping here a few minutes ago? and
+what&#8217;s the meaning of all this business, anyway?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, we&#8217;d like to know,&rdquo; said the Brakeman, taking a seat on the opposite
+locker, and regarding the boy with a curiosity that was not unmixed with
+suspicion. Owing to extensive dealings with tramps, Brakeman Joe was very
+apt to be suspicious of all persons who were dirty, and ragged, and had
+bumps on their foreheads.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The trouble is,&rdquo; replied Rod, looking first at Conductor Tobin and then
+at Brakeman Joe, &ldquo;that I don&#8217;t know all about it myself. Nobody does
+except the fellow who just left here in such a hurry, and Smiler, who
+can&#8217;t tell.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here the dog, hearing his name mentioned, dragged himself rather stiffly
+to the boy&#8217;s side; for now<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 43]</span> that the excitement was over, his hurts
+began to be painful again, and licked his face.</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg55" id="imgpg55"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 565px;">
+<img src="images/img55.jpg" width="565" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">smiler drives off the tramp.&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, you must be one of the right sort, at any rate,&rdquo; said Conductor
+Tobin, noting this movement, &ldquo;for Smiler is a dog that doesn&#8217;t make
+friends except with them as are.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He knows what&#8217;s what, and who&#8217;s who,&rdquo; added Brakeman Joe, nodding his
+head. &ldquo;Don&#8217;t you, Smiler, old dog?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My name,&rdquo; continued the boy, &ldquo;is R. R. Blake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Railroad Blake?&rdquo; interrupted Conductor Tobin inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Or &lsquo;Runaway Blake&rsquo;?&rdquo; asked Brakeman Joe who, still somewhat suspicious,
+was studying the boy&#8217;s face and the M. I. P. bag attached to his
+shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Both,&rdquo; answered Rod, with a smile. &ldquo;The boys where I live, or rather
+where I did live, often call me &lsquo;Railroad Blake,&rsquo; and I am a runaway. That
+is, I was turned away first, and ran away afterwards.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then, as briefly as possible, he gave them the whole history of his
+adventures, beginning with the bicycle race, and ending with the
+disappearance of the young tramp through the rear door of the
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 44]</span> caboose in
+which they sat. Both men listened with the deepest attention, and without
+interrupting him save by occasional ejaculations, expressive of wonder and
+sympathy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&#8217;ll be blowed!&rdquo; exclaimed Conductor Tobin, when he had finished;
+while Brakeman Joe, without a word, went to the rear door and examined the
+platform, with the hope, as he afterwards explained, of finding there the
+fellow who had kicked Smiler off the train, and of having a chance to
+serve him in the same way. Coming back with a disappointed air, he
+proceeded to light a fire in the little round caboose stove, and prepare a
+pot of coffee for supper, leaving Rodman&#8217;s case to be managed by Conductor
+Tobin as he thought best.</p>
+
+<p>The latter told the boy that the young tramp, as they called him, was
+billed through to New York, to look after some cattle that were on the
+train; but that he was a worthless, ugly fellow, who had not paid the
+slightest attention to them, and whose only object in accepting the job
+was evidently to obtain a free ride in the caboose. Smiler, whom he had
+been delighted to find on the train when it was turned over to him, had
+taken a great dislike to the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 45]</span> fellow
+from the first. He had growled and
+shown his teeth whenever the tramp moved about the car, and several times
+the latter had threatened to teach him better manners. When he and
+Brakeman Joe went to the forward end of the train, to make ready for
+side-tracking it, they left the dog sitting on the rear platform of the
+caboose, and the tramp apparently asleep, as Rod had found him, on one of
+the lockers. He must have taken advantage of their absence to deal the dog
+the cruel kick that cut his ear, and landed him, stunned and bruised, on
+the track where he had been discovered.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;m glad he&#8217;s gone,&rdquo; concluded Conductor Tobin, &ldquo;for if he hadn&#8217;t left,
+we would have fired him for what he did to Smiler. We won&#8217;t have that dog
+hurt on this road, not if we know it. It won&#8217;t hurt him to have to walk
+to New York, and I don&#8217;t care if he never gets there. What worries me,
+though, is who&#8217;ll look after those cattle, and go down to the stock-yard
+with them, now that he&#8217;s gone.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why couldn&#8217;t I do it?&rdquo; asked Rod eagerly. &ldquo;I&#8217;d be glad to.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You!&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin incredulously.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 46]</span>
+&ldquo;Why, you look like too much
+of a gentleman to be handling cattle.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope I am a gentleman,&rdquo; answered the boy with a smile; &ldquo;but I am a very
+poverty-stricken one just at present, and if I can earn a ride to the
+city, just by looking after some cattle, I don&#8217;t know why I shouldn&#8217;t do
+that as well as anything else. What I would like to do though, most of all
+things, is to live up to my nickname, and become a railroad man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You would, would you?&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin. Then, as though he were
+propounding a conundrum, he asked: &ldquo;Do you know the difference between
+a railroad man and a chap who wants to be one?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&#8217;t know that I do,&rdquo; answered the boy.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, the difference is, that the latter gets what he deserves, and the
+former deserves what he gets. What I mean is, that almost anybody who is
+willing to take whatever job is offered him can get a position on a
+railroad; but before he gets promoted he will have to deserve it several
+times over. In other words, it takes more honesty, steadiness,
+faithfulness, hard work, and brains to work your way up in railroad life
+than in any other business that I know of. However, at present, you are
+only going<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 47]</span> along with me as stockman,
+in which position I am glad to have
+you, so we won&#8217;t stop now to discuss railroading. Let&#8217;s see what Joe has
+got for supper, for I&#8217;m hungry and I shouldn&#8217;t be surprised if you were.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Indeed Rod was hungry, and just at that moment the word supper was the
+most welcome of the whole English language. First, though, he went to the
+wash-basin that he noticed at the forward end of the car. There he bathed
+his face and hands, brushed his hair, restored his clothing to something
+like order, and altogether made himself so presentable, that Conductor
+Tobin laughed when he saw him, and declared that he looked less like a
+stockman than ever.</p>
+
+<p>How good that supper, taken from the mammoth lunch pails of the train
+crew, tasted, and what delicious coffee came steaming out of the
+smoke-blackened pot that Brakeman Joe lifted so carefully from the stove!
+To be sure it had to be taken without milk, but there was plenty of sugar,
+and when Rod passed his tin cup for a second helping, the coffee maker&#8217;s
+face fairly beamed with gratified pride.</p>
+
+<p>After these three and Smiler had finished their
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 48]</span> supper, Conductor Tobin
+lighted his pipe, and, climbing up into the cupola of the caboose,
+stretched himself comfortably on the cushioned seat arranged there for his
+especial accommodation. From here, through the windows ahead, behind, and
+on both sides of the cupola, he had an unobstructed view out into the
+night. Brakeman Joe went out over the tops of the cars to call in the
+other two brakeman of the train, and keep watch for them, while they went
+into the caboose and ate their supper. They looked curiously at Rod as
+they entered the car; but were too well used to seeing strangers riding
+there to ask any questions. They both spoke to Smiler though, and he
+wagged his tail as though recognizing old friends.</p>
+
+<p>The dog could not go to them and jump up to be petted because Rod was
+attending to his wounds. He carefully bathed the cut under the left ear,
+from which considerable blood had flowed, and drew its edges together with
+some sticking plaster, of which he always carried a small quantity in his
+M. I. P. bag. Then, finding one of the dog&#8217;s fore shoulders strained and
+swollen, he soaked it for some time in water as hot as the animal could
+bear. After<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 49]</span> arranging a comfortable
+bed in one corner of the car, he
+finally persuaded Smiler to lie there quietly, though not until he had
+submitted to a grateful licking of his face and hands.</p>
+
+<p>Next the boy turned his attention to the supper dishes, and had them very
+nearly washed and wiped when Brakeman Joe returned, greatly to that
+stalwart fellow&#8217;s surprise and delight; for Joe hated to wash dishes.
+By this time Rod had been nearly two hours on the train, and was so
+thoroughly tired that he concluded to lie down and rest until he should be
+wanted for something else. He did not mean to even close his eyes, but
+within three minutes he was fast asleep. All through the night he slept,
+while the long freight train, stopping only now and then for water, or to
+allow some faster train to pass it, rumbled heavily along toward the great
+city.</p>
+
+<p>He could not at first realize where he was, when, in the gray of the next
+morning, a hand was laid on his shoulder, and Conductor Tobin&#8217;s voice
+said: &ldquo;Come, my young stockman, here we are at the end of our run, and it
+is time for you to be looking after your cattle.&rdquo; A quick dash of cold
+water on his<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 50]</span> head and face
+cleared the boy&#8217;s faculties in an instant.
+Then Conductor Tobin pointed out the two stock cars full of cattle that
+were being uncoupled from the rest of the train, and bade him go with them
+to the stock-yard. There he was to see that the cattle were well watered
+and safely secured in the pen that would be assigned to them. Rod was also
+told that he might leave his bag in the caboose and come back, after he
+was through with his work, for a bit of breakfast with Brakeman Joe, who
+lived at the other end of the division, and always made the car his home
+when at this end. As for himself, Conductor Tobin said he must bid the boy
+good-by, as he lived a short distance out on the road, and must hurry to
+catch the train that would take him home. He would be back, ready to start
+out again with the through freight, that evening, and hoped Rod would come
+and tell him what luck he had in obtaining a position. Then rough but
+kind-hearted Conductor Tobin left the boy, never for a moment imagining
+that he was absolutely penniless and without friends in that part of the
+country, or in the great city across the river.</p>
+
+<p>For the next two hours Rod worked hard and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 51]</span>
+faithfully with the cattle
+committed to his charge, and then, anticipating with a keen appetite a
+share of Brakeman Joe&#8217;s breakfast, he returned to where he had left the
+caboose. It was not there, nor could he find a trace of it. He saw plenty
+of other cabooses looking just like it, but none of them was the one he
+wanted.</p>
+
+<p>He inquired of a busy switch-tender where it could be found, and the man
+asked him its number. He had not noticed. What was the number of the train
+with which it came in? Rod had no idea. The number of the locomotive that
+drew it then? The boy did not know that either.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the man impatiently, &ldquo;you don&#8217;t seem to know much of
+anything, and I&#8217;d advise you to learn what it is you want to find out
+before you bother busy folks with questions.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So the poor fellow was left standing alone and bewildered in the great,
+busy freight-yard, friendless and hungry. He had lost even the few
+treasures contained in his M. I. P. bag, and never had life seemed darker
+or more hopeless. For some moments he could not think what to do, or which
+way to turn.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 52]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>EARNING A BREAKFAST.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>If Rod Blake had only known the number of the caboose for which he was
+searching, he could easily have learned what had happened to it. Soon
+after he left it, while it was being switched on to a siding, one of its
+draw-bars became broken, and it had been sent to the repair shop, a mile
+or so away, to be put in condition for going out again that night. He had
+not thought of looking at its number, though; for he had yet to learn that
+on a railroad everything goes by numbers instead of by names. A few years
+ago all locomotives bore names, such as &ldquo;Flying Cloud,&rdquo; &ldquo;North Wind,&rdquo;
+etc., or were called after prominent men; but now they are simply
+numbered. It is the same with cars, except sleepers, drawing-rooms, and a
+few mail cars. Trains are also numbered, odd numbers being given to west
+or south bound, and even numbers to east or north
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 53]</span> bound trains. Thus,
+while a passenger says he is going out by the Chicago Limited, the Pacific
+Express, or the Fitchburg Local, the railroad man would say that he was
+going on No. 1, 3, or 5, as the case might be. The sections, from three to
+eight miles long, into which every road is divided, are numbered, as are
+all its bridges. Even the stations are numbered, and so are the tracks.</p>
+
+<p>All this Rodman discovered afterwards; but he did not know it then, and so
+he was only bewildered by the switchman&#8217;s questions. For a few minutes he
+stood irresolute, though keeping a sharp lookout for the hurrying switch
+engines, and moving cars that, singly or in trains, were flying in all
+directions about him, apparently without any reason or method. Finally he
+decided to follow out his original plan of going to the superintendent&#8217;s
+office and asking for employment. By inquiry he found that it was located
+over the passenger station, nearly a mile away from where he stood. When
+he reached the station, and inquired for the person of whom he was in
+search, he was laughed at, and told that the &ldquo;super&rdquo; never came to his
+office at that time of day, nor until two or three hours later. So,
+feeling faint<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 54]</span> for want of breakfast,
+as well as tired and somewhat
+discouraged, the boy sat down in the great bustling waiting-room of the
+station.</p>
+
+<p>At one side of the room was a lunch-counter, from which the odor of
+newly-made coffee was wafted to him in the most tantalizing manner. What
+wouldn&#8217;t he give for a cup at that moment? But there was no use in
+thinking of such things; and so he resolutely turned his back upon
+the steaming urn, and the tempting pile of eatables by which it was
+surrounded. In watching the endless streams of passengers steadily ebbing
+and flowing past him, he almost forgot the emptiness of his stomach. Where
+could they all be going to, or coming from? Did people always travel in
+such overwhelming numbers, that it seemed as though the whole world were
+on the move, or was this some special occasion? He thought the latter must
+be the case, and wondered what the occasion was. Then there were the
+babies and children! How they swarmed about him! He soon found that he
+could keep pretty busy, and win many a grateful smile from anxious
+mothers, by capturing and picking up little toddlers who would persist in
+running about and falling down right in<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 55]</span>
+the way of hurrying passengers.
+He also kept an eye on the old ladies, who were so flustered and
+bewildered, and asked such meaningless questions of everybody, that he
+wondered how they were ever to reach their destinations in safety.</p>
+
+<p>One of these deposited a perfect avalanche of little bags, packages, and
+umbrellas on the seat beside him. Several of them fell to the floor, and
+Rod was good-naturedly picking them up when he was startled by the sound
+of a clear, girlish voice that he knew as well as he knew his own,
+directly behind him. He turned, with a quickly beating heart, and saw
+Eltje Vanderveer. She was walking between her father and Snyder Appleby.
+They had already passed without seeing him, and had evidently just arrived
+by an early morning train from Euston.</p>
+
+<p>Rod&#8217;s first impulse was to run after them; and, starting to do so, he was
+only a step behind them when he heard Snyder say: &ldquo;He must have money,
+because he refused a hundred dollars that the Major offered him. At any
+rate we&#8217;ll hear from him soon enough if he gets hard up or into trouble.
+He isn&#8217;t the kind of a&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 56]</span>
+But Rod had already turned away, and what he wasn&#8217;t, in Snyder&#8217;s opinion,
+he never knew.</p>
+
+<p>He had hardly resumed his seat, when there was a merry jingle on the
+floor beside him, and a quantity of silver coins began to roll in all
+directions. The nervous old lady of the bags and bundles had dropped her
+purse, and now she stood gazing at her scattered wealth, the very image
+of despair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind, ma&#8217;am,&rdquo; said Rod, cheerily, as he began to capture the truant
+coins. &ldquo;I&#8217;ll have them all picked up in a moment.&rdquo; It took several minutes
+of searching here and there, under the seats, and in all sorts of
+out-of-the-way hiding places, before all the bits of silver were
+recovered, and handed to their owner.</p>
+
+<p>She drew a great sigh of relief as she counted her money and found that
+none was lost. Then, beaming at the boy through her spectacles, she said:
+&ldquo;Well, thee is an honest lad; and, if thee&#8217;ll look after my bags while I
+get my ticket, and then help me to the train, I&#8217;ll give thee a quarter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod was on the point of saying, politely: &ldquo;I shall be most happy to do
+anything I can for you, ma&#8217;am; but I couldn&#8217;t think of accepting pay for
+it,&rdquo; when the thought of his position flashed over him. <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 57]</span>
+A quarter would
+buy him a breakfast, and it would be honorably earned too. Would it not be
+absolutely wrong to refuse it under the circumstances? Thus thinking, he
+touched his cap, and said: &ldquo;Certainly I will do all I can to help you,
+ma&#8217;am, and will be glad of the chance to earn a quarter.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When the old lady had procured her ticket, and Rod had received the
+first bit of money he had ever earned in his life by helping her to a
+comfortable seat in the right car, she would have detained and questioned
+him, but for her fear that he might be carried off. So she bade him hurry
+from the car as quickly as possible, though it still lacked nearly ten
+minutes of the time of starting.</p>
+
+<p>The hungry boy knew well enough where he wanted to go, and what he wanted
+to do, now. In about three seconds after leaving the car he was seated at
+the railroad lunch-counter, with a cup of coffee, two hard-boiled eggs,
+and a big hot roll before him. He could easily have disposed of twice as
+much; but prudently determined to save some of his money for another meal,
+which he realized, with a sigh, would be demanded by his vigorous appetite
+before the day was over.</p>
+
+<p>To his dismay, when he asked the young woman<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 58]</span>
+behind the counter how much
+he owed for what he had eaten, she answered, &ldquo;Twenty-five cents, please.&rdquo;
+He thought there must be some mistake, and asked her if there was not; but
+she answered: &ldquo;Not at all. Ten cents for coffee, ten for eggs, and five
+for the roll.&rdquo; With this she swept Rod&#8217;s solitary quarter into the
+money-drawer, and turned to wait on another customer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, it costs something to live,&rdquo; thought the boy, ruefully, as he
+walked away from the counter. &ldquo;At that rate I could easily have eaten a
+dollar&#8217;s worth of breakfast, and I certainly sha&#8217;n&#8217;t choose this for my
+boarding place, whatever happens.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 59]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>GAINING A FOOTHOLD.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so
+unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see
+the superintendent and ask for employment. So he made his way to that
+gentleman&#8217;s office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the
+superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with
+President Vanderveer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When will he be back?&rdquo; asked Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not till he gets ready,&rdquo; was the reply; &ldquo;but the best time to catch him
+is about five o&#8217;clock.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>For the next six hours poor Rod wandered about the station and the
+railroad yard, with nothing to do and nobody to speak to, feeling about as
+lonely and uncomfortable as it is possible for a healthy and naturally
+light-hearted boy to feel. He strolled into<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 60]</span> the station twenty times to
+study the slow moving hands of its big clock, and never had the hours
+appeared to drag along so wearily. When not thus engaged he haunted the
+freight yard, mounting the steps of every caboose he saw, in the hope of
+recognizing it. At length, to his great joy, shortly before five o&#8217;clock
+he saw, through a window set in the door of one of these, the
+well-remembered interior in which he had spent the preceding night. He
+could not be mistaken, for there lay his own M. I. P. bag on one of the
+lockers. But the car was empty, and its doors were locked. Carefully
+observing its number, which was 18, and determined to return to it as
+quickly as possible, Rod directed his steps once more in the direction of
+the superintendent&#8217;s office.</p>
+
+<p>The same boy whom he had seen in the morning greeted him with an
+aggravating grin, and said: &ldquo;You&#8217;re too late. The &lsquo;super&rsquo; was here half an
+hour ago; but he&#8217;s left, and gone out over the road. Perhaps he won&#8217;t be
+back for a week.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; exclaimed Rod in such a hopeless tone that even the boy&#8217;s stony
+young heart was touched by it.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 61]</span>&ldquo;Is it R. R. B.?&rdquo; he asked, meaning, &ldquo;Are you on railroad business?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; answered Rod, thinking his own initials were meant.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then perhaps the private secretary can attend to it,&rdquo; said the boy. &ldquo;He&#8217;s
+in there.&rdquo; Here he pointed with his thumb towards an inner room, &ldquo;and I&#8217;ll
+go see.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In a moment he returned, saying, &ldquo;Yes. He says he&#8217;ll see you if it&#8217;s R. R.
+B., and you can go right in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rodman did as directed, and found himself in a handsomely-furnished
+office, which, somewhat to his surprise, was filled with cigarette smoke.
+In it, with his back turned toward the door, and apparently busily engaged
+in writing, a young man sat at one of the two desks that it contained.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, sir,&rdquo; said this individual, without looking up, in a voice intended
+to be severe and business-like, but which was somewhat disguised by a
+cigarette held between his teeth, &ldquo;What can I do for you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I came,&rdquo; answered Rod, hesitatingly, &ldquo;to see if the superintendent of
+this road could give me any employment on it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 62]</span>The words were not out of his mouth,
+before the private secretary,
+wheeling abruptly about, disclosed the unwelcome face of Snyder Appleby.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, if this isn&#8217;t a pretty go!&rdquo; he exclaimed, with a sneer. &ldquo;So you&#8217;ve
+come here looking for work, have you? I&#8217;d like to know what you know about
+railroad business, anyhow? No, sir; you won&#8217;t get a job on this road, not
+if I can help it, and I rather think I can. The best thing for you to do
+is to go back to Euston, and make up with the old gentleman. He&#8217;s soft
+enough to forgive anything, if you&#8217;re only humble enough. As for the idea
+of you trying to be a railroad man, it&#8217;s simply absurd. We want men, not
+boys, in this business.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Too surprised and indignant to reply at once to this cruel speech, and
+fearful lest he should be unable to control his temper if he remained a
+moment longer in the room, Rodman turned, without a word, and hurried from
+it. He was choked with a bitter indignation, and could not breathe freely
+until he was once more outside the building, and in the busy railroad
+yard.</p>
+
+<p>As he walked mechanically forward, hardly noting,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 63]</span>
+in the raging tumult of
+his thoughts, whither his steps were tending, a heavy hand was laid on his
+shoulder, and a hearty voice exclaimed: &ldquo;Hello, young fellow! Where have
+you been, and where are you bound? I&#8217;ve been looking for you everywhere.
+Here&#8217;s your grip that I was just taking to the lost-parcel room.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>It was Brakeman Joe, with Rod&#8217;s M. I. P. bag in his hand, and his honest,
+friendly countenance seemed to the unhappy boy the very most welcome face
+he had ever seen. They walked together to caboose Number 18, where Rod
+poured into the sympathizing ears of his railroad friend the story of his
+day&#8217;s experience.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&#8217;ll be blowed!&rdquo; exclaimed Brakeman Joe, using Conductor Tobin&#8217;s
+favorite expression, when the boy had finished. &ldquo;If that isn&#8217;t tough luck,
+then I don&#8217;t know what is. But I&#8217;ll tell you what we&#8217;ll do. I can&#8217;t get
+you a place on the road, of course; but I believe you are just on time for
+a job, such as it is, that will put a few dollars in your pocket, and keep
+you for a day or two, besides giving you a chance to pick up some
+experience of a trainman&#8217;s life.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 64]</span>
+&ldquo;Oh, if you only will!&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; began the boy, gratefully.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Better wait till you hear what it is, and we see if we can get it,&rdquo;
+interrupted Joe. &ldquo;You see the way of it is this, there was a gent around
+here awhile ago with a horse, that he wants to send out on our train, to
+some place in the western part of the State. I don&#8217;t know just where it&#8217;s
+going, but his brother is to meet it at the end of our run, and take
+charge of it from there. Now the chap that the gent had engaged to look
+after the horse that far, has gone back on him, and didn&#8217;t show up here as
+he promised, and the man&#8217;s looking for somebody else. We&#8217;ll just go down
+to the stock-yard, and if he hasn&#8217;t found anybody yet, maybe you can get
+the job. See?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later it was all arranged. The gentleman was found, and had
+not yet engaged any one to take the place of his missing man. He was so
+pleased with Rod&#8217;s appearance, besides being so thoroughly satisfied by
+the flattering recommendations given him by Brakeman Joe, and the master
+of the stock-yard, who had noticed the boy in the morning, that he readily
+employed him, offering him five dollars for the trip.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 65]</span>
+So Rod&#8217;s name was written on the way-bill, he helped get the horse, whose
+name was Juniper, comfortably fixed in the car set apart for him, and then
+he gladly accepted the gentleman&#8217;s invitation to dine with him in a
+restaurant near by. There he received his final instructions.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 66]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Between the time that Rod took charge of Juniper, and the time of the
+train&#8217;s starting, the young &ldquo;stockman,&rdquo; as he was termed on the way-bill,
+had some pretty lively experiences. Before the owner of the horse left, he
+handed the boy two dollars and fifty cents, which was half the amount he
+had agreed to pay him, and a note to his brother, requesting him to pay
+the bearer the same sum at the end of the trip. After spending fifty cents
+for a lunch, consisting of crackers, cheese, sandwiches, and a pie, for
+the boy had no idea of going hungry again if he could help it, nor of
+paying the extravagant prices charged at railroad lunch-counters, Rod took
+his place, with Juniper, in car number 1160, which was the one assigned to
+them. Here he proceeded to make the acquaintance of his charge; and, aided
+by a few lumps of sugar that he had<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 67]</span>
+obtained for this purpose, he soon
+succeeded in establishing the most friendly relations between them.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, while he was patting and talking to the horse, car number 1160
+received a heavy bump from a string of empties, that had just been sent
+flying down the track on which it stood, by a switch engine. Juniper was
+very nearly flung off his feet, and was greatly frightened. Before Rod
+could quiet him, there came another bump from the opposite direction,
+followed by a jerk. Then the car began to move, while Juniper, quivering
+in every limb, snorted with terror. Now came a period of &ldquo;drilling,&rdquo; as it
+is called, that proved anything but pleasant either to the boy or to the
+frightened animal. The car was pushed and pulled from one track to
+another, sometimes alone and sometimes in company with other cars. The
+train of which it was to form a part was being made up, and the &ldquo;drilling&rdquo;
+was for the purpose of getting together the several cars bound to certain
+places, and of placing those that were to be dropped off first, behind
+those that were to make the longest runs.</p>
+
+<p>Juniper&#8217;s fears increased with each moment, until<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 68]</span>
+at length, when a
+passenger locomotive, with shrieking whistle, rushed past within a few
+feet, he gave a jump that broke the rope halter confining him, and bounded
+to the extreme end of the car. Rod sprang to the open door&mdash;not with any
+idea of leaving the car, oh, no! his sense of duty was too strong for
+that, but for the purpose of closing it so that the horse should not leap
+out. Then he approached the terrified animal with soothing words, and
+caught hold of the broken halter. At the same moment the car was again set
+in motion, and the horse, now wild with terror, flew to the other end,
+dragging Rod after him. The only lantern in the car was overturned and its
+light extinguished, so that the struggle between boy and horse was
+continued in utter darkness. Finally a tremendous bump of the car flung
+the horse to the floor; and, before he could regain his feet, Rod was
+sitting on his head. The boy was panting from his exertions, as well as
+bruised from head to foot; but he was thankful to feel that no bones were
+broken, and hoped the horse had escaped serious injury as well as himself.</p>
+
+<p>After several minutes of quiet he became satisfied<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 69]</span>
+that that last bump
+was the end of the drilling, and that car number 1160 had at length
+reached its assigned position in the train. Still he did not think it safe
+to let the horse up just yet, and so he waited until he heard voices
+outside. Then he called for help. The next moment the car door was pushed
+open, and Conductor Tobin, followed by Brakeman Joe, entered it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I&#8217;ll be everlastingly blowed!&rdquo; cried Conductor Tobin, using the
+very strongest form of his peculiar expression, as the light from his
+lantern fell on the strange tableau presented by the boy and horse. &ldquo;If
+this doesn&#8217;t beat all the stock-tending I ever heard of. Joe here was just
+telling me you was going out with us to-night, in charge of a horse, and
+we were looking for your car. But what are you doing to him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sitting on his head,&rdquo; answered Rod, gravely.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I see,&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin, &ldquo;and you look very comfortable; but how
+does he like it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&#8217;t suppose he likes it at all,&rdquo; replied the boy; &ldquo;but I couldn&#8217;t
+think of anything else to do.&rdquo; Then he told them of the terror inspired in
+the animal by the recent drilling; how it had broken loose and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 70]</span>
+dragged him up and down the car, and how he came to occupy his present position.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, you&#8217;ve got sand!&rdquo; remarked Conductor Tobin admiringly when the
+story was finished. &ldquo;More &#8217;n I have,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;I wouldn&#8217;t have stayed
+here in the dark, with a loose horse tearing round like mad. Not for a
+month&#8217;s pay I wouldn&#8217;t.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No more would I,&rdquo; said Brakeman Joe; &ldquo;a scared hoss is a terror.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Then they brought some stout ropes, and Juniper was helped to his feet,
+securely fastened and soothed and petted until all his recent terror was
+forgotten. To Rod&#8217;s great delight he was found to be uninjured, except for
+some insignificant scratches; and by his recent experience he was so well
+broken to railroad riding that he endured the long trip that followed with
+the utmost composure.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 71]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>After quieting Juniper, and having the satisfaction of seeing him begin to
+eat hay quite as though he were in his own stable, Rod left the car and
+followed his railroad friends in order to learn something about getting a
+train ready for its run. He found them walking on opposite sides of it,
+examining each car by the light of their lanterns, and calling to each
+other the inscriptions on the little leaden seals by which the doors were
+fastened. These told where the cars came from, which information, together
+with the car numbers, and the initials showing to what road they belonged,
+Conductor Tobin jotted down in his train-book. He also compared it with
+similar information noted on certain brown cards, about as wide and twice
+as long as ordinary playing-cards, a package of which he carried in his
+hand. The destinations of the several cars<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 72]</span>
+could also be learned from
+these cards, which are called &ldquo;running slips.&rdquo; Each car in the train was
+represented by one of them, which would accompany it wherever it went,
+being handed from one conductor to another, until its final destination
+was reached.</p>
+
+<p>At length, about ten o&#8217;clock, through Freight Number 73, to which car
+number 1160 was attached, received its &ldquo;clearance,&rdquo; or order to start,
+from the train-dispatcher, and began to move heavily out from the yard, on
+to the main west-bound track. Juniper now did not seem to mind the motion
+of the car in the least; but continued quietly eating his hay as though he
+had been a railroad traveller all his life. So Rod, who had watched him a
+little anxiously at first, had nothing to do but stand at the open door of
+his car and gaze at what scenery the darkness disclosed. Now that he was
+beginning to comprehend their use, he was deeply interested in the bright
+red, green, and white lights of the semaphore signals that guarded every
+switch and siding. He knew that at night a white light displayed from the
+top of a post, or swung across the track in the form of a lantern, meant
+safety, a red<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 73]</span> light meant danger, and
+a green light meant caution. If it
+had been daytime he would have seen thin wooden blades, about four feet
+long by six inches wide, pivoted near the top of the same posts that now
+displayed the lights. He would have learned that when these stretched out
+horizontally over the track, their warning colors must be regarded by
+every engineman; while if they hung down at an angle, no attention need
+be paid to them.</p>
+
+<p>Being a very observant boy, as well as keenly interested in everything to
+be seen on a railroad, Rod soon discovered that the semaphore lights also
+appeared at intervals of a few miles along the track, at places where
+there were no switches, and that these always moved as soon as the train
+passed them. He afterwards discovered that these guarded the ends of the
+five-mile blocks, into which the road was divided along its entire length.
+Each of the stations, at these points, is occupied by a telegraph operator
+who, as soon as the train enters his block, displays a red danger signal
+behind it. This forbids any other train to enter the block, on that track,
+until he receives word from the operator at the other end of the block
+that the first train has passed out of it.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 74]</span>
+Then he changes his signal
+from red to white, as a notice that the block is free for the admission of
+the next train. This &ldquo;block system,&rdquo; as it is called, which is now in use
+on all principal railroad lines, renders travel over them very much safer
+than it used to be before the system was devised.</p>
+
+<p>After watching the semaphore lights for some time, and after assuring
+himself that Juniper was riding comfortably, Rod spread a blanket, that
+Brakeman Joe had loaned him, over a pile of loose hay, placed his M. I. P.
+bag for a pillow, and in a few minutes was sleeping on this rude bed as
+soundly as though he were at home.</p>
+
+<p>Some hours later the long, heavily laden train stopped at the foot of the
+steep grade just east of Euston, and was cut in two in order that half of
+it might be drawn to the top at a time. Rear Brakeman Joe was left to
+guard the part of the train that remained behind, and he did this by
+walking back a few hundred yards along the track, and placing a torpedo on
+top of one of the rails. Then he went back as much farther and placed two
+torpedoes, one a rail&#8217;s length behind the other.</p>
+
+<p>These railroad torpedoes are small, round tin boxes,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 75]</span> about the size of
+a silver dollar, filled with percussion powder. To each is attached two
+little straps of lead, which are bent under the upper part of the rail to
+hold the torpedo in position. When it is struck by the ponderous wheels
+of a locomotive, it explodes with the sound of a cannon cracker. The
+explosion of two torpedoes, one directly after the other, is the signal
+for caution, and bids the engineman proceed slowly, keeping a sharp
+lookout for danger. The explosion of a single torpedo is the signal of
+immediate danger, and bids him stop his train as quickly as possible. Thus
+Brakeman Joe had protected his train by arranging a cautionary signal,
+which would be followed immediately by that of danger. Before his train
+started again he intended to take up the single torpedo, leaving only
+those calling for caution, to show that the freight had been delayed. In
+the meantime he decided to walk back to the cars left in his charge and
+see that no one was meddling with them.</p>
+
+<p>Rod was too soundly asleep to know anything of all this, nor did he know
+when an ugly-looking fellow peered cautiously into his car, and said, in a
+low tone: &ldquo;This here ain&#8217;t it. It must be the one ahead.&rdquo;
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 76]</span> The first thing
+of which he was conscious was hearing, as in a dream, the sound of blows,
+mingled with shouts, and a pistol shot, and then Brakeman Joe&#8217;s voice
+calling: &ldquo;Rod! Rod Blake! Help! quick!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>An instant later the boy had leaped from the car, and was by his friend&#8217;s
+side, engaged in a desperate struggle with four as villainous-looking
+tramps as could well be found; though, of course, he could not judge of
+their appearance in the darkness. Joe was wielding the heavy oak stick
+that at other times he used as a lever to aid him in twisting the brake
+wheels; but Rod was obliged to depend entirely on his fists. The skill
+with which he used these was evidently a surprise to the big fellow who
+rushed at him, only to receive a stinging blow in the face, which was
+followed by others delivered with equal promptness and effect. There were
+a few minutes of fierce but confused fighting. Then, all at once, Rod
+found himself standing alone beside a car the door of which was half-way
+open. Two of the tramps had mysteriously disappeared; he himself had sent
+a third staggering backward down the bank into a clump of bushes, and he
+could hear Brakeman Joe chasing the fourth down the track.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 77]</span>A few minutes later the locomotive
+came back, sounding four long blasts
+and one short one on its whistle, as a recall signal for the rear flagman.
+It was coupled on, and some one waved a lantern, with an up-and-down
+motion, from the rear of the train, as a signal to go ahead. The engineman
+opened the throttle, and the great driving wheels spun round furiously;
+but the train refused to move. He sounded two long whistle blasts as a
+signal to throw off brakes. Then a lantern was seen moving over the tops
+of the cars, the brakes that had been holding them, were loosened, and the
+signal to go ahead was again waved. After this the lantern disappeared as
+though it had been taken into the caboose, and the train moved on.</p>
+
+<p>Its severed parts were re-united at the top of the grade, and it passed
+on out of the block in which all these events had taken place, before
+Conductor Tobin, who had wondered somewhat at not seeing Brakeman Joe,
+discovered that the faithful fellow was missing. He was not on top of any
+of the cars, nor in the caboose, and must have been left behind. Well, it
+was too late to stop for him now. Freight Number 73 must side-track at the
+next station, to<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 78]</span> allow the night
+express to pass, and it had already been
+so delayed, that there was no time to lose.</p>
+
+<p>When the station was reached, and Conductor Tobin had seen his train
+safely side-tracked, he went to look for Rod Blake. He meant to ask the
+boy to take Brakeman Joe&#8217;s place for the rest of the run, or until that
+individual should rejoin them by coming ahead on some faster train. To his
+surprise the young stockman was not in car number 1160, nor could a trace
+of him be found. He, too, had disappeared and the conductor began to feel
+somewhat alarmed, as well as puzzled, by such a curious and unaccountable
+state of affairs.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 79]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>BOUND, GAGGED, AND A PRISONER.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>When Rod Blake was left standing alone beside the train, after the short
+but sharp encounter with tramps described in the preceding chapter, he was
+as bewildered by its sudden termination as he had been, on awaking from a
+sound sleep, to find himself engaged in it. He knew what had become of two
+of the tramps, for one of them he had sent staggering backward down the
+embankment, and Brakeman Joe was at that moment pursuing the second; but
+the disappearance of the others was a mystery. What could have become of
+them? They must have slipped away unnoticed, and taken advantage of the
+darkness to make good their escape. &ldquo;Yes, that must be it; for tramps are
+always cowards,&rdquo; thought the boy. &ldquo;But four of them ought to have whipped
+two of us easy enough.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 80]</span>Then he wondered what the
+object of the attack could have been, and what
+the tramps were after. All at once it flashed into his mind that the M. S.
+and T. car number 50, beside which he was standing, was filled with costly
+silks and laces from France which were being sent West in bond. He had
+overheard Conductor Tobin say so; and, now, there was the door of that
+very car half-way open. The tramps must have learned of its valuable
+contents in some way, and been attempting to rob it when Brakeman Joe
+discovered them. What a plucky fellow Joe was to tackle them
+single-handed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wonder if they got anything before he caught them?&rdquo; thought the boy;
+and, to satisfy his curiosity on this point, he went to his own car for
+the lantern that was still hanging in it, and returned to car number 50,
+determined to have a look at its interior. As he could not see much of it
+from the ground, he set the lantern just within the open doorway, and
+began to climb in after it. He had hardly stepped inside, and was stooping
+to pick up his lantern, when he was knocked down by a heavy blow, and
+immediately seized by two men who sprang from out of the darkness on
+either side of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> Without a word they bound his wrists with a stout bit
+of cord, and, thrusting his own handkerchief into his mouth, fastened it
+securely so that he could not utter a sound. Then they allowed him to rise
+and sit on a box, where they took the precaution of passing a rope about
+his body and making it fast to an iron stanchion near the door.</p>
+
+<p>Having thus secured him, one of the men, holding the lantern close to the
+boy&#8217;s face, said in a threatening tone: &ldquo;Now, my chicken, perhaps this&#8217;ll
+be a lesson to you never to interfere again in a business that doesn&#8217;t
+concern you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Hello!&rdquo; exclaimed the other, as he recognized Rod&#8217;s features, &ldquo;if this
+ere hain&#8217;t the same cove wot set the dog onto me last night. Oh, you young
+willin, I&#8217;ll get even with you now!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>With this he made a motion as though to strike the helpless prisoner; but
+the other tramp restrained him, saying: &ldquo;Hold on, Bill, we hain&#8217;t got no
+time for fooling now. Don&#8217;t you hear the engine coming back? I&#8217;ll take
+this lantern and give &#8217;em the signal to go ahead, in case that fool of a
+brakeman doesn&#8217;t turn up on time, which I don&#8217;t believe he will.&rdquo; Here the
+fellow chuckled meaningly. &ldquo;You,&rdquo; he <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 82]</span>continued,
+&ldquo;want to stay right here,
+and begin to pitch out the boxes as soon as she starts, and the rest of
+us&#8217;ll be on hand to gather &#8217;em in. You can easy jump out when she slows up
+at the top of the grade. You want to be sure, though, and shut the door
+behind you so as nothing won&#8217;t be suspected, and so this chap&#8217;ll have a
+good, long ride undisturbed by visitors; see?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>If Rod could not talk, he could still hear; and, by paying close attention
+to this conversation, he formed a very clear idea of the tramps&#8217; plans.
+They meant to rob car number 50 of as many of its valuable packages as
+Bill could throw from it while the train was on the grade. He felt
+satisfied that they had, in some way, disposed of Brakeman Joe. Now, they
+intended to get rid of him by leaving him in the closed car, helplessly
+bound, and unable to call for assistance. What would become of him? That
+car might be going to San Francisco for aught he knew, and its door might
+not be opened for days, or even weeks. It might not be opened until he was
+dead of thirst or starvation. What tortures might he not suffer in this
+moving prison? It seemed as though these thoughts would drive him crazy,
+and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 83]</span> he realized that if he wished to
+retain his senses and think out a
+way of escape, he must not dwell upon them.</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg97" id="imgpg97"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 571px;">
+<img src="images/img97.jpg" width="571" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">in the hands of the enemy.&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>So he tried to think of plans for outwitting the tramps. The chances of so
+doing seemed slender enough; but he felt certain there must be some way.
+In the meantime one of his assailants had left the car, very nearly
+closing the door as he did so for fear lest somebody might come along and
+notice it if it were wide open. He had taken the lantern with him, the
+train was in motion, the young tramp called Bill was already preparing to
+carry out his part of the programme and begin throwing out the boxes.
+Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a plan that would not only save the
+car from being robbed, but would ensure its door being opened before he
+could die of either thirst or hunger, darted into Rod&#8217;s mind.</p>
+
+<p>He knew that the car door closed with a spring latch that could only be
+opened from the outside. He knew that no one could board the train, now
+that it was in motion, to open the door. Above all he knew that if the
+young tramp were shut in there with him he would not suffer long from
+hunger and thirst before raising his voice and making his
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 84]</span>presence known
+to outsiders. Rod could reach the door with his foot. A quick push, the
+welcome click of the latch as it sprang sharply into place, and the plan
+was carried out.</p>
+
+<p>It took Bill, the young tramp, several minutes to find out what had
+happened, and that the door could not be opened from the inside. When he
+finally realized his position he broke out with a torrent of yells and
+threats against his recent companions. It never occurred to him that Rod
+had closed the door. He imagined that it must have been done from the
+outside, by one of his fellow thieves, and his rage against them knew no
+bounds. If he had for a moment suspected the captive, whom he regarded as
+helplessly bound, he would undoubtedly have directed his fury towards him,
+and Rod might have suffered severely at his hands. As it was, he only
+yelled and kicked against the door until the train began to slow up at the
+top of the grade. Then, fearful of attracting undesirable attention, he
+subsided into a sullen silence.</p>
+
+<p>While these things were happening to Rod, Brakeman Joe was suffering even
+greater misfortunes. His left arm had been broken by the pistol shot, that
+was<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 85]</span> one of the first sounds of the fight
+by which the young stockman was
+awakened; and when he started in pursuit of the flying tramp, he was
+weaker than he realized, from loss of blood. The tramp quickly discovered
+that he could easily keep out of his pursuer&#8217;s way. Judging from this that
+the Brakeman must be either wounded or exhausted, he gradually slackened
+his pace, until Joe was close upon him. Then springing to one side, and
+whirling around, the tramp dealt the poor fellow a blow on the head with
+the butt of a revolver, that stretched him senseless across the rails of
+the west-bound track. After satisfying himself that his victim was not in
+a condition to molest him again for some time to come, and brutally
+leaving him where he had fallen, directly in the path of the next
+west-bound train, the tramp began leisurely to retrace his steps toward
+Freight Number 73, in the plunder of which he now hoped to take a part.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 86]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>HOW BRAKEMAN JOE WAS SAVED.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>For ten minutes Brakeman Joe lies insensible and motionless, just as
+he fell. His own train has gone on without him, and now another is
+approaching. Its shrill whistle sounds near at hand, and the rails, across
+which the helpless form is stretched, are already quivering with the
+thrill of its coming. There seems no earthly help for him; nothing to warn
+the controlling mind of that on-rushing mass of his presence. In a few
+seconds the tragedy will be over.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, crack! crack! two loud reports ring out sharply above the roar
+and rattle of the train, one just after the other. The engineman is keenly
+alert on the instant; and, with one hand on the brake lever, the other on
+the throttle, he peers steadily ahead. The head-light, that seems so
+dazzling, and to cast its radiance so far, to those approaching it, in
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 87]</span>
+reality illumines but a short space to him who sits behind it, and the
+engineman sees no evidence of danger. There is no red beacon to stop him,
+nor any train on the track ahead. He is beginning to think the alarm a
+false one, when another report, loud and imperative, rings in his startled
+ear. In an instant the powerful air brakes are grinding against the wheels
+of every car in the night express, until the track is lighted with a blaze
+of streaming sparks. A moment later the rushing train is brought to a
+stop, inside half its own length.</p>
+
+<p>Even now nobody knew why it had been stopped, nor what danger threatened
+it. It was not until the engineman left his cab, and discovered the
+senseless form of Brakeman Joe lying across the rails, less than a hundred
+feet away, that he knew why he had been signalled. The wounded man was
+recognized at once, as belonging to the train ahead of them; but how he
+came in that sad plight, and who had placed the warning torpedoes to which
+he owed his escape from death, were perplexing questions that none could
+answer.</p>
+
+<p>Very tenderly they lifted him, and laid him in the baggage car. Here
+Conductor Tobin found him a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 88]</span>
+few minutes later, when, to his surprise, the
+night express, that generally whirled past him at full speed, slowed up
+and halted beside his own train, standing on the siding. &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; this was
+his brakeman, one of the best and most faithful fellows in the service;
+but how he got where they found him, or what had happened, he could not
+explain. He had lost another man off his train that night, a young fellow
+named Rodman Blake. Had they seen anything of him? &ldquo;No! well, then he
+must have thrown up his job and gone into Euston where he belonged.
+Good-night.&rdquo; In another minute only a far-away murmur among the sleeping
+hills told of the passing of the night express.</p>
+
+<p>Brakeman Joe was placed on the station agent&#8217;s little cot bed, and the
+doctor was sent for. That was all they could do, and so Freight Number 73
+also pulled out, leaving him behind. A minute later, and it too was gone,
+and the drowsy echoes answered its heavy rumblings faintly and more
+faintly, until they again fell asleep, and all was still.</p>
+
+<p>Through the long hours of the night Rod Blake sat and silently suffered.
+The distress of the gag in his mouth became wellnigh intolerable, and his
+wrists<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 89]</span> swelled beneath the cords that
+bound them, until he could have
+cried out with the pain. He grew thirsty too. Oh, so thirsty! and it
+seemed as though the daylight would never come. He had no idea what
+good, or even what change for the better, the daylight would bring him;
+but still he longed for it. Nor was the young tramp who shared his
+imprisonment at all happy or comfortable. He too was thirsty, and hungry
+as well, and though he was not gagged nor bound, he suffered, in
+anticipation, the punishment he expected to receive when he and his
+wickedness should be discovered. Thus, whenever the train stopped, a sense
+of his just deserts terrified him into silence; though while it was in
+motion his ravings were terrible to hear.</p>
+
+<p>At length the morning light began to show itself through chinks and
+crevices of the closed car. Conductor Tobin and his men reached the end of
+their run, and turned the train over to a new crew, who brought with them
+a fresh locomotive and their own caboose.</p>
+
+<p>Still the young tramp would not give in. The morning was nearly gone,
+and Rod was desperate with suffering, before he did, and, during a stop,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 90]</span>
+began to shout to be let out. Nobody heard him, apparently, and when the
+train again moved on, the situation of the prisoners was as bad as ever.</p>
+
+<p>Now the fellow began to grow as much alarmed for fear he would not be
+discovered, as he had previously been for fear lest he should be. In this
+state of mind he decided that at the next stop the shouting for help
+should be undertaken by two voices instead of one. So he removed the gag
+from Rod&#8217;s mouth, and cut the cord by which his wrists were bound. The
+poor lad&#8217;s throat was dry and husky; but he readily agreed to aid in
+raising a shout, as soon as the train should stop.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the arrival of Freight Number 73 was awaited with a lively
+interest at the very station it was approaching, when this agreement
+between the prisoners was made. It was aroused by a despatch, just sent
+along the line by the agent in whose charge Brakeman Joe had been left.
+The despatch stated that he had recovered sufficiently to give a partial
+account of what had been done to him by a gang of thieves, whom he had
+discovered trying to rob car number 50. It requested the first agent who
+should see Train Number 73, to examine into the condition
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 91]</span> of car number
+50, and discover if anything had been stolen from it. It also stated that
+Brakeman Joe was very anxious concerning the safety of a young stockman,
+who had been on the train, and assisted him to drive off the thieves; but
+who had not since been heard from.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, while the imprisoned inmates of car number 50 were waiting with
+feverish impatience for the train to reach a station at which it would
+stop, the railroad men belonging to this station, were waiting for it with
+a lively curiosity, that was wholly centered on car number 50.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 92]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>THE SUPERINTENDENT INVESTIGATES.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>At length a long-drawn whistle from the locomotive attached to Freight
+Number 73, warned Rod and his fellow-prisoner that the time for them to
+make a combined effort for liberty was at hand. It also notified the
+curious watchers at the station of the approach of the train for which
+they were waiting. The trainmen were surprised at the unusual number of
+people gathered about the station, and the evident interest with which
+their arrival was regarded. At the same time those composing the little
+throng of waiting spectators were amazed, as the train drew up and
+stopped, to hear loud cries for help proceeding from a car in its centre.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s number 50!&rdquo; exclaimed one, &ldquo;the very car we are looking for.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So it is! Break open the door! Some one is being murdered in there!&rdquo;
+shouted other voices, and a rush was made for the car.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 93]</span>As its door was pushed
+open, by a dozen eager hands, a wretched-looked
+figure, who had evidently been pressing closely against it, and was
+unprepared for such a sudden movement, pitched out headlong into the
+crowd. As he staggered to his feet he tried to force his way through them,
+with the evident intention of running away; but he was seized and held.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the whole attention of the spectators was directed toward
+him, and he was stupefied by the multitude of questions showered upon him
+at once. Then some one cried &ldquo;Look out! There&#8217;s another in there!&rdquo; and
+immediately poor Rod was roughly dragged to the ground. &ldquo;Take them into
+the waiting-room, and see that they don&#8217;t escape while I examine the car.
+There may be more of the gang hidden in there,&rdquo; commanded the station
+agent. So to the waiting-room the prisoners were hustled with scant
+ceremony. As yet no one knew what they had done, nor even what they were
+charged with doing; but every one agreed that they were two of the
+toughest looking young villains ever seen in that part of the country.</p>
+
+<p>During the confusion, no one had paid any attention to the arrival, from
+the west, of a locomotive drawing<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 94]</span> a
+single car. Nor did they notice a
+brisk, business-like appearing man who left this car, and walked, with
+a quick step, toward the waiting-room. Every one therefore looked up in
+surprise when he entered it and demanded, in a tone of authority, &ldquo;What&#8217;s
+the trouble here?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Instantly a murmur was heard of, &ldquo;It&#8217;s the superintendent. It&#8217;s the
+&lsquo;super&rsquo; himself&rdquo;; and, as the crowd respectfully made way for him, a dozen
+of voices were raised in attempted explanation of what had happened. As no
+one really knew what had happened, no two of the voices told the same
+story; but the superintendent catching the words &ldquo;murderers, thieves,
+tramps, brakeman killed, and car robbed,&rdquo; became convinced that he had a
+most serious case on his hands, and that the disreputable-looking young
+fellows before him must be exceedingly dangerous characters. In order to
+arrive at an understanding of the case more quickly, he ordered the room
+to be cleared of all except the prisoners, the station agent, and the
+trainmen of Freight Number 73, whom he told to guard the doors.</p>
+
+<p>He first examined the conductor, who was as surprised as any one else to
+find that he had been<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 95]</span>
+carrying two passengers of whom he knew nothing on
+his train. He had no information to give, excepting what Conductor Tobin
+had told him, and what the superintendent had already learned by
+telegraph, of Brakeman Joe&#8217;s condition. The other trainmen knew nothing
+more.</p>
+
+<p>The station agent told of the despatch he had received, of the finding of
+the lads in car number 50, and that its contents were apparently
+untouched.</p>
+
+<p>Here the superintendent dismissed the trainmen, and ordered Freight Number
+73 to go ahead. Then, with new guards stationed at the doors, he proceeded
+to question the prisoners themselves. As Bill, the tramp, seemed to be the
+elder of the two, he was the first examined. In answer to the questions
+who he was, where he came from, and what he had been doing in car number
+50, Bill said, with exactly the manner he would have used in addressing a
+Police Justice:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Please yer Honor we&#8217;s pards, me an&#8217; him is, an&#8217; we&#8217;s bin tendin&#8217; stock on
+de road. We was on de train last night when it was attackeded by a lot of
+fellers who was beatin&#8217; de brakeman. We went to help him, an&#8217; was chucked
+inter de car, an&#8217; de door<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 96]</span> locked on us.
+We&#8217;s bin tryin&#8217; to get out even
+since, me an&#8217; him has, yer Honor, but we couldn&#8217;t make nobody hear us till
+we got here. We&#8217;s nearly dead for food an&#8217; drink, yer Honor, an&#8217; we&#8217;s
+honest, hard-working boys, an&#8217; dat&#8217;s de truth if I die for it, yer Honor.
+He&#8217;d tell yer de same, but fer a bit of a difference me and him had when
+he swore to git even wid me. So maybe he&#8217;ll lie now; but yer Honor can
+depend on what I&#8217;m&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That will do,&rdquo; interrupted the superintendent. Then turning to Rodman he
+asked, &ldquo;What have you to say for yourself?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If you&#8217;ll please give me a drink of water I&#8217;ll try to tell all I know of
+this affair,&rdquo; answered the boy huskily, now speaking for the first time
+since he had been taken from the car.</p>
+
+<p>When the water was brought, and Bill had been given a drink as well as
+himself, Rod continued, &ldquo;I was a stockman on that train in charge of a
+horse&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Jest as I was a-tellin&#8217; yer Honor,&rdquo; murmured Bill.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And there was a fight with tramps, who attempted to rob the car in which
+we were found.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here Bill nodded his head approvingly as much as to say &ldquo;I told you so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 97]</span>
+&ldquo;But this fellow was one of them, and he helped make a prisoner of me, and
+to bind and gag me. He would have thrown the freight out of the car to
+those who were waiting outside to receive it, if I hadn&#8217;t succeeded in
+closing the door, and locking us both in&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Ooo! didn&#8217;t I tell yer Honor he&#8217;d maybe lie on me?&rdquo; protested Bill.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Keep quiet!&rdquo; commanded the superintendent sharply, and then to Rod he
+said: &ldquo;How can you prove your statements?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I can prove that I was bound and gagged by these marks,&rdquo; replied the boy,
+pointing to the sides of his mouth which were red and chafed, and holding
+out his swollen wrists for the superintendent&#8217;s inspection. &ldquo;And I can
+prove that I was travelling in charge of a horse by this.&rdquo; Here Rod
+produced the note from Juniper&#8217;s owner, asking his brother to pay the
+bearer two dollars and a half upon the safe delivery of the horse.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have a paper too,&rdquo; broke in Bill, fumbling in his pockets. From one of
+them he finally produced a dirty note, signed by a Western cattle dealer,
+and authorizing one Bill Miner to take charge of certain
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 98]</span> stock about to
+be shipped over the New York and Western railroad.</p>
+
+<p>The superintendent read the two notes, and looked at the two young
+fellows. In general appearance one was very nearly as bad as the other;
+for, though Rod did not realize the fact, his clothing and person were so
+torn and dirty from the fight of the preceding night and his subsequent
+rough experience, that he looked very nearly as much of a tramp as Bill
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I wonder which of you I am to believe, or if either is telling me the
+truth?&rdquo; said the superintendent dubiously, half aloud and half to
+himself.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 99]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>SMILER TO THE RESCUE.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>At that moment a small dog walked into the room, wagging his tail with an
+air of being perfectly at home there. Rod was the first to notice him, and
+his eye lighted with a gleam of genuine pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Smiler? Smiler, old dog!&rdquo; he said.</p>
+
+<p>The next instant Smiler was licking his face and testifying to his joy at
+again meeting this friend, in the most extravagant manner. Suddenly he
+caught sight of Bill, and drawing back his upper lip with an ominous
+growl, would have flown at the young tramp had not Rodman restrained him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That settles it, so far as I am concerned,&rdquo; exclaimed the superintendent,
+with a relieved air. &ldquo;Any one that Smiler recognizes as a friend must be
+an honest fellow; while the person whom Smiler calls an enemy, must have
+given him good cause for<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 100]</span> his enmity,
+and is to be regarded with distrust
+by all railroad men. Now, I am going to carry you two chaps to the
+Junction where Conductor Tobin and his crew are lying off to-day. There,
+I have no doubt, this whole matter will be explained satisfactorily to me
+and to one of you, as well as with perfect justice to you both.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Smiler, who had reached this station on a passenger locomotive, now
+attached himself resolutely to Rod, and followed him into the
+superintendent&#8217;s private car, here he was made as cordially welcome as
+he would have been in the humblest caboose on the road. Some of his
+enthusiastic admirers declared that Smiler owned the road; while all
+admitted that there was but one other individual connected with it, whose
+appearance was so uniformly welcome as his, and that was the paymaster.</p>
+
+<p>Now, there was a marked difference shown between the treatment of Smiler&#8217;s
+friend, and that of his enemy. The former was invited to sit down with the
+superintendent and eat dinner, which was announced as ready soon after
+they left the station; but Bill was consigned to the care of a brakeman
+who received strict orders not to give him a chance
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 101]</span> to escape. He was
+given a substantial meal of course; for Mr. Hill the superintendent was
+not a man who would permit anybody to suffer from hunger if he could help
+it. Here the courtesy extended to him ended, and he was treated in all
+respects like a prisoner. Most of the time he rode in sullen silence; but
+occasionally he broke forth with vehement protestations of his innocence,
+and of the truth of the story he had told.</p>
+
+<p>Rodman, on the other hand, was treated with marked consideration; for,
+not only was he a friend of Smiler&#8217;s, but the more Mr. Hill talked with
+him the more he believed him to be a gentleman, as well as an honest,
+truth-telling lad, who had, by a brave and prompt action, saved the
+railroad company a large amount of property. He was confirmed in his
+belief that Rod was a gentleman, by his having asked to be allowed to wash
+his face and hands before sitting down to dinner. The lad was shocked at
+his own appearance when he glanced into a mirror, and the superintendent
+smiled at the wonderful change made by the use of soap, water, and
+brushes, when he emerged from the well-appointed dressing-room of the
+car.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 102]</span>
+While they sat at table Mr. Hill drew the lad&#8217;s story from him, including
+the manner in which he had obtained Smiler&#8217;s friendship, and his desire to
+become a railroad man. Rod did not however mention the name of President
+Vanderveer; for he was desirous of winning success by himself, and on his
+own merits, nor did he give his reasons for leaving Euston.</p>
+
+<p>When the locomotive, drawing the superintendent&#8217;s private car, and
+displaying two white flags in front to denote that it was running as an
+&ldquo;extra&rdquo; train, drew up, a couple of hours later, at the Junction, Rod was
+asked to remain in the car for a few minutes, and Bill was ordered to do
+so. Then Mr. Hill walked over to caboose number 18, in which, as he
+expected, he found Conductor Tobin and his two brakemen fast asleep, with
+bits of mosquito netting spread over their faces to keep off the flies.
+Conductor Tobin was greatly confused when he discovered who was shaking
+him into wakefulness, and began to apologize for having been asleep.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No excuses are necessary, Tobin,&rdquo; said the other kindly. &ldquo;A man who works
+as faithfully as you do at night, has a perfect right to sleep in the
+daytime.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 103]</span> I wouldn&#8217;t have disturbed
+you, but that I wanted to ask if you
+were acquainted with a young fellow named Rod Blake.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Yes, indeed! Conductor Tobin not only knew the lad, but was, at that
+moment, quite anxious concerning him. He had learned by telegraph from
+Brakeman Joe, further particulars of the occurrences of the preceding
+night, including Rod&#8217;s splendid behavior during the fight with the
+would-be thieves. Since then nothing had been heard from him, and the
+conductor greatly feared that the brave young fellow had met with some
+harm.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you consider him a person whose word is to be trusted?&rdquo; asked the
+superintendent.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, sir,&rdquo; answered Conductor Tobin, &ldquo;I haven&#8217;t known him long, seeing
+that I first met him only night before last; but I&#8217;ve already seen enough
+of him to be willing to take his word as quick as that of any man living.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is saying a good deal,&rdquo; laughed the superintendent, &ldquo;but I believe
+you are right. If I am any judge of character, that lad is an honest
+fellow.&rdquo; Then he explained how, and under what circumstances he had met
+Rod, and ending by asking, &ldquo;What<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 104]</span>
+sort of a railroad man do you think he would make?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;First-rate, sir! He seems to me to be one who knows when he is wanted,
+and who always turns up at the right time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you wouldn&#8217;t mind having him on your train, while Joe is laid by?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should be proud to have him, sir, and to be the one to start him on the
+right track as a railroader.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well, we will consider it settled, then, and I will send him over to
+you. I want you to do the best you can by him, and remember that from this
+time on I take a personal interest in his welfare, though of course you
+needn&#8217;t tell him so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod was more than delighted when Mr. Hill returned to the car, and offered
+him the position of brakeman on Conductor Tobin&#8217;s train. He promptly and
+gladly accepted it, and tried to thank the superintendent for giving it to
+him; but that gentleman said: &ldquo;Never mind expressing any thanks in words.
+Express them by deeds instead, and remember, that you can win a certain
+success in railroad life, by keeping on as you have begun and by always
+being on time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 105]</span>
+Thus Rod secured a position; a humble one to be sure, but one that he had
+sought and won wholly by merit. When Snyder Appleby heard of it he was
+filled with jealous anger. He declared that there was not room for both of
+them on that road, even if one was only a brakeman, and vowed that if he
+could manage it, his adopted cousin should find it harder to keep his
+position than it had been to win it.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 106]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>SNYDER APPLEBY&#8217;S JEALOUSY.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Bill Miner, the tramp, underwent some novel mental experiences on the day
+that Rod obtained his position. In the first place the young fellow, whom
+he had treated so badly, came to him while the superintendent was
+interviewing Conductor Tobin, and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look here, Bill, you and I suffered a good deal together last night, and
+you know it was mostly your fault that we did so; but I&#8217;ll forgive you for
+my share of the suffering if you&#8217;ll only confess the whole business to the
+superintendent. He is bound to find out all about it anyway; for he finds
+out everything; but he&#8217;ll think a good deal more of you if you own up
+like a man. I would like to be your friend; but my friends must be honest
+fellows, who are willing to work for a living, not tramps and thieves. Now
+shake hands, and make up your mind to do what I have asked you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 107]</span>
+Mr. Hill&#8217;s return interrupted the conversation at this point; but it left
+Bill in an unusually reflective state of mind. No gentleman, such as his
+late companion in captivity evidently was, had ever shaken hands with, or
+asked a favor of him before. In all his hard young life no one had ever
+proposed that he should try honesty and hard work. Ever since he could
+remember anything, his associates had advised dishonesty, and the shirking
+of work in every possible way. Yet, now that he thought of it, he had
+worked hard, all his life, at being dishonest. Now what had he to show for
+it? Nothing but rags, and poverty, and a bad reputation. He wondered how
+it would seem to be honest, and do honest work, and associate only with
+honest people. He had half a mind to try it, just out of curiosity. The
+idea of he, Bill the tramp, being an honest workman, and perhaps, even
+getting to be called &ldquo;Honest Bill,&rdquo; struck him as so odd that he chuckled
+hoarsely over it.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you laughing at?&rdquo; demanded the brakeman who stood on the rear
+platform of the car to prevent his escape, and who looked suspiciously in
+at the door to discover the meaning of this novel sound from his
+prisoner.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 108]</span>&ldquo;Nothing,&rdquo; replied Bill.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, I wish I could get so much fun out of nothing as you seem able to,&rdquo;
+said the brakeman, who was particularly down on tramps. &ldquo;I reckon the
+super&#8217;ll give you something to laugh about directly that won&#8217;t seem so
+funny,&rdquo; he added significantly.</p>
+
+<p>But Bill did not mind this. He was too busy with his own thoughts. Besides
+he was used to such speeches, and was also listening to something else
+just at that moment. He was listening to the conversation between Rod and
+the superintendent. It certainly was a fine thing for a boy to be talked
+to as the greatest man he had ever known was now talking to his one honest
+friend, and to be offered such a position too. How he would like to be a
+brakeman; and, if he were one, how well he would know how to deal with
+tramps. He wondered what Mr. Hill meant by being &ldquo;on time.&rdquo; Perhaps it
+meant being honest.</p>
+
+<p>Then Rod left the car, giving him a nod and a smile as he did so. A moment
+later it was again whirling away toward New York, and the superintendent,
+coming to where the young tramp was sitting, said: &ldquo;Now, sir, I&#8217;m ready to
+attend to your<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 109]</span> case. Are you willing
+to tell me what you know about this
+business of robbing our freight trains? Or do you prefer to stick to your
+lying story and go to prison for it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;ll tell you all I know, if you&#8217;ll give me a job for it,&rdquo; answered Bill,
+with a sudden resolution to try for Rod Blake&#8217;s friendship, and at the
+same time to make a good bargain for himself if he could.</p>
+
+<p>Regarding him keenly, the superintendent said: &ldquo;So you want to be paid for
+being honest, do you? Well, I don&#8217;t know but what you are right. Honesty
+is well worth paying for. So, if you will tell me, truthfully, all you
+know of this business I promise you a job that will earn you an honest
+living, and that you can keep just so long as you work faithfully at it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Honesty again. How often these gentlemen use the word, and how much
+they seem to think of it,&rdquo; thought Bill. However, as it seemed to promise
+something different from anything he had ever known, he determined to try
+it, and see what it would do for him. So he told, in his awkward fashion,
+all that he knew of the gang of tramp<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 110]</span>
+thieves, who had been for some time
+systematically robbing freight trains at several points along the road,
+and Mr. Hill listened to him with the deepest interest.</p>
+
+<p>As a speedy result of this confession a freight clerk in the main office
+of the company, who had been giving secret information to the thieves,
+was discharged the very next day. Brown, the chief of the company&#8217;s
+detectives, learned where and how he could discover the places where the
+stolen goods were hidden, and was thus enabled to recover a large portion
+of them. And Bill Miner, no longer Bill the tramp, found himself doing
+honest work, as a locomotive wiper and assistant hostler, in a round
+house, at a salary of one dollar and twenty-nine cents per day.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly Rod Blake&#8217;s influence was being felt on the New York and Western
+railroad.</p>
+
+<p>After his conversation with Bill, the busy superintendent found time to
+stop his flying car at the station where Brakeman Joe lay suffering from
+his wounds, to speak a few kindly words to the faithful fellow, praise his
+bravery, and assure him that his full pay should be continued until he
+had<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 111]</span> entirely recovered from his
+injuries and was able to resume duty.</p>
+
+<p>Late that afternoon the private car finished its long journey in the
+station at the terminus of the road, and Mr. Hill hastened to his own
+office. The moment he opened the door of the inner room a cloud of
+cigarette smoke issued from it, and a frown settled on his face as he
+hesitated a moment on the threshold. His private secretary, who had been
+comfortably tilted back in the superintendent&#8217;s own easy chair, puffing
+wreathes of smoke from a cigarette, started to his feet. &ldquo;We did not
+expect you to return so soon, sir&rdquo;&mdash;he began.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Evidently not,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Hill dryly; &ldquo;You are the young man
+recommended to me by President Vanderveer, I believe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, sir, you will please to remember for the future, that neither in
+this office, nor in any other belonging to the company, is cigarette
+smoking among the qualifications required of our employees. If you must
+smoke during business hours, I will endeavor to fill your position with
+somebody who is not under that necessity.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 112]</span>
+For the next half hour Snyder Appleby sat at his own desk, for once in
+his life hard at work, and feeling that he had been decidedly snubbed if
+not actually insulted. He was even meditating the handing in of his
+resignation, when the superintendent again addressed him, but this time
+in a much more friendly tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You are from Euston, I believe?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you happen to know a young man from there named Rodman Blake?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir. I have an acquaintance there of that name,&rdquo; replied Snyder
+hesitatingly, and wondering what possible interest the &ldquo;super&rdquo; could have
+in Rod Blake. &ldquo;The fact is,&rdquo; he added with an assumed air of frankness,
+&ldquo;the young person in question is a sort of adopted cousin of my own; but
+circumstances have arisen that lead me to consider him an undesirable
+acquaintance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are they?&rdquo; inquired the superintendent bluntly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would hardly be becoming in me to state them,&rdquo; replied Snyder, wishing
+he knew why the other was making these inquiries. &ldquo;I should be
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 113]</span> very sorry
+to say anything that might injure the young man&#8217;s future prospects.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Had they anything to do with his leaving Euston, and seeking employment
+on this road?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir; I think they had,&rdquo; admitted Snyder with apparent reluctance.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I consider it your duty to tell me what they are,&rdquo; said Mr. Hill;
+&ldquo;for I have just given young Blake the position of brakeman, and if there
+is any reason why he is unfit for it I should like to know it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This aroused all the jealousy in Snyder&#8217;s nature and he answered: &ldquo;Well,
+sir, if you put it in that light, I suppose I must tell you that Blake&#8217;s
+uncle, with whom he lived, turned him from the house without a penny in
+his pocket on account of his connection with a most infamous piece of
+rascality. But I beg that you will not question me any further on the
+subject. It is most painful to me to speak of even a distant connection
+in the terms I should be obliged to use in referring to Rodman Blake.
+President Vanderveer knows the whole history of the affair, and can give
+you full information regarding it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 114]</span>
+&ldquo;The President has gone West on a business trip that will occupy some
+weeks,&rdquo; replied Mr. Hill, &ldquo;so I could not ask him even if I were inclined
+to trouble him with so trifling a matter. I shall certainly investigate
+it, however, and if I find this young Blake to be a person of such a
+character as you intimate, I shall as certainly discharge him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 115]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>ROD AS A BRAKEMAN.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>In the meantime Rod, who was happily ignorant of this conversation, had
+been warmly welcomed in caboose number 18. There Conductor Tobin and the
+two brakemen listened with intense interest to all he had to tell them
+of his recent experiences. They in turn informed him of Brakeman Joe&#8217;s
+condition, and of how the torpedoes had saved him from being run over by
+the night express.</p>
+
+<p>He found his M. I. P. bag in the caboose where Conductor Tobin had been
+keeping it until he should hear from him. The conductor also handed Rod
+a ten dollar bill, that had been left for him by the brother of Juniper&#8217;s
+owner, as a reward for his gallant struggle with the terrified horse in
+the closed car, and the subsequent care of him.</p>
+
+<p>Feeling very rich and independent with this amount of money, of his own
+earning, at his disposal,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 116]</span>
+Rod at once bought for himself a blue checkered
+shirt and pair of overalls, a cap, a pair of buckskin gloves with which to
+handle brake wheels, one of the great tin lunch-pails such as railroad
+men carry, and a blanket. Thus equipped he felt he was ready for any
+emergency. To these purchases he added a supply of provisions, and a
+basket of fruit that he intended to leave for Brakeman Joe when they
+should pass the station at which he was.</p>
+
+<p>The train that they were ordered to take came along shortly before sunset.
+When it again pulled out, drawing caboose number 18, and with Rod Blake,
+brake-stick in hand, standing on the &ldquo;deck&rdquo; of one of its rear cars, there
+was no happier nor prouder lad than he in the country. How he did enjoy
+the novelty of that first ride on top of a freight train, and what a fine
+thing it seemed, to be really a railroad man. The night was clear and
+cold; but the exercise of setting up brakes on down grades, and throwing
+them off for up grades or level stretches, kept him in a glow of warmth.
+Then how bright and cosy the interior of the caboose, that was now his
+home, seemed during the occasional visits that he paid it.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 117]</span>Before the night grew dark, Conductor Tobin showed him how to place the
+two red lanterns on its rear platform, and the lights that showed red
+behind, green in front, and green at the side, on its upper rear corners.
+Then he was asked to make a fire in the little round stove, and prepare a
+huge pot of coffee for the train crew to drink during the night. When
+there was nothing else to do he might sit up in the cupola, on the side
+opposite to that occupied by Conductor Tobin; but on this first night he
+preferred taking his own lantern, and going out on &ldquo;deck,&rdquo; as the top of
+the cars is called. Here he was too far from the locomotive to be annoyed
+by its smoke or cinders, and he loved to feel the cool night air rushing
+past him. He enjoyed rumbling through the depths of dark forests, and
+rattling over bridges or long trestles. It was strange to roll heavily
+through sleeping towns, where the only signs of life were the bright
+lights of the stations, and the twinkling red, green or white semaphore
+lights at the switches.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the time he amused himself by holding his watch in hand, and
+counting the clicks of the car wheels over the rail joints; for he
+remembered<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 118]</span> having read that
+the number of rails passed in twenty seconds
+is almost exactly the number of miles run by a train in an hour. If it had
+been day time he might also have noted the number of telegraph poles
+passed in a minute, and calculated the speed of the train, by allowing
+thirty-five poles to the mile.</p>
+
+<p>All this time, however, he was under orders to keep a watch on the
+movements of the brakemen ahead of him, and to set up, or throw off,
+brakes on at least two of the six cars under his charge, whenever he
+noticed them doing so. He was surprised to learn that it was by no means
+necessary to put on all the brakes of a train to check its speed, or even
+to stop it, and that the application of those on a third, or even a
+quarter of its cars answered every purpose. He also soon learned to jump
+quickly whenever brakes were called for by a single short whistle blast
+from the locomotive, and to throw them off at the order of the two short
+blasts that called for brakes to be loosened. At first he thought it
+curious that the other brakemen should run along the tops of the cars, and
+wondered why they were always in such a hurry. He soon discovered though
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 119]</span>
+that it was much easier to keep his footing running than walking, and
+safer to jump from car to car than to step deliberately across the open
+spaces between them.</p>
+
+<p>Once, during the night, when he and Conductor Tobin were seated in the
+caboose eating their midnight lunch, the latter began to sniff the air
+suspiciously, and even to Rod&#8217;s unaccustomed nostrils, there came a most
+unpleasant smell. &ldquo;Hot box!&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin, and the next time they
+stopped, they found the packing in an iron box at the end of an axle,
+under one of the cars, blazing at a furious rate. The journals, or
+bearings, in which the axle turned, had become dry and so heated by
+friction as to set the oil-soaked cotton waste, or packing, with which the
+box was filled, on fire. The job of cooling the box with buckets of water,
+and repacking it with waste, and thick, black, evil-smelling oil was a
+dirty and disagreeable one, as Rod quickly learned from experience. He
+also realized from what he saw, that if it were not done in time, the car
+itself might be set on fire, or the axle broken off.</p>
+
+<p>These, and many other valuable lessons in<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 120]</span>
+railroading, did Rod Blake
+learn that night; and when in the gray dawn, the train pulled into the
+home yard, with its run completed, he was wiser, more sleepy and tired,
+than he had ever been before in all his life.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 121]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>WORKING FOR A PROMOTION.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>For several weeks Rod Blake continued to lead the life of a brakeman on
+Conductor Tobin&#8217;s train. Although it was a very humble position, and
+though the life was one of constant danger and hard work, he thoroughly
+enjoyed it. Blessed with youth, health and a perfect physical condition,
+he even found pleasure in the stormy nights, when the running boards that
+formed his pathway over the roofs of the swaying cars were slippery with
+sleet, and fierce winds tried their best to hurl him from them. He
+experienced a wild joy in battling with, and conquering, gales that forced
+him to crawl along the storm-swept &ldquo;deck&rdquo; on hands and knees, clinging
+tightly to the running boards, often with lantern extinguished, and making
+the passage from car to car through pitchy darkness. On such nights how
+warm and cheerful was the interior of the caboose,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 122]</span> when at rare intervals
+he found a chance to pay it dripping visits! How welcome were the cups of
+hot coffee from the steaming pot on the glowing stove, and how the
+appreciation of all its comforts was intensified by the wildness of the
+outside night!</p>
+
+<p>By his unfailing cheerfulness of disposition, his promptness to answer any
+call, and on account of his splendid athletic training, the lad rapidly
+extended his circle of friendships, until there was not a trainman on the
+division but had a word of greeting, or a friendly wave of the hand for
+him, as they met at stations or were whirled past each other on the road.
+During the leisure &ldquo;lay-off&rdquo; hours at either end of the run, he gave them
+boxing lessons in the caboose. These proved so popular as entertainments
+that on such occasions the car was always crowded with eager pupils and
+enthusiastic spectators. In fact, before he had been a month on the road,
+Rod Blake had attained a popularity among the rough, but honest and manly,
+fellows who shared his labors, only approached by that of Smiler himself.
+With this wise animal he was also such a prime favorite that the dog was
+now more frequently to be seen on his train than on any other.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 123]</span>
+After working as rear brakeman, under Conductor Tobin&#8217;s especial care,
+long enough to become thoroughly acquainted with his duties, Rod was, at
+his own request, transferred to the forward end of the train. Here he had
+charge of the six or eight cars immediately following the locomotive. This
+was not nearly so pleasant a position as that at the rear end; for now,
+while running, he seldom had a chance to visit the caboose, and when on
+duty he was directly in the path of the very worst of the smoke and
+cinders. Then too the work here was harder than anywhere else on the
+train; for, in addition to his regular duties as brakeman, he was expected
+to assist the fireman at water stations, and by shovelling coal down from
+the rear end of the tender so that it was more easily within his reach. It
+was for this very reason though that Rod sought the place. He did not wish
+to remain a brakeman very long, nor even to become a conductor; but he did
+want to learn how to run a locomotive, and looked forward with longing
+anticipation to the day when he might fill the proud position of
+engineman. So he shovelled coal with a hearty good-will, and seized every
+opportunity for riding on the locomotive, and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 124]</span>
+carefully watched the
+movements of the men who managed it. Sometimes he asked questions, but not
+often; when he did they were of such a nature that the answers were of
+practical value to him.</p>
+
+<p>From many years of riding in a locomotive cab, where, with the constant
+rattle and roar, conversation is very difficult, the engineman, Truman
+Stump, had become a most reticent man, who rarely spoke unless it was
+necessary. He had thus gained the reputation of being ill-tempered and
+morose, which was exactly what he was not. Everybody admitted, though,
+that he was a first-class engine-driver, and one who could always be
+relied upon to do exactly the thing in an emergency.</p>
+
+<p>This man took a liking to the bright-faced young brakeman from the very
+first; and, when Rod began to appear in his cab, he watched him with a
+real, but concealed interest. One day when it was announced that Milt
+Sturgis, the fireman, was about to be promoted and get his engine,
+everybody wondered who would take his place, and how a new man would get
+along with old True Stump. Another bit of news received on the train at
+the the same time, was that Brakeman Joe had fully
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 125]</span> recovered from his
+injuries, and was ready to resume his place. While Rod was glad, for Joe&#8217;s
+sake, that he was well enough to come back, he could not help feeling some
+anxiety on his own account, now that he would no longer be needed as
+brakeman. This anxiety was unexpectedly relieved by the engineman; who,
+while standing beside him at a water station, turned and said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Joe&#8217;s coming back.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes; to-morrow.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Milt&#8217;s going to leave.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So I hear.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How would you like to fire for me in his place?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I,&rdquo; exclaimed Rod in astonishment. &ldquo;Why, I should like it very much if
+you think I know enough for the job.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, I&#8217;ll fix it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 126]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>THE EXPRESS SPECIAL.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Nothing further was said at the time concerning Rod&#8217;s most cherished
+scheme and as Brakeman Joe reported for duty that very day Rod was at a
+loss to know what he should do next. He doubted if Truman Stump could
+command sufficient influence to secure his appointment as fireman before
+he had undergone a preliminary training as wiper and hostler in the
+round-house, though he felt that he already possessed experience as
+valuable as any to be gained in those positions. Still it was a rule that
+firemen should be taken from the round-house and Rod knew by this time
+that railroad rules are rarely broken.</p>
+
+<p>Of course he could not retain Joe&#8217;s position now that the latter had
+returned to it, and he would not if he could. No indeed! Joe&#8217;s face still
+pale from his long confinement was too radiant with happiness
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 127]</span> at once
+more getting back among his old friends and associations for Rod to dim it
+by the faintest suggestion that the honest fellow&#8217;s return to duty was
+likely to throw him out of a job. So he congratulated Joe upon his
+recovery, as heartily as any one, and retold the story of his plucky fight
+with the thieving tramps to the little group of railroad men gathered in
+caboose number 18 to welcome him back.</p>
+
+<p>As they were all talking at once and making a hero of Brakeman Joe they
+were hushed into a sudden silence by the unexpected entrance of Mr. Hill
+the Superintendent. Merely nodding to the others this gentleman stepped up
+to Brakeman Joe with extended hand, saying cordially:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Good evening, conductor. I am glad to see you back among us again. I hope
+you are all right and will be able to take your train out on time
+to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Sir! I&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; stammered the astonished Joe.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must be mistaking me for Conductor Tobin, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Tobin? oh no! I know him too well ever to mistake any one else for him. I
+take you to be Conductor Joseph Miller of the through freight, whose
+promotion has just been posted, to take effect <span class='pagenum'>[Pg 128]</span>
+immediately. I have also
+assigned two new men to your train, with orders to report at once. Here
+they come now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This announcement fell like a bomb-shell; and the cheer of congratulation
+that Joe&#8217;s friends attempted to raise was checked, half-uttered, by the
+distressed look on Conductor Tobin&#8217;s face. Could it be that he had heard
+aright? Was it possible that he was thus unceremoniously thrown out of
+work to make a place for his former brakeman? His expression was quite as
+bewildered as that of Brakeman Joe, and the Superintendent, noticing it,
+allowed an amused smile to flit across his own face.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&#8217;t be alarmed, Tobin,&rdquo; he said, reassuringly; &ldquo;the Company can&#8217;t very
+well spare your services, and have no idea of doing so. If you can make it
+convenient I should like to have you take out number 29 to-night, and, as
+you will need an extra hand, I have decided to send young Blake on the
+same train; that is, if it will be agreeable to you to have him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Number 29! The Continental Express Company&#8217;s Special! Why, only passenger
+conductors had that train! What could Mr. Hill mean?</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 129]</span>
+&ldquo;It&#8217;s all right, Tobin,&rdquo; continued that gentleman, noting the other&#8217;s
+embarrassment; &ldquo;your name has gone on to the passenger list, and if you
+do as well there as you have with your freights I shall be more than
+satisfied. I hope this change strikes you as being one for the better
+also?&rdquo; he added, turning to Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir, only&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; began Rodman, who was about to say something
+concerning his desire to be made a fireman, when he suddenly remembered
+that Truman Stump had requested him not to speak of it just yet.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Only what?&rdquo; asked Mr. Hill, a little sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I was afraid I hadn&#8217;t experience enough,&rdquo; answered Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is a matter of which I claim to be the best judge,&rdquo; replied the
+Superintendent, with a smile. &ldquo;And if I am satisfied of your fitness for
+the position you certainly ought to be. Now, Tobin, look lively. Number 29
+must be ready to leave in half an hour. Good-night and good luck to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Thus Conductor Tobin&#8217;s long and faithful service, and Brakeman Joe&#8217;s
+suffering, and Rod Blake&#8217;s strict attention to duty were all rewarded at
+once,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 130]</span> though in Rodman&#8217;s case the
+reward had not taken exactly the shape
+he desired. Still, a promotion was a promotion, and where there were so
+many competitors for each upward step, as there always are on a railroad,
+it was not for him to grumble at the form in which it came.</p>
+
+<p>So as the young railroad man gathered up his few belongings, he gratefully
+accepted the congratulations of his friends. A few minutes later he bade
+freight conductor Joe good-by, and in company with passenger conductor
+Tobin he left caboose number 18 with much the same feeling that a young
+scholar leaves his primary school for one a grade higher.</p>
+
+<p>Number 29 was a peculiar train, and one that Rod had often watched rush
+past his side-tracked freight with feelings of deep interest, not unmixed
+with envy. It always followed the &ldquo;Limited,&rdquo; with all the latter&#8217;s
+privileges of precedence and right of way. Thus it was such a flyer that
+the contrast between it and the freight, which always had to get out
+of the way, was as great as that between a thoroughbred racer and a
+farm-horse. It was made up of express cars, loaded with money, jewelry,
+plate, and other valuable packages, which caused it
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 131]</span> to be known along the
+road as the &ldquo;gold mine.&rdquo; In its money-car was carried specie and bank
+notes from the United States Treasury, and from Eastern banks to Western
+cities. Thus it was no unusual thing for this one car to carry a million
+dollars&#8217; worth of such express matter. Each car was in charge of a trusted
+and well-armed messenger, who locked himself in from one end of his run to
+the other, and was prepared to defend the valuables entrusted to his care
+with his life. Thus number 29 was one of the most important as well as one
+of the very fastest trains on the road; while to run on it was considered
+such an honor that many envious glances were cast at Rod as he stood on
+the platform beside it awaiting the starting-signal.</p>
+
+<p>There had been no time for him to procure the blue uniform suit, such as
+the crews of passenger trains, with whom he now ranked, are required to
+wear; and as the jumper and overalls of a freight brakeman would have been
+decidedly out of place on an express special, Rod had hastily donned his
+best suit of every-day clothes. Thus as he stood near the steps of the
+single passenger coach that was attached to the train in place of a
+caboose for the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 132]</span> accommodation
+of its conductor and brakemen, he was not
+to be distinguished from the throng of passengers hastening aboard the
+&ldquo;Limited&rdquo; on the opposite side of the platform.</p>
+
+<p>For this reason a young man, with a stout leather travelling bag slung on
+his shoulder, paid no attention to the young brakeman, as after a hurried
+glance up and down the platform, he sprang aboard and entered the coach.</p>
+
+<p>With a bound Rod was after him. &ldquo;Hello, sir!&rdquo; he cried; &ldquo;you must have
+made a mistake. This is not a passenger train.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No?&rdquo; said the other coolly, and Rod now noticed that he wore a pair of
+smoked glasses. I thought it was the &ldquo;Limited.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is the &lsquo;Limited,&rsquo; across the platform,&rdquo; explained Rod politely.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you sure of it?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly I am.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What makes you think this is not it?&rdquo; asked the other with a provoking
+slowness of speech as though time was no object to him, and he did not
+care whether the &ldquo;Limited&rdquo; started without him or not.</p>
+
+
+<p><a name="imgpg149" id="imgpg149"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 266px;">
+<img src="images/img149.jpg" width="266" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">rod assists the young man to the &ldquo;limited.&rdquo;&mdash;(<em>page
+<a href="#Page_133">133.</a></em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>&ldquo;Because I belong on this train and it is my business to be sure of things
+connected with it,&rdquo; replied Rod, still speaking pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you do, do you. Are you its conductor?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir, but I am one of its brakemen.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are there any more like you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir, there is another like me. I sha&#8217;n&#8217;t need his help though to put
+you off this train if you don&#8217;t get off, and in a hurry too,&rdquo; answered Rod
+hotly, for he began to suspect that the young man was making fun of him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, come now!&rdquo; said the passenger mildly, &ldquo;don&#8217;t get excited, I&#8217;m
+perfectly willing to go. It was a very natural mistake for a blind man to
+make. You may be blind yourself some day, and then you&#8217;ll find out.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&#8217;t know you were blind, sir,&rdquo; exclaimed Rod apologetically and
+instantly regretting his harshness toward one so cruelly afflicted. &ldquo;I am
+very sorry, and if you will allow me, I will see you safely aboard the
+&lsquo;Limited.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The young man accepted this offer, explaining at the same time that while
+he was not totally blind, his sight was very dim. So Rod helped him off
+one<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 134]</span> train and into the other,
+striving by every attention to atone for
+the abruptness with which he had spoken before learning of the other&#8217;s
+infirmity. As he took the stranger&#8217;s hand to guide him down the steps of
+the coach he noticed that the large diamond of a ring worn by the latter,
+had cut its way through the back of one of his kid gloves.</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the &ldquo;Limited&rdquo; pulled out, and in a few minutes the express
+special, laden that night with a freight of unusual value, followed it.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 135]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>TROUBLE IN THE MONEY CAR.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Until after midnight the run of the express special was without
+interruption or incident. Thus far it had made but two stops. The second
+of these was at the end of the freight division where Conductor Tobin had
+been accustomed to turn over his train to a relieving crew and spend the
+day. With such a flyer as the special, however, his run was now to be
+twice as long as formerly, so that he and Rod looked forward to doing a
+hundred and fifty miles more before being relieved. There was but one
+other brakeman besides Rod, and as there was little for either of them to
+do, save to see that the rear end lights burned brightly, and always to be
+prepared for emergencies, time hung rather heavily on their hands.</p>
+
+<p>Thanks to automatic air brakes, the life of a passenger brakeman is now a
+very easy one as compared<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 136]</span> with the
+same life a few years ago. The
+brakeman of those days, almost as greasy and smoke begrimed as a fireman,
+spent most of his time on the swaying platforms between cars amid showers
+of cinders and clouds of blinding dust. At every call for brakes he was
+obliged to spring to the wheels of the two entrusted to his care and set
+them up by hand with the utmost exercise of his strength. He was not
+allowed to remain inside the cars between stations, and the only glimpses
+he got of their scant comfort was when he flung open their doors to call
+out the names of stations in his own undistinguishable jargon. He was
+invariably a well-grown powerfully built fellow, as rough in manner as in
+appearance.</p>
+
+<p>To-day, on all passenger trains and on many freights as well, the
+automatic brakes are operated by compressed air controlled by the
+engineman. By a single pull of a small brass lever within easy reach he
+can instantly apply every brake on his train with such force as to bring
+it to a standstill inside of a few seconds. The two small cylinders
+connected by a piston-rod on the right hand side of every locomotive just
+in front of the cab form the air-pump. It is always at work while a train
+is<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 137]</span> standing still, forcing air
+through lengths of rubber hose between the
+cars and into the reservoirs located beneath each one. As brakes are
+applied by the reduction of this air the engineman&#8217;s lever merely opens a
+valve that allows the imprisoned force to escape with a sharp hissing
+sound. If a train should break in two the connecting lengths of rubber
+hose would be torn asunder, and the outrushing air would instantly apply
+brakes to the cars of both sections bringing them to a speedy standstill.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the brakeman of to-day, instead of being the powerful, cinder-coated
+and rough-voiced fellow of a few years back, may be as slim and elegant as
+any of the passengers under his care provided he is polite, wide-awake,
+and attentive to his duty. Clad in a natty uniform, he now spends his time
+inside the car instead of on its platform. He has reports to make out,
+lamps and flags to look after, and in cases of unexpected delay must run
+back to protect his train from any other that may be approaching it.
+Formerly it was necessary to have as many brakemen on a passenger train as
+there were cars, while now it is rare to find more than two on each train.</p>
+
+<p>So Rod had very little to do in his new position,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 138]</span> and soon after leaving
+the second stopping-place of his train, was sitting near the forward end
+of the coach with his head resting on the back of a seat, gazing at the
+ceiling and buried in deep thought. Conductor Tobin and the other brakeman
+were seated some distance behind him engaged in conversation.</p>
+
+<p>Rod was thinking of what an awful thing it was to be blind, and this chain
+of thought was suggested by a glimpse of the young man with smoked
+glasses, whom he had assisted on board the &ldquo;Limited&rdquo; some hours before,
+standing on the platform of the station they had just left. He had
+evidently reached his journey&#8217;s end and was patiently waiting for some one
+to come and lead him away&mdash;or at least this was what Rod imagined the
+situation to be. In reality, that same young man, with unimpaired eyesight
+and no longer wearing smoked glasses, was on board the express special at
+that very moment. He had sprung on to the forward platform of the money
+car undetected in the darkness as the train left the circle of station
+lights and was now on its roof fastening a light rope ladder to a ledge
+just above one of the middle and half-glazed doors of the car. A red
+flannel mask concealed the lower half of his
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 139]</span> face, and as he swung
+himself down on his frail and fearfully swaying support he held a powerful
+navy revolver in his right hand. He was taking frightful risks to win a
+desperate game. Failing in his effort to conceal himself aboard the very
+train he intended to rob, he had taken passage on the &ldquo;Limited&rdquo; as far as
+its first stopping-place and had there awaited the coming of the Express
+Special. Thus far his reckless venture had succeeded, and as Rod sat in
+the coach thinking pityingly of him, he was covering the unsuspecting
+messenger in the money car with his revolver.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What would I do if I were blind?&rdquo; thought Rod. &ldquo;I suppose uncle would
+take care of me; but how humiliating it would be to have to go back to him
+helpless and dependent. How thankful I should be that I can see besides
+being well and strong and able to care for myself. I will do it too
+without asking help from any one, and I&#8217;ll win such a name for honesty
+and faithfulness on this road that even Uncle Arms will be compelled to
+believe whatever I may tell him. I wonder if Snyder could have put that
+emery into the oil-cup himself? It doesn&#8217;t seem as though any one could be
+so mean.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 140]</span>
+Just here a slight incident interrupted the lad&#8217;s thoughts so suddenly
+that he sprang to his feet&mdash;unconsciously his eyes had been fixed on the
+bell-cord that ran through the entire train to the cab of the locomotive.
+It had hung a little slack, but all at once this slack was jerked up as
+though some one had pulled the cord. This would have been a signal to stop
+the train, and if the train were to be stopped at that point something
+must be wrong. A backward glance showed Conductor Tobin and the other
+brakeman to be still quietly engaged in conversation. Neither of them
+could have pulled the cord. Rod stepped to the door and looked out. The
+train was tearing along at a terrific speed, and the rush of air nearly
+took away his breath. There was no sign of slackening speed and everything
+appeared to be all right. The next car ahead of the coach was the money
+car. At least Conductor Tobin had thought so, though none of the trainmen
+was ever quite sure which one of the half dozen or more express cars it
+was. Its rear door was of course closed and locked, but some impulse moved
+Rod to clamber up on its platform railing and peer through the little hole
+by which the bell-cord entered. He could not see
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 141]</span> much, but that which
+was disclosed in a single glimpse almost caused his heart to cease its
+beating. Within his range of vision came the heads of two men evidently
+engaged in a struggle and one of them wore a mask over the lower part of
+his face. The next instant Rod had sprung down from his perilous perch and
+dashed back into the coach shouting breathlessly:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&#8217;s a masked man fighting the messenger in the money car!&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 142]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>OVER THE TOP OF THE TRAIN.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>At Rodman&#8217;s startling announcement Conductor Tobin sprang to his feet,
+reached for the bell-cord, and gave it two sharp pulls. A single whistle
+blast from the locomotive made instant reply that his signal was received
+and understood. So promptly was it obeyed that as the conductor and his
+two brakemen ran to the front platform to swing far out and look along the
+sides of the express cars ahead of them, the grinding brakes were already
+reducing the speed of the flying train.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly a pistol shot rang angrily out, and a bullet crashed into the
+woodwork close above Rod Blake&#8217;s head. He and the conductor were leaning
+out on one side while the other brakeman occupied the opposite one.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Give the signal to go ahead at once, or I&#8217;ll come back there and blow
+your brains out!&rdquo;<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 143]</span> came in a hoarse
+voice from a side door of the money car.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, I&#8217;ll do it; only don&#8217;t shoot,&rdquo; shouted Conductor Tobin in
+answer, giving the desired signal to the engineman, by raising and
+lowering his lantern vertically, as he spoke. At the same time he said
+hurriedly to the brakeman on the opposite side of the platform, and thus
+concealed from the robber&#8217;s view:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Drop off, Tom, and run back to number 10. Telegraph ahead to all
+stations, and we&#8217;ll bag that fellow yet!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The man did as directed, swinging low and giving a forward spring that
+landed him safely beside the track, though the train was still moving
+fully twenty miles an hour.</p>
+
+<p>The engineman, though greatly puzzled at receiving the signal to go ahead
+immediately after being ordered to stop, had obeyed it, thrown off brakes,
+and the train was again gathering its usual headway.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now Rod,&rdquo; said Conductor Tobin, as the other brakeman disappeared; &ldquo;I
+want you to make your way over the top of the train to the engine, and
+tell Eli what is taking place. Tell him to keep her wide
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 144]</span> open till we
+reach Millbank, and not to give her the &ldquo;air&rdquo; till we are well up with the
+station. It&#8217;s a tough job for you, and one I hate to send you on. At the
+same time it&#8217;s got to be done, and after your experience on the freight
+deck, I believe you are the lad to undertake it. Anyway, you&#8217;ll be safe
+from that pistol when once you reach the cab.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I don&#8217;t like to leave you here alone to be shot,&rdquo; remonstrated Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never mind me. I don&#8217;t believe I&#8217;ll get shot. At any rate, this is my
+place, and here I must stay. Now move along, and God bless you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>There was a strong hand-clasp between the conductor and brakeman, and
+then the latter started on the perilous journey he had been ordered to
+undertake. It was no easy task to maintain a footing on the rounded roofs
+of those express cars as they were hurled on through the night at the rate
+of nearly a mile a minute; while to leap from one to another seemed almost
+suicidal. Not more than one brakeman in a thousand could have done it; but
+Rod Blake, with his light weight, athletic training, and recent experience
+combined with absolute fearlessness, was that one. His inclination was to
+get down on his hands and<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 145]</span>
+knees and crawl along the slippery roofs. If he
+had yielded to it he would never have accomplished the trip. He believed
+that the only way to make it was by running and clearing the spaces
+between cars with flying leaps, and, incredible as it may seem, that is
+the way he did it. He had kicked off his shoes before starting, and now
+ran with stockinged feet.</p>
+
+<p>The occupants of the cab were as startled by his appearance beside them
+as though he had been a ghost, and when his story was told the engineman
+wanted to stop the train at once and go back to the assistance of the
+imperilled messenger. Rod however succeeded in persuading him that, as
+the messenger&#8217;s fate was probably already decided, their only hope of
+capturing the robber lay in carrying out Conductor Tobin&#8217;s plan of running
+at such speed that he would not dare jump from the train until a station
+prepared for his reception was reached.</p>
+
+<p>When the engineman finally agreed to this, and before he could utter
+the remonstrance that sprang to his lips, Rodman clambered back over the
+heaped-up coal of the tender, swung himself to the roof of the forward car
+and began to retrace his perilous journey to the rear end of the train. He
+argued that if Conductor Tobin&#8217;s place was back there
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 146]</span> exposed to the
+shots of a desperate man, his brakeman&#8217;s place was beside him. Even if Rod
+had not been a railroad boy, or &ldquo;man,&rdquo; as he now called himself, his
+natural bravery and sense of honor would have taken him back to that
+coach. Ever since he had enlisted in the service that demands as strict
+obedience as that required of a soldier and an equal contempt of danger,
+this lad was doubly alert to the call of whatever he regarded as duty.
+There is no service in the world, outside of the army, so nearly
+resembling it in requirements and discipline as that of a railroad. It is
+no place for cowards nor weaklings; but to such a lad as Rod Blake it adds
+the stimulus of excitement and ever-present danger and the promise of
+certain promotion and ample reward for the conscientious performance of
+every-day duties.</p>
+
+<p>So Rod, feeling in duty bound to do so, made his way back over the reeling
+roofs of that on-rushing train to the side of his superior officer. As he
+scrambled and slipped and leaped from car to car he fully realized the
+imminent peril of his situation, but was at the same time filled with a
+wild exhilaration and buoyance of spirits such as he had never before
+known.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 147]</span>
+Conductor Tobin, standing just inside the coach door with pale face and
+set lips, was amazed to see him. For a moment he fancied the lad had been
+daunted by the task imposed upon him and had turned back without reaching
+the locomotive. When he realized that Rod had not only made the perilous
+trip once, but twice, his admiration was unbounded, and though he tried to
+scold him for his foolhardiness the words refused to come. He shook the
+young brakeman&#8217;s hand so heartily instead that the action conveyed a
+volume of praise and appreciation.</p>
+
+<p>Now, as they watched together with an intense eagerness for the lights of
+Millbank they became conscious of a yellow glare, like that of an open
+furnace, streaming from the side door of the money car.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The scoundrel has set the car on fire!&rdquo; gasped Conductor Tobin.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&#8217;t you think we ought to break in the door with an axe and make a rush
+for him?&rdquo; asked Rod.</p>
+
+<p>Before the other could reply, a long, ear-splitting whistle blast
+announcing their approach to a station sounded from the locomotive.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 148]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>STOP THIEF!</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As Train Number 29 dashed up to the Millbank station and was brought to a
+stop almost as suddenly as a spirited horse is reined back on his haunches
+by a curb bit, the many flashing lanterns guarding all approaches, and the
+confused throng of dark forms on its platform told that Brakeman Tom had
+performed his duty and that its arrival was anticipated.</p>
+
+<p>The abruptness of this unexpected stop caused the messengers in the
+several cars to open their doors and look out inquiringly. At the same
+time, and even before it was safe to do so, Conductor Tobin and Rod
+dropped to the ground and ran to the door of the money car. The glare of
+firelight streaming from it attracted others to the same spot. There were
+loud cries for buckets and water, and almost before the car wheels ceased
+to slide on the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 149]</span>
+polished rails a score of willing hands were drenching
+out the fire of way-bills, other papers, and a broken chair that was
+blazing merrily in the middle of its floor. The flames were already
+licking the interior woodwork, and but for this opportune stop would have
+gathered such headway inside of another minute as would not only have
+destroyed the car but probably the entire train.</p>
+
+<p>The moment the subsiding flames rendered such a thing possible, a rush was
+made for the inside of the car, but Conductor Tobin calling one of the
+express messengers and the engineman who had come running back, to aid
+him, and telling Rod to guard the door, sternly ordered the crowd to keep
+out until he had made an examination. From his post at the doorway Rod
+could look in at a sight that filled him with horror. The interior of the
+car was spattered with blood. On the floor, half hidden beneath a pile of
+packages, lay the messenger, still alive but unconscious and bleeding from
+half a dozen wounds. The brave right hand that had tried to pull the
+bell cord had been shattered by a pistol ball, and the messenger&#8217;s own
+Winchester lay on the floor beside him. Broken packages that had contained
+money,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 150]</span> jewelry, and other valuables
+were scattered in every direction,
+while the open safe from which they had come was as empty as the day it
+was made.</p>
+
+<p>The trainmen became furious as one after another of these mute witnesses
+told of the outrages so recently perpetrated, and swore vengeance on the
+robber when they should catch him. They ransacked every corner of the car,
+but search as they might they could discover no trace of his presence nor
+of the method of his flight. The man had left the car as he had entered it
+taking the precaution of removing his rope ladder as he went.</p>
+
+<p>The baffled searchers had just reached the conclusion that he must have
+leaped from the train in spite of its speed and of Conductor Tobin&#8217;s
+watchfulness, when Rod, who from his position in the doorway could look
+over the heads of the crowd surrounding the car called out:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stop that man! The one with a leather bag slung over his shoulder! Stop
+him! Stop thief! He is the robber!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In the glare of an electric light that happened to shine full upon him for
+a moment, Rod had seen the man walk away from the forward end of the
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 151]</span> car
+next ahead of the one they were searching as though he had just left it.
+He was not noticed by the bystanders as all eyes were directed toward the
+door of the money car. To the young brakeman his figure and the stout
+leather bag that he carried seemed familiar. As he looked, the man raised
+a kid-gloved hand to shift the position of his satchel, and from it shot
+the momentary flash of a diamond. With Rod this was enough to at once
+establish the man&#8217;s identity. Although he no longer wore smoked glasses
+Rod knew him to be the man who, pretending partial blindness, had first
+boarded the Express Special, then taken passage on the &ldquo;Limited,&rdquo; and whom
+he had seen on the platform of the last station at which they had stopped.
+How could he have reached Millbank? He must have come by the Express
+Special, and so must be connected with its robbery.</p>
+
+<p>All these thoughts darted through Rod&#8217;s head like a flash of lightning,
+and as he uttered his shouts of warning he sprang to the ground with a
+vague idea of preventing the stranger&#8217;s escape. At the same moment the
+crowd surged back upon him, and when he finally cleared himself from it he
+saw the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 152]</span> man backing down the platform,
+holding his would-be pursuers in
+check with a levelled pistol, and just disappearing from the circle of
+electric light.</p>
+
+<p>A minute later two frightened men were driven at the point of a revolver
+from the cab of a freight locomotive that, under a full head of steam,
+was standing on the outer one of the two west-bound tracks. They had
+hardly left it in sole charge of the robber, by whom it had already been
+uncoupled from its train, before it sprang forward and began to move away
+through the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Rod, who was now well in advance of all other pursuers, instantly
+comprehended the situation. His own train stood on the inner west-bound
+track and he was near its forward end. The robber with his blood-stained
+plunder was disappearing before his very eyes, and if lost to view might
+easily run on for a few miles and then make good his escape. He must not
+be allowed to do so! He must be kept in sight!</p>
+
+<p>This was Rod&#8217;s all-absorbing thought at the moment. Moved by it, he jerked
+out the coupling-pin, by which the locomotive of the Express Special was
+attached to its train, leaped into the cab, threw
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 153]</span> over the lever, pulled
+open the throttle, and had started on one of the most thrilling races
+recorded in the annals of railroading, before the astonished fireman, who
+had been left in charge, found time to remonstrate.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look here, young fellow! what are you about?&rdquo; he shouted, stepping
+threateningly toward Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We are about chasing the train robber, who has just gone off with that
+engine on number four track, and you want to keep up the best head of
+steam you know how,&rdquo; was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Have we any orders to do so?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have, at any rate, for I give them to you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And who are you? I never saw you before to-night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am Rod Blake, one of Tobin&#8217;s trainmen, and if you don&#8217;t quit bothering
+me with your stupidity and go to work, I&#8217;ll pitch you out of this cab!&rdquo;
+shouted Rod savagely, in a tone that betrayed the intensity of his nervous
+excitement.</p>
+
+<p>The man had heard of the young brakeman and of his skill as a boxer,
+though he had never met him before that night, and his half-formed
+intention of compelling the lad to turn back was decidedly
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 154]</span> weakened by
+the mention of his name. Still he hesitated. He was a powerful fellow with
+whom in a struggle Rod could not have held his own for a minute, but he
+was clearly lacking in what railroad men call &ldquo;sand.&rdquo; Suddenly Rod made a
+movement as though to spring at him, at the same time shouting, &ldquo;Do as I
+tell you, sir, and get to work at once!&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 155]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A RACE OF LOCOMOTIVES.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>In any struggle between two human beings, the one possessed of the more
+powerful will is certain to win. In the present case, Rod Blake&#8217;s will was
+so much stronger than that of the fireman that the burly fellow obeyed his
+order, turned sullenly away, and began to shovel coal into the roaring
+furnace.</p>
+
+<p>Their speed was now tremendous, for though Rod knew but little about the
+management of a locomotive engine, he did know that the wider the throttle
+was opened the faster it would go. So he pulled the handle as far back as
+he dared, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the dark form of the
+fugitive locomotive disclosed by the glare of their own head-light. Now
+if he could keep it in sight, and so force the speed, that it would be
+impossible for the robber to jump off until some large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> station was
+reached, Rod felt that all would yet go well.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly the runaway seemed to stop. Then it began to move back toward
+them. In another instant they had dashed past it, but not before two
+pistol bullets had come crashing through the cab windows. A bit of
+splintered glass cut Rod&#8217;s forehead and a little stream of blood began to
+trickle down his face. Without heeding it, he shut off steam, reversed,
+opened again, and within half a minute the pursuers were rushing back over
+the ground they had just covered.</p>
+
+<p>Again the train robber tried the same game, again the two locomotives flew
+by each other, and again pistol balls came singing past Rod Blake&#8217;s ears.
+As for the fireman he had flung himself flat on the floor of the cab. Rod
+could hardly believe that he had not been hit by one of those hissing
+bullets, but as he felt no wound he again reversed his engine and again
+dashed ahead.</p>
+
+<p>Now they gained steadily on the fugitive. His steam was giving out, and he
+had neither the time to renew his supply nor the knowledge of how to do
+so. The pursuit was decidedly hotter than he had
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 157]</span> anticipated, and had not
+been checked in the least by his pistol shots, as he had hoped it would
+be. He must try some other plan of escape, and that quickly. He did not
+know how many men were on that fiercely pursuing locomotive, nor whether
+they were armed or not. He only knew that within another minute they would
+overtake him. He formed a desperate resolve, and a moment later Rod Blake
+thought he saw a dark form scrambling from a ditch beside the track as
+they flew past. When they reached the &ldquo;dying&rdquo; locomotive of which they
+were in pursuit and found it abandoned, he knew what had taken place. The
+train robber had leaped from its cab and was now making his way across
+country on foot.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;We must follow him!&rdquo; exclaimed Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may if you are such a fool; but I&#8217;ll be blowed if I will,&rdquo; answered
+the fireman.</p>
+
+<p>There was no time to be lost in argument, neither was Rod sure that those
+locomotives ought to be left unguarded. So, without another word, he
+dropped to the ground and started on a run across the fields in the
+direction he was almost certain the fugitive had taken.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 158]</span>
+The young brakeman soon came to a wagon road running parallel to the
+railway. Here he was brought to a halt. Which way should he go? To attempt
+to continue the pursuit in either direction without some definite
+knowledge to act upon seemed foolish. If he could only discover a house at
+which to make inquiries, or if some belated traveller would only come that
+way.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;Belated traveller&rsquo; is good,&rdquo; mused Rod as his eye caught a faint glow in
+the eastern sky. &ldquo;Here it is almost to-morrow while I thought it was still
+to-day. What a wild-goose chase I have come on anyway, and what should I
+do if I overtook the robber? I&#8217;m sure I don&#8217;t know. I won&#8217;t give it up
+though now that I have started in on it. Hello! Here comes some one now.
+Perhaps I can learn something from him. Hi, there!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The sound that had attracted the lad&#8217;s attention was that of a rapidly
+galloping horse, though it was so deadened by the sandy road that he did
+not hear it until the animal was close upon him. The light was very dim,
+and as Rod stood in a shadow neither the horse nor its rider perceived him
+until he started forward and shouted to attract the latter&#8217;s attention.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 159]</span>
+In an instant the startled animal had sprung to one side so suddenly as to
+fling its rider violently to the ground, where he lay motionless. The
+horse ran a short distance, then stopped and stood trembling.</p>
+
+<p>Horrified at the result of his hasty action, Rod kneeled beside the
+motionless man. His head had struck the root of a tree and though the boy
+could not discover that he was seriously injured, he was unconscious. In
+vain did the distressed lad attempt to restore him. He had little idea of
+what to do, there was no water at hand, and to his ignorance it seemed as
+if the man must be dying. He lifted one of the limp hands to chafe it, and
+started with amazement at the sight of a diamond ring that had cut its way
+through the torn and blackened kid glove in which the hand was encased.</p>
+
+<p>Could this be the very train robber of whom he was in pursuit? Where,
+then, was his leather satchel? Why, there it was, only a few feet away,
+lying where it had fallen as the man was flung to the ground. Incredible
+as it seemed, this must be the very man, and now what was to be done? Was
+ever a fellow placed in a more perplexing situation?
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 160]</span> He could not revive
+the unconscious form. Neither could he remove it from that place. Clearly
+he must have help. As he arrived at this conclusion Rod started on a run
+down the road, determined to find a habitation and secure human aid.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 161]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had
+begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that
+brought the lad to a sudden halt. Why not make use of this animal if he
+could catch it? Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly
+on horseback than on foot. He started gently toward it, holding out his
+hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and
+began to move away. &ldquo;How much he resembles Juniper,&rdquo; thought Rod. &ldquo;Here,
+Juniper! Here June, old fellow!&rdquo; he called. At the sound of his name the
+horse wheeled about and faced the lad in whose company he had recently
+undergone such a thrilling experience. The next instant Rod grasped the
+animal&#8217;s halter, for it had neither saddle nor bridle, and Juniper was
+evidently recognizing him.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 162]</span>
+As the young brakeman was about to leap on the horse&#8217;s back it occurred
+to him that the leather bag, which was undoubtedly filled with valuable
+plunder from the rifled express car ought not to be left lying in the
+road. No, it would be much better to carry it to a place of safety. With
+this thought came a recollection of the pistol shots so lately fired by
+the man at his feet. Would it not be well to disarm him lest he should
+revive and again prove dangerous before assistance could be found and
+brought to the place. Rod believed it would, and, acting upon the thought,
+transferred two revolvers from the train-robber&#8217;s pockets to his own.
+Then, after dragging the still unconscious man a little to one side beyond
+danger from any wagon that might happen along, the lad slung the heavy
+satchel over his shoulder, scrambled on to Juniper&#8217;s back and galloped
+away.</p>
+
+<p>The road was a lonely one, and he rode more than a mile before reaching
+a farm-house. Here the excited lad rapped loudly on the front door and
+shouted. No one was yet astir, and several minutes passed before an upper
+window was cautiously opened and a woman&#8217;s voice inquired who was there
+and what was wanted.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 163]</span>
+Rod began to explain his errand; but after a few words the woman called to
+him to wait until she could come down, and then slammed the window down.
+To the young brakeman&#8217;s impatience the ensuing delay seemed an hour in
+length, though in reality not more than five minutes elapsed before the
+front door opened and the woman again appeared.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now, what were you trying to tell me about men dying in the road?&rdquo; she
+asked sharply.</p>
+
+<p>As Rod was about to reply there came a sound of galloping horses and a
+shout from the place where he had left Juniper fastened to a fence post.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There he is!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Now we&#8217;ve got him!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Throw up your hands, you scoundrel!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&#8217;t you dare draw a pistol or we&#8217;ll fill you full of holes!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>These and a score of similar cries came to the ears of the bewildered lad
+as half a dozen horsemen dashed up to the front gate, and four of them,
+leaping to the ground, ran towards him while the others held the horses.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 164]</span>
+He was too astonished even to remonstrate, and as they seized him he
+submitted to the indignity as quietly as one who is dazed.</p>
+
+<p>The woman in the doorway regarded this startling scene with amazement.
+When in answer to her eager questions the new-comers told her that the
+young desperado whom she had so nearly admitted to her house was a
+horse-thief, who, but a short time before, had stolen the animal now
+tied to her front fence, at the point of a revolver from the man who was
+leading him to water, she said she wouldn&#8217;t have believed that such a mere
+boy could be so great a villian.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s the truth though,&rdquo; affirmed the man who acted as spokesman. &ldquo;Isn&#8217;t
+it, Al?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, siree,&rdquo; replied Al, a heavy-looking young farm hand. &ldquo;An more &#8217;n
+that, he fired at me too afore I&#8217;d give up the &#8217;orse. Oh, yes, he&#8217;s a bad
+un, young as he looks, an hangin&#8217; wouldn&#8217;t be none too good for him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I did nothing of the kind!&rdquo; cried Rod, indignantly, now finding a chance
+to speak. &ldquo;This is an outrage, and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 165]</span>
+&ldquo;Is this the fellow, Al?&rdquo; asked the spokesman, interrupting the young
+brakeman&#8217;s vehement protest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course it is. I&#8217;d know him anywhere by that bag slung over his
+shoulders, an he&#8217;s got pistols in his pockets, too.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, here they are,&rdquo; replied the leader, thrusting his hands into Rod&#8217;s
+coat pockets and drawing forth the two revolvers. &ldquo;Oh, there&#8217;s no use
+talking, young man. The proof against you is too strong. The only thing
+for you to do is to come along quietly and make the best of the situation.
+Horse thieves have been getting altogether too plenty in this part of the
+country of late, and we&#8217;ve been laying for one to make an example of for
+more &#8217;n a week now. Its mighty lucky for you that you didn&#8217;t tackle an
+armed man instead of Al there, this morning. If you had you&#8217;d have got a
+bullet instead of a horse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I tell you,&rdquo; cried Rod, &ldquo;that I took those things from a man who was
+flung from that horse back here in the road about a mile. He is&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I haven&#8217;t any doubt that you took them,&rdquo; interrupted the man, grimly,
+&ldquo;the same as you took the horse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 166]</span>
+&ldquo;And I only made use of the horse to obtain assistance for him the more
+quickly,&rdquo; continued Rod. &ldquo;I left him stunned by his fall, and he may be
+dead by this time. He will be soon, anyway, if some one doesn&#8217;t go to him,
+and then you&#8217;ll be murderers, that&#8217;s what you&#8217;ll be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Let us examine this bag that you admit you took from somebody without his
+permission, and see what it contains,&rdquo; said the man quietly, paying no
+heed to the lad&#8217;s statement. So saying, he opened the satchel that still
+hung from Rod&#8217;s shoulders. At the sight of its contents he uttered an
+exclamation of amazement.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, if this don&#8217;t beat anything I ever heard of!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The others crowded eagerly about him.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Whew! look at the greenbacks!&rdquo; cried one.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And gold!&rdquo; shouted another.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He must have robbed a bank!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&#8217;ll be a big reward offered for this chap.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He&#8217;s a more desperate character than we thought.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A regular jail-bird!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;There&#8217;s blood on some of these bills!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 167]</span>&ldquo;He ought to be tied.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>This last sentiment met with such general approval that some one produced
+a bit of rope, and in another moment poor Rod&#8217;s hands were securely bound
+together behind him.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 168]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>THE TRAIN ROBBER LEARNS OF ROD&#8217;S ARREST.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>&ldquo;I tell you the man who did it all is lying back there in the road!&rdquo;
+screamed Rod, furious with indignation at this outrage and almost sobbing
+with the bitterness of his distress. &ldquo;He is a train robber, and I&#8217;m a
+passenger brakeman on the New York and Western road. He made an escape and
+I was chasing him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Just listen to that now,&rdquo; said one of the men jeeringly. &ldquo;It&#8217;s more than
+likely you are the train robber yourself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Looks like a brakeman, doesn&#8217;t he?&rdquo; sneered another, &ldquo;especially as they
+are all obliged to wear a uniform when on duty.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He&#8217;s a nice big party of men, he is. Just such a one as the railroad
+folks would collect and send in pursuit of a train robber,&rdquo; remarked the
+leader ironically. &ldquo;Oh, no, my lad, that&#8217;s too thin. If
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 169]</span> you must tell
+lies I&#8217;d advise you to invent some that folks might have a living chance
+of believing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s not a lie!&rdquo; declared Rod earnestly and almost calmly; for though his
+face was quite pale with suppressed excitement, he was regaining control
+of his voice. &ldquo;It&#8217;s the solemn truth and I&#8217;m willing to swear to it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, hush, sonny, don&#8217;t swear. That would be naughty,&rdquo; remonstrated one of
+the men, mockingly.</p>
+
+<p>Without noticing him, Rod continued: &ldquo;If you will only take me back about
+a mile on the road I will show you the real train robber, and so prove
+that part of my story. Then at Millbank I can prove the rest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Look here, young fellow,&rdquo; said the leader, harshly, &ldquo;why will you persist
+in such nonsense? We have just came over that part of the road and we
+didn&#8217;t see anything of any man lying in it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Because I dragged him to one side,&rdquo; explained Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, well, you&#8217;ll have a chance to show us your man if you can find him,
+for we are going to take you back that way anyhow. Come on, fellows, let&#8217;s
+be moving. The sooner we get this young
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 170]</span>horse-thief behind bolts and bars
+the sooner we&#8217;ll be rid of an awkward responsibility.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So poor Rod, still bound, was placed on Juniper&#8217;s back, and, with one man
+on each side of him, two in front and two behind, rode unhappily back over
+the road that he had traversed on an errand of mercy but a short time
+before.</p>
+
+<p>As the little group disappeared, the woman in whose front yard this
+exciting arrest had been made turned to hasten the preparations for her
+children&#8217;s breakfast that she might the sooner visit her nearest neighbors
+and tell them of these wonderful happenings. She was filled with the
+belief that she had had a most remarkable escape, and was eager to have
+her theory confirmed.</p>
+
+<p>When she finally reached her neighbor&#8217;s house and burst in upon them
+breathless and unannounced, she was somewhat taken aback to see a strange
+young man, wearing a pair of smoked glasses and having a very pale face,
+sitting at breakfast with them. The woman of the house informed her in a
+whisper, that he was a poor theological student making his way on foot
+back to college in order to save travelling expenses, and though he had
+only<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 171]</span> stopped to ask for a
+glass of water they had insisted upon his
+taking breakfast with them.</p>
+
+<p>Then the visitor unburdened herself of her budget of startling news,
+ending up with: &ldquo;An&#8217; I knew he was a desp&#8217;rate character the minit I set
+eyes onto him, for I&#8217;m a master-hand at reading faces, I am. Why, sir,&rdquo;
+here she turned to the pale student by whose evident interest in her story
+she was greatly flattered, &ldquo;I could no more take him for the honest lad he
+claimed to be than I would take you for a train robber. No, indeed. A face
+is like a printed page to me every time and I&#8217;m not likely to be fooled, I
+can tell you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It is truly a wonderful gift,&rdquo; murmured the young man as he rose from the
+table and started to leave the house, excusing his haste on the plea of
+having a long distance still to travel.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What a saintly expression that young man has!&rdquo; exclaimed the visitor,
+watching him out of sight, &ldquo;and what a preacher he will make!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>At the same moment he of the smoked glasses was saying to himself: &ldquo;So
+that is what happened while I lay there like a log by the roadside, is it?
+Well, it&#8217;s hard luck; but certainly I ought to be able
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 172]</span> to turn the
+information furnished by that silly woman to some good account.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime poor Rod was far from enjoying a morning ride that under
+other circumstances would have proved delightful. The sun shone from an
+unclouded sky, the air was deliciously cool and bracing, and the crisp
+autumn leaves of the forest-road rustled pleasantly beneath the horses&#8217;
+feet. But the boy was thinking too intently, and his thoughts were of too
+unpleasant a nature for him to take note of these things. He was wondering
+what would happen in case the train robber should not be found where he
+had left him.</p>
+
+<p>He was not left long in suspense, for when they reached the place that he
+was certain was the right one there was no man, unconscious or otherwise,
+to be seen on either side or in any direction. He had simply regained his
+senses soon after Rod left him, staggered to his feet, and, with ever
+increasing strength, walked slowly along the road. He finally discovered
+a side path through the woods that led him to the farm-house where, on
+account of his readily concocted tale, he received and accepted a cordial
+invitation to breakfast.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 173]</span>
+As for Rod, his disappointment at not finding the proof of which he had
+been so confident was so great that he hardly uttered a protest, when
+instead of carrying him to Millbank or any other station on the line where
+he might have found friends, his captors turned into a cross-road from the
+left and journeyed directly away from the railroad.</p>
+
+<p>In about an hour they reached the village of Center where the young
+brakeman, escorted by half the population of the place, was conducted
+through the main street to the county jail. Here he was delivered to the
+custody of the sheriff with such an account of his terrible deeds, and
+strict injunctions as to his safe keeping, that the official locked him
+into the very strongest of all his cells. As the heavy door clanged in
+his face, and Rod realized that he was actually a prisoner, he vaguely
+wondered if railroad men often got into such scrapes while attempting the
+faithful discharge of their duties.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 174]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A WELCOME VISITOR.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>To be cast into jail and locked up in a cell is not a pleasant experience
+even for one who deserves such a fate; while to an honest lad like Rodman
+Blake who had only tried to perform what he considered his duty to the
+best of his ability, it was terrible. In vain did he assure himself that
+his friends would soon discover his predicament and release him from it.
+He could not shake off the depressing influence of that narrow room, of
+the forbidding white walls, and the grim grating of the massive door. He
+was too sensible to feel any sense of disgrace in being thus wrongfully
+imprisoned; but the horror of the situation remained, and it seemed as
+though he should suffocate behind those bars if not speedily released.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the sheriff, whose breakfast had been interrupted by the
+arrival of the self-appointed<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 175]</span>
+constables and their prisoner, returned to
+his own pleasant dining-room to finish that meal. He was a bachelor, and
+the only other occupant of the room was his mother, who kept house for
+him, and was one of the dearest old ladies in the world. She was a
+Quakeress, and did not at all approve of her son&#8217;s occupation. As she
+could not change it, however, she made the best use of the opportunities
+for doing good afforded by his position, and many a prisoner in that jail
+found occasion to bless the sheriff&#8217;s mother. She visited them all, did
+what she could for their comfort, and talked with them so earnestly, at
+the same time so kindly and with such ready sympathy, that several cases
+of complete reformation could be traced directly to her influence. Now her
+interest was quickly aroused by her son&#8217;s account of the youthful prisoner
+just delivered into his keeping, and she sighed deeply over the story of
+his wickedness.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is it certain that he did all these things, Robert?&rdquo; she asked at length.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I guess there is no doubt of it. He was caught almost in the very
+act,&rdquo; answered the sheriff, carelessly.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 176]</span>&ldquo;And thee says he is young?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, hardly more than a boy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Does thee think he has had any breakfast?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Probably not; but I&#8217;ll carry him some after I&#8217;ve been out and fed the
+cattle,&rdquo; answered her son, who was a farmer as well as a sheriff.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Is thee willing I should take it to him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly, if you want to, only be very careful about locking everything
+securely after you,&rdquo; replied the sheriff, who was accustomed to requests
+of this kind. &ldquo;I don&#8217;t know why you should trouble yourself about him
+though, I&#8217;ll feed him directly.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why should we ever trouble ourselves, Robert, about those who are
+strangers, or sick, or in prison? Besides, perhaps the poor lad has no
+mother, while just now he must sorely feel the need of one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Thus it happened that a few minutes later Rod Blake was startled from his
+unhappy reverie by the appearance of an old lady in a dove-colored dress,
+a snowy cap and kerchief, in front of his door. As she unlocked it and
+stepped inside, he saw that she bore in her hands a tray on which a
+substantial breakfast was neatly arranged. The lad sprang to his feet, but
+faint from hunger and exhaustion as<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 177]</span> he was,
+he cast only one glance at
+the tempting tray. Then he gazed earnestly into the face of his visitor.</p>
+
+<p>Setting the tray down on a stool, for there was no table in the cell, the
+old lady said: &ldquo;I thought thee might be hungry my poor lad, and so have
+brought thee a bit of breakfast.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, madam! Don&#8217;t you know me? Don&#8217;t you remember me?&rdquo; cried Rod eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>Although startled by the boy&#8217;s vehemence, the old lady adjusted her
+spectacles and regarded him carefully. &ldquo;I can&#8217;t say that I do,&rdquo; she said
+at length, in a troubled tone. &ldquo;And yet thy face bears a certain look of
+familiarity. Where have I ever seen thee before?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Don&#8217;t you remember one morning a few weeks ago when you were in a
+railroad station, and dropped your purse, and I picked it up, and you gave
+me a quarter for seeing you safely on the train? Don&#8217;t you? I&#8217;m sure you
+must remember.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>The old lady was nervously wiping her spectacles. As she again adjusted
+them and gazed keenly at the boy, a flash of recognition lighted her face
+and she exclaimed, &ldquo;Of course I do! Of course I do! Thee is that same
+honest lad who restored every cent of<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 178]</span>
+the money that but for thee I might
+have lost! But what does it all mean? And how came thee here in this
+terrible place?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod was only too thankful to have a listener at once so interested and
+sympathetic as this one. Forgetful of his hunger and the waiting breakfast
+beside him, he at once began the relating of his adventures, from the time
+of first meeting with the dear old lady down to the present moment. It was
+a long story and was so frequently interrupted by questions that its
+telling occupied nearly an hour.</p>
+
+<p>At its conclusion the old lady, who was at once smiling and tearful, bent
+over and kissed the boy on his forehead, saying:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Bless thee, lad! I believe every word of thy tale, for thee has an honest
+face, and an honest tongue, as well as a brave heart. Thee has certainly
+been cruelly rewarded for doing thy duty. Never mind, thy troubles are now
+ended, for my son shall quickly summons the friends who will not only
+prove thy innocence and release thee from this place, but must reward thy
+honest bravery. First, though, thee must eat thy breakfast and I must go
+to fetch<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 179]</span> a cup of hot coffee,
+for this has become cold while we talked.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying the old lady bustled away with a reassuring little nod and a
+cheery smile that to poor Rod was like a gleam of sunlight shining into a
+dark place. As she went, the old lady not only left his cell door unlocked
+but wide open for she had privately decided that the young prisoner should
+not be locked in again if she could prevent it.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 180]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>THE SHERIFF IS INTERVIEWED.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>While this pleasant recognition of old acquaintances was taking place
+in the jail, the sheriff was sitting in his office and submitting to be
+interviewed by a young man who had introduced himself as a reporter from
+one of the great New York dailies. He was a pleasant young man, very
+fluent of speech, and he treated the sheriff with a flattering deference.
+He explained that while in the village on other business he had
+incidentally heard of the important arrest made that morning and thought
+that if the sheriff would kindly give him a few particulars he might
+collect material for a good story. Pleased with the idea of having his
+name appear in a New York paper the sheriff readily acceded to this
+request and gave his visitor all the information he possessed. The young
+man was so interested, and took such copious notes of
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 181]</span> everything the
+sheriff said, that the latter was finally induced to relax somewhat of his
+customary caution, and take from his safe the leather bag that had been
+captured on the person of the alleged horse-thief. The sheriff had opened
+this bag when he first received it, and had glanced at its contents, of
+which he intended to make a careful inventory at his first leisure moment.
+As this had not yet arrived, he was still ignorant of what the bag really
+contained. He knew, however, that its contents must be of great value and
+produced it to prove to the reporter that the young prisoner whom they
+were discussing was something more than a mere horse-thief.</p>
+
+<p>While the sheriff was still fumbling with the spring-catch of the bag,
+and before he had opened it, there came the sounds of a fall just outside
+the door, a crash of breaking china, and a cry in his mother&#8217;s voice.
+Forgetful of all else, the man dropped the bag, sprang to the door, and
+disappeared in the hall beyond, leaving his visitor alone. In less than
+two minutes he returned, saying that his mother had slipped and fallen on
+the lowest step of the stairway she was descending. She had broken a cup
+and saucer, but was herself unhurt, for which he was
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 182]</span> deeply grateful. As
+the sheriff made this brief explanation, he cast a relieved glance at the
+leather bag that still lay on the floor where he had dropped it, and at
+some distance from the chair in which the young man was sitting.</p>
+
+<p>Again he took up the bag to open it, and again he was interrupted. This
+time the interruption came in the shape of a messenger from the telegraph
+office, bringing the startling news of the recent train robbery and the
+daring escape of its perpetrator. The sheriff first read this despatch
+through to himself, and then handed it to his visitor, who had watched his
+face with eager interest while he read it. The moment he had glanced
+through the despatch, the young man started to his feet, exclaiming that
+such an important bit of news as that would materially alter his plans.
+Then he begged the sheriff to excuse him while he ran down to the
+telegraph office, and asked his paper for permission to remain there a few
+days longer. He said that he should like nothing better than a chance to
+assist in the capture of this desperate train robber, which he had no
+doubt would be speedily effected by the sheriff. He also promised to call
+again very shortly<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 183]</span>
+for further information, provided his paper gave him
+permission to remain.</p>
+
+<p>The sheriff was not at all sorry to have his visitor depart, as the
+despatch just received had given new direction to his thoughts, and he was
+wondering if there could be any connection between the train robber, the
+young horse-thief, and the bag of valuables that lay unopened on his desk.
+He glanced curiously at it, and determined to make a thorough examination
+of its contents as soon as he had written and sent off several despatches
+containing his suspicions, asking for further information and requesting
+the presence at the jail of such persons as would be able to identify the
+train robber.</p>
+
+<p>As he finished these, his mother, who had been preparing a fresh cup of
+coffee for Rod, entered the office full of her discovery in connection
+with the young prisoner and of the startling information he had given her.
+She would have come sooner but for the presence of her son&#8217;s visitor,
+before whom she did not care to divulge her news.</p>
+
+<p>Although the sheriff listened with interest to all she had to say, he
+expressed a belief that the young prisoner had taken advantage of her
+kindly nature,<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 184]</span> to work upon her
+sympathies with a plausible but easily concocted story.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I tell thee, Robert, I recognize the lad as the same who helped me on
+the train the last time I went to York.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That may be, and still he may be a bad one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Never, with such a face! It is as honest as thine, Robert. Of that I am
+certain, and if thee will only talk with him, I am convinced thee will
+think as I do. Nor will thee relock the door that I left open?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What!&rdquo; exclaimed the sheriff; &ldquo;you haven&#8217;t left his cell-door unlocked,
+mother, after the strict charges I gave you concerning that very thing?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I have, Robert,&rdquo; answered the old lady, calmly; &ldquo;and but for the
+others I would have left the corridor-door unlocked also. I was mindful of
+them, though, and of thy reputation.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;m thankful you had that much common-sense,&rdquo; muttered her son; &ldquo;and now,
+with your permission, I will take that cup of coffee, which I suppose you
+intend for your young <em>proteg&eacute;</em>, up to him myself.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And thee&#8217;ll speak gently with him?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, yes. I&#8217;ll talk to him like a Dutch uncle.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 185]</span>
+Thus it happened that when the door at the end of the jail corridor was
+swung heavily back on its massive hinges, and Rod Blake, who had been
+gazing from one of the corridor windows, looked eagerly toward it, he was
+confronted by the stern face of the sheriff instead of the placidly sweet
+one of the old lady, whom he expected to see.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What are you doing out here, sir? Get back into your cell at once!&rdquo;
+commanded the sheriff in an angry tone.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, sir! please don&#8217;t lock me in there again. It doesn&#8217;t seem as though I
+could stand it,&rdquo; pleaded Rod.</p>
+
+<p>The sheriff looked searchingly at the lad. His face was certainly a very
+honest one, and to one old lady at least he had been kindly considerate.
+At the thought of the ready help extended by this lad to his own
+dearly-loved mother in the time of her perplexity, the harsh words that
+the sheriff had meditated faded from his mind, and instead of uttering
+them he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well; I will leave your cell-door open, if you will give me your
+promise not to attempt an escape.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>And Rod promised.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 186]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>LIGHT DAWNS UPON THE SITUATION.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>On leaving Rodman the sheriff was decidedly perplexed. His prisoner&#8217;s
+honest face had made a decided impression upon him, and he had great
+confidence in his mother&#8217;s judgment concerning such cases, though he was
+careful never to admit this to her. At the same time all the circumstances
+pointed so strongly to the lad&#8217;s guilt that, as he reviewed them there
+hardly seemed a doubt of it. It is a peculiarity of sheriffs and jailers
+to regard a prisoner as guilty until he has been proved innocent.
+Nevertheless this sheriff gave his mother permission to visit Rod as
+often as she liked; only charging her to lock the corridor-door both upon
+entering and leaving the jail. So the dear old lady again toiled up the
+steep stairway, this time laden with books and papers. She found the tired
+lad stretched on his hard pallet and fast asleep, so she tiptoed softly
+away again without wakening him.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 187]</span>
+While the young prisoner was thus forgetting his troubles, and storing up
+new strength with which to meet them, the sheriff was scouring the village
+and its vicinity for traces of any stranger who might be the train robber.
+But strangers were scarce in Center that day and the only one he could
+hear of was the reporter who had interviewed him that morning. He had gone
+directly to the telegraph office where he had sent off the despatch of
+which he had spoken, to the New York paper he claimed to represent. In it
+he had requested an answer to be sent to Millbank, and he had subsequently
+engaged a livery team with which he declared his intention of driving to
+that place.</p>
+
+<p>Center, though not on the New York and Western railway, was on another
+that approached the former more closely at this point than at any other.
+To facilitate an exchange of freight a short connecting link had been
+built by both roads between Center and Millbank. Over this no regular
+trains were run, but all the transfer business was conducted by specials
+controlled by operators at either end of the branch. Consequently the few
+travellers between the two places waited until a train happened along
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 188]</span> or,
+if they were in a hurry, engaged a team as the reporter had done.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after noon the owner of Juniper, the stolen horse, accompanied by the
+thick-headed young farm hand from whom the animal had been taken, appeared
+at the jail in answer to the sheriff&#8217;s request for his presence. These
+visitors were at once taken to Rod&#8217;s cell, where the young prisoner
+greatly refreshed by his nap, sat reading one of the books left by the
+dear old lady. His face lighted with a glad recognition at sight of
+Juniper&#8217;s owner, and at the same moment that gentleman exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Why, sheriff, this can&#8217;t be the horse-thief! I know this lad. That is
+I engaged him not long since to bring that very horse up here to my
+brother&#8217;s place where I am now visiting. You remember me, don&#8217;t you,
+young man?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I do so, sir, and I am ever so glad to see some one who knew me
+before all these horrid happenings. Now if you will only make that fellow
+explain why he said I was the one who threatened to shoot him, and stole
+Juniper from him, when he knows he never set eyes on me before I was
+arrested, I shall be ever so much obliged.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 189]</span>
+&ldquo;How is this, sir?&rdquo; inquired the gentleman, turning sharply upon the young
+farm hand behind him. &ldquo;Didn&#8217;t you tell me you were willing to take oath
+that the lad whom you caused to be arrested and the horse-thief were one
+and the same person?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Y-e-e-s, s-i-r,&rdquo; hesitated the thick head.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Are you willing to swear to the same thing now?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;N-n-o, your honor,&mdash;that is, not hexactly. Someway he don&#8217;t look the same
+now as he did then.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then you don&#8217;t think he is the person who took the horse from you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir, I can&#8217;t rightly say as I do now, seeing as the man with the
+pistols was bigger every way than this one. If &#8217;e &#8217;adn&#8217;t been &#8217;e wouldn&#8217;t
+got the &#8217;orse so heasy, I can tell you, sir. Besides it was so hearly that
+the light was dim an&#8217; I didn&#8217;t see &#8217;is face good anyway. But when we
+caught him &#8217;e &#8217;ad the &#8217;orse an&#8217; the bag an&#8217; the pistols.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;When you caught who?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The &#8217;orse-thief. I mean this young man.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And you recognized him then?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir, I knowed &#8217;im by the bag, an&#8217; the &#8217;orse.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But you say he was a much larger man than this one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 190]</span>
+&ldquo;Oh, yes, sir! He was more &#8217;n six foot an&#8217; as big across the shoulders as
+two of &#8217;im.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod could not help smiling at this, as he recalled the slight figure of
+the train robber who had appropriated Juniper to his own use.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is evidently a badly-mixed case of mistaken identity,&rdquo; said the
+gentleman, turning to the sheriff, &ldquo;and I most certainly shall not prefer
+any charge against this lad. Why, in connection with that same horse he
+recently performed one of the pluckiest actions I ever heard of.&rdquo; Here the
+speaker narrated the story of Rod&#8217;s struggle with Juniper in utter
+darkness and within the narrow limits of a closed box-car.</p>
+
+<p>At its conclusion, the sheriff who was a great admirer of personal
+bravery, extended his hand to Rod, saying: &ldquo;I believe you to be the honest
+lad you claim to be, and an almighty plucky one as well. As such I want to
+shake hands with you. I must also state that as this gentleman refuses to
+enter a complaint against you I can no longer hold you prisoner. In fact I
+am somewhat doubtful whether I have done right in detaining you as long as
+I have without a warrant. Still, I want you to remain with
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 191]</span> us a few hours
+more, or until the arrival of certain parties for whom I have sent to come
+and identify the train robber.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Meaning me?&rdquo; asked Rod, with a smile. He could afford to smile now. In
+fact he was inclined to laugh and shout for joy over the favorable turn
+his fortunes appeared to be taking.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, meaning you,&rdquo; replied the sheriff good-humoredly. &ldquo;And to show how
+fully persuaded I am that you are the train robber, I hereby invite you to
+accompany us down-stairs in the full exercise of your freedom and become
+the honored guest of my dear mother for whom you recently performed so
+kindly a service. She told me of that at the time, and I am aware now,
+that I have not really doubted that you were what you claimed to be, since
+she recognized you as the one who then befriended her. I tell you, lad,
+it always pays in one way or another, to extend a helping hand to
+grandfathers and grandmothers, and to remember that we shall probably
+be in need of like assistance ourselves some day.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 192]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>AN ARRIVAL OF FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Thus it happened that although Rod had eaten his breakfast that morning
+in a prison cell he ate his dinner in the pleasant dining-room of the
+sheriff&#8217;s house with that gentleman, the dear old lady, and Juniper&#8217;s
+owner, for company. It was a very happy meal, in spite of the fact that
+the real train robber was still at large, and as its conversation was
+mostly devoted to the recent occurrences in which Rod had been so
+prominent an actor, his cheeks were kept in a steady glow by the praises
+bestowed upon him.</p>
+
+<p>Directly after dinner Juniper&#8217;s owner took his departure and soon
+afterwards a special train arrived from Millbank. It consisted of a
+locomotive and a single passenger coach in which were a number of New York
+and Western railroad men. They came in answer to the sheriff&#8217;s request for
+witnesses who<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 193]</span> might identify the
+train robber. Among these new arrivals
+were Snyder Appleby who had been sent from New York by Superintendent Hill
+to investigate the affair, Conductor Tobin who, after taking the Express
+Special to the end of his run, had been ordered back to Millbank for this
+purpose, his other brakeman who had hurried ahead at the first opportunity
+from the station at which he had been left, the fireman of the locomotive
+with which Rod had chased the robber, and several others.</p>
+
+<p>As this party was ushered into the sheriff&#8217;s private office its members
+started with amazement at the sight of Rod Blake sitting there as calmly,
+as though perfectly at home and waiting to receive them.</p>
+
+<p>Upon their entrance he sprang to his feet filled with a surprise equal to
+their own, for the sheriff had not told him of their coming.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well, sir! What are you doing here?&rdquo; demanded Snyder Appleby, who was the
+first to recover from his surprise, and who was filled with a sense of his
+own importance in this affair.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am visiting my friend, the sheriff,&rdquo; answered Rod, at once resenting
+the other&#8217;s tone and air.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, you are! And may I ask by what right you,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 194]</span> a mere brakeman in our
+employ, took it upon yourself to desert your post of duty, run off
+with one of our engines, endanger the traffic of the line and then
+unaccountably disappear as you did last night or rather early this
+morning?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You may ask as much as you please,&rdquo; answered Rod, &ldquo;but I shall refuse to
+answer any of your questions until I know by what authority you ask them.&rdquo;
+The young brakeman spoke quietly, but the nature of his feelings was
+betrayed by the hot flush that sprang to his cheeks.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You&#8217;ll find out before I&#8217;m through with you,&rdquo; cried Snyder savagely. &ldquo;Mr.
+Sheriff I order you to place this fellow under arrest.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Upon what charge?&rdquo; asked the sheriff. &ldquo;Is he the train robber?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course not,&rdquo; was the reply, &ldquo;but he is a thief all the same. He is one
+of our brakemen and ran off with a locomotive.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What did he do with it?&rdquo; asked the sheriff, with an air of interest.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Left it standing on the track.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, I didn&#8217;t know but what he carried it off with him. Did he leave it
+alone and unguarded?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 195]</span>
+Snyder was compelled to admit that the engine had been left in charge of
+its regular firemen; but still claimed that the young brakeman had
+committed a crime for which he ought to be arrested.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I suppose you want me to arrest that fireman too?&rdquo; suggested the sheriff.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no. It was his duty to accompany the engine.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But why didn&#8217;t he refuse to allow it to move?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He was forced to submit by threats of personal injury made by this
+brakeman fellow. Isn&#8217;t that so?&rdquo; asked Snyder, and the fireman nodded an
+assent.</p>
+
+<p>The sheriff smiled as he glanced first at the burly form of the fireman
+and then at Rod&#8217;s comparatively slight figure. &ldquo;Can any of these men
+identify this alleged locomotive thief?&rdquo; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly they can. Tobin, tell the sheriff what you know of him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Blazing with indignation at the injustice and meanness of Snyder&#8217;s absurd
+charge against his favorite brakeman, Conductor Tobin answered promptly:
+&ldquo;I know him to be one of the best brakemen on the road, although he is the
+youngest.<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 196]</span> He is one of the pluckiest too and as honest as he is plucky.
+I&#8217;ll own he might have made a mistake in going off with that engine; but
+all the same it was a brave thing to do and I am certain he thought he was
+on the right track.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know him too?&rdquo; asked the sheriff of the other brakeman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir. I am proud to say I do and in regard to what I think of him
+Conductor Tobin&#8217;s words exactly express my sentiments.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you also know him?&rdquo; was asked of the fireman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I know him to be the young rascal who ran me twice into such a storm
+of bullets from the train robber&#8217;s pistols that it&#8217;s a living wonder I&#8217;m
+not full of holes at this blessed minute.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What else did he do?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What else? Why, he jumped from the engine while she was running a good
+twenty mile an hour, and started off like the blamed young lunatic he is
+to chase after the train robber afoot. Wanted me to go with him too, but I
+gave him to understand I wasn&#8217;t such a fool as to go hunting any more
+interviews with them pistols. No, sir; I stuck where I
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 197]</span> belonged and if
+he&#8217;d done the same he wouldn&#8217;t be in the fix he&#8217;s in now.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And yet,&rdquo; said the sheriff, quietly, &ldquo;this &lsquo;blamed young lunatic,&rsquo; as you
+call him, succeeded in overtaking that train robber after all. He also
+managed to relieve him of his pistols you seem to have dreaded so greatly,
+recover the valuable property that had been stolen from the express car,
+and also a fine horse that the robber had just appropriated to his own
+use. On the whole gentleman, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d better arrest him, do
+you?&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 198]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>WHERE ARE THE DIAMONDS?</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir. I think he ought to be arrested,&rdquo; said Snyder Appleby in reply
+to the sheriff&#8217;s question, &ldquo;and if you refuse to perform that duty I shall
+take it upon myself to arrest him in the name of the New York and Western
+Railway Company of which I am the representative here. I shall also take
+him back with me to the city where he will be dealt with according to his
+desserts by the proper authorities.&rdquo; Then turning to the members of his
+own party the self-important young secretary added: &ldquo;In the meantime I
+order you two men to guard this fellow and see that he does not escape,
+as you value your positions on the road.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You needn&#8217;t trouble yourself, Snyder, nor them either,&rdquo; said Rod
+indignantly, &ldquo;for I sha&#8217;n&#8217;t require watching. I am perfectly willing to go
+to New York with you, and submit my case to the proper
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 199]</span> authorities. In
+fact I propose to do that at any rate. At the same time I want you to
+understand that I don&#8217;t do this in obedience to any orders from you, nor
+will I be arrested by you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, that&#8217;s all right,&rdquo; replied Snyder, carelessly. &ldquo;So long as we get you
+there I don&#8217;t care how it is done. Now, Mr. Sheriff,&rdquo; he continued, &ldquo;we
+have already wasted too much time and if you will take us to see the bold
+train robber whom you say this boy captured single-handed and alone, we
+will finish our business here and be off.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&#8217;t say that he captured the train robber,&rdquo; replied the sheriff. &ldquo;I
+stated that he overtook him, relieved him of his pistols, and recovered
+the stolen property; but I am quite certain that I said nothing regarding
+the capture of the robber.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Where is he now?&rdquo; asked Snyder.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I don&#8217;t know. This lad left him lying senseless in the road, where he had
+been flung by a stolen horse, and went for assistance. Being mistaken for
+the person who had appropriated the horse he was brought here. In the
+meantime the train robber recovered his senses and made good his escape.
+That is, I suppose he did.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 200]</span>
+&ldquo;Then why did you telegraph that you had the train robber in custody, and
+bring us here to identify him?&rdquo; demanded Snyder sharply.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I didn&#8217;t,&rdquo; answered the sheriff, with a provoking smile, for he was
+finding great pleasure in quizzing this pompously arbitrary young man. &ldquo;I
+merely sent for a few persons who could identify the train robber to come
+and prove that this lad was not he. This you have kindly done to my entire
+satisfaction.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What!&rdquo; exclaimed Snyder. &ldquo;Did you suspect Rod, I mean this brakeman, of
+being the train robber?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I must confess that I did entertain such a suspicion, and for so doing I
+humbly beg Mr. Blake&#8217;s pardon,&rdquo; replied the sheriff.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It wouldn&#8217;t surprise me if he should prove to be connected with it, after
+all, for I believe him to be fully capable of such things,&rdquo; sneered
+Snyder.</p>
+
+<p>At this cruel remark there arose such a general murmur of indignation, and
+the expression of Rod&#8217;s face became so ominous that the speaker hastened
+to create a diversion of interest by asking the sheriff what had been done
+with the valuables recovered from the robber.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>&ldquo;They are in my safe.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You will please hand them over to me.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shall do nothing of the kind,&rdquo; retorted the sheriff, as he drew the
+stout leather bag from its place of security. &ldquo;I shall hand this bag, with
+all its contents, to the brave lad who recovered it, and entrust him with
+its safe delivery to those authorized to receive it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying, the sheriff handed the bag to Rod.</p>
+
+<p>Snyder turned pale with rage, and snatching an unsealed letter from his
+pocket, he flung it on the table, exclaiming angrily: &ldquo;There is my
+authority for conducting this business and for receiving such of the
+stolen property as may be recovered. If you fail to honor it I will have
+you indicted for conspiracy.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; said the sheriff, contemptuously. &ldquo;That would certainly be a
+most interesting proceeding&mdash;for you.&rdquo; Then to Rod, to whom he had already
+handed the bag, he said: &ldquo;If you decide to deliver this property to that
+young man, Mr. Blake, I would advise you to examine carefully the contents
+of the bag in presence of these witnesses and demand an itemized receipt
+for them.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 202]</span>
+&ldquo;Thank you, I will,&rdquo; replied Rod, emptying the contents of the bag on the
+table as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>There was a subdued exclamation from the railroad men at the sight of the
+wealth thus displayed in packages of bills and rolls of coin. Rodman
+requested the sheriff to call off the amount contained in each of these
+while he made out the list. At the same time Snyder drew from his pocket
+a similar list of the property reported to be missing from the express
+messenger&#8217;s safe.</p>
+
+<p>When Rod&#8217;s list was completed, Snyder, who had carefully checked off its
+items on his own, said: &ldquo;That&#8217;s all right so far as it goes, but where are
+the diamonds?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;What diamonds?&rdquo; asked Rod and the sheriff together.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The set of diamond jewelry valued at seven thousand five hundred dollars,
+in a morocco case, that has been missing ever since the robbery of the
+express car,&rdquo; was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I know nothing of it,&rdquo; said Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;This is the first I have heard of any diamonds,&rdquo; remarked the sheriff.</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg221" id="imgpg221"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 280px;">
+<img src="images/img221.jpg" width="280" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">the sheriff hands rod the leather bag.&mdash;
+(<em>page <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Has the bag been out of your possession since the
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 203]</span> arrest of
+this&mdash;person?&rdquo; asked Snyder, hesitating for a word that should express his
+feelings toward the lad who had once beaten him in a race, but who was now
+so completely in his power.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir, it has not,&rdquo; promptly replied the sheriff.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You have opened it before this, of course?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I glanced at its contents when it was first placed in my keeping,
+but made no examination of them, as I should have done had not other
+important matters claimed my attention.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;How long was the bag in your possession?&rdquo; asked Snyder, turning to Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;About half an hour, but&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Was any one with you during that half hour?&rdquo; interrupted the questioner.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No; but as I was going to say&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;That is sufficient. I don&#8217;t care to hear what you were going to say.
+Others may listen to that if they choose when the proper time comes. What
+I have to say regarding this business is, that in view of this new
+development I am more than ever desirous of delivering you into the hands
+of the proper authorities in New York. I would also suggest that your
+short and brilliant career as a railroader has come to
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 204]</span> a disgraceful end
+more quickly than even I suspected it would.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you mean to say that you think I stole those diamonds?&rdquo; demanded Rod,
+hotly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Oh, no,&rdquo; answered Snyder. &ldquo;I don&#8217;t say anything about it. The
+circumstances of the case speak so plainly for themselves that my
+testimony would be superfluous. Now, Mr. Sheriff, as our business here
+seems to be concluded, I think we will bid you good-by and be moving
+along.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You needn&#8217;t bid me good-by yet,&rdquo; responded the sheriff, &ldquo;for I have
+decided to go with you.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I doubt if I shall be able to find room for you in my special car,&rdquo; said
+Snyder, who for several reasons was not desirous of the sheriff&#8217;s company.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well. Then you will be obliged to dispense with Mr. Blake&#8217;s company
+also, for in view of the recent developments in this case I feel that I
+ought not to lose sight of him just yet.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 205]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>The sheriff&#8217;s concluding argument at once prevailed. Snyder was so eager
+to witness his rival&#8217;s humiliation and to hear the Superintendent
+pronounce his sentence of dismissal from the company&#8217;s employ, that he
+would have sacrificed much of his own dignity rather than forego that
+triumph. As matters now stood he could not see how Rod, even though he
+should not be convicted of stealing the missing diamonds, could clear
+himself from the suspicion of having done so.</p>
+
+<p>Neither could poor Rod see how it was to be accomplished. For mile after
+mile of that long ride back toward New York he sat in silence, puzzling
+over the situation. In spite of the attempts of the sheriff and Conductor
+Tobin to cheer him up, he grew more and more despondent at the prospect of
+having to go through life as one who is suspected.
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 206]</span> It was even worse than
+being locked into a prison cell, for he had known that could not last
+long, while this new trouble seemed interminable.</p>
+
+<p>The lad&#8217;s sorrowful reflections were interrupted by an ejaculation from
+the sheriff who sat beside him. On that gentleman&#8217;s knee lay an open
+watch, at which he had been staring intently and in silence for some time.
+He had also done some figuring on a pad of paper. Finally he uttered a
+prolonged &ldquo;Wh-e-w!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Both Rod and Conductor Tobin looked at him inquiringly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you know,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;that we have just covered a mile in forty-two
+seconds, and that we are travelling at the rate of eighty-five miles an
+hour?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I shouldn&#8217;t be surprised,&rdquo; replied Conductor Tobin, quietly; &ldquo;I heard Mr.
+Appleby tell the engineman at the last stop that if better time wasn&#8217;t
+made pretty soon he&#8217;d go into the cab himself and show &#8217;em how to do it.
+The idea of his talking that way to an old driver like Newman. Why, I
+don&#8217;t believe he knows the difference between a throttle and an injector.
+A pretty figure he&#8217;d cut in a cab! Newman didn&#8217;t answer him a word, only
+gave him<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 207]</span> a queer kind of a look.
+Now he&#8217;s hitting her up for all she&#8217;s
+worth, though, and, judging from appearances, Mr. Appleby wishes he&#8217;d held
+his tongue.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Snyder certainly was very pale, and was clutching the arms of his seat as
+though to keep himself from being flung to the floor during the frightful
+lurchings of the car as it spun around curves.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But isn&#8217;t it middling dangerous to run so fast?&rdquo; asked the sheriff, as
+the terrific speed seemed to increase.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not so very,&rdquo; answered the Conductor. &ldquo;I don&#8217;t consider that there is any
+more danger at a high rate of speed than there is at forty or fifty miles
+an hour! If we were to strike a man, a cow, a wagon, or even a pile of
+ties while going at this rate we&#8217;d fling the obstacle to one side like a
+straw and pay no more attention to it. If we were only doing fifteen or
+twenty miles though, instead of between eighty and ninety, any one of
+these things would be apt to throw us off the track. I tell you,
+gentleman, old man Newman is making things hum though! You see he has got
+number 385, one of the new compound engines. He claims that she can do one
+hundred miles an hour just as well as not, and that he is the
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 208]</span> man to get
+it out of her. He says he can stand it if she can. He made her do a mile
+in 39&frac14; seconds on her trial trip, and claims that about a month ago
+when he was hauling the grease wagon<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a>
+<a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> she did 4-1/10 miles in 2&frac12;
+minutes, which is at the rate of 98.4 miles an hour.
+<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>
+His fireman backs
+him up, and says he held the stop-watch between stations. The paymaster
+was so nearly scared to death that time that Newman was warned never to
+try for his hundred-mile record again without special orders. Now I
+suppose he considers that he has received them and is making the most of
+his chance.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s awful!&rdquo; gasped Snyder, who had drawn near enough to the group to
+overhear the last of Conductor Tobin&#8217;s remarks. &ldquo;The man must be crazy.
+Isn&#8217;t there some way of making him slow down?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Not if he is crazy, as you suggest, sir,&rdquo; replied Conductor Tobin, with a
+sly twinkle in his eyes. &ldquo;It would only make matters worse to interfere
+with him now, and all we can do is to hope for the best.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It&#8217;s glorious!&rdquo; shouted Rod, forgetting all his troubles in the
+exhilaration of this wild ride. &ldquo;It&#8217;s
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 209]</span> glorious! And I only hope he&#8217;ll
+make it. Do you really think a hundred miles an hour is within the
+possibilities, Mr. Tobin?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Certainly I do,&rdquo; answered the Conductor. &ldquo;It not only can be done, but
+will be, very soon. I haven&#8217;t any doubt but what by the time the Columbian
+Exposition opens we shall have regular passenger trains running at that
+rate over some stretches of our best roads, such as the Pennsylvania, the
+Reading, the New York Central and this one. Moreover, when electricity
+comes into general use as a motive power I shall expect to travel at a
+greater speed even than that. Why, they are building an electric road now
+on an air line between Chicago and St. Louis, on which they expect to make
+a hundred miles an hour as a regular thing.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I hope I shall have a chance to travel on it,&rdquo; said Rod.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have heard of another road,&rdquo; continued Conductor Tobin, &ldquo;now being
+built somewhere in Europe, Austria I believe, over which they propose to
+run trains at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five miles an hour.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Here the conversation was interrupted by Snyder
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 210]</span> Appleby, who, in a frenzy
+of terror that he could no longer control, shouted &ldquo;Stop him! Stop him! I
+order you to stop him at once!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, sir, I&#8217;ll try,&rdquo; answered Conductor Tobin, with a scornful
+smile on his face. Just as he lifted his hand to the bell-cord there came
+a shriek from the locomotive whistle. It was instantly followed by such a
+powerful application of brakes that the car in which our friends were
+seated quivered in every joint and seemed as though about to be wrenched
+in pieces.</p>
+
+<p>As the special finally came to a halt, and its occupants rushed out to
+discover the cause of its violent stoppage, they found the hissing
+monster, that had drawn them with such fearful velocity, standing
+trembling and panting within a few feet of one of the most complete and
+terrible wrecks any of them had ever seen.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Pay-car.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> This time has actually been made by an American locomotive on
+an American railroad.&mdash;K. M.</p></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 211]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>SNATCHING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>The wreck by which the terrific speed of the special had been so suddenly
+checked was one of those that may happen at any time even on the best and
+most carefully-managed of railroads. The through freight, of which
+ex-Brakeman Joe was now conductor, had made its run safely and without
+incident to a point within twenty miles of New York. It was jogging along
+at its usual rate of speed when suddenly and without the slightest warning
+an axle under a &ldquo;foreign&rdquo; car, near the rear of the train, snapped in two.
+In an instant the car leaped from the rails and across the west-bound
+tracks, dragging the rear end of the freight, including the caboose, after
+it. Before the dazed train-hands could realize what was happening, the
+heavy locomotive of a west-bound freight that was passing the east-bound
+train at that moment crashed into<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 212]</span> the wreck.
+It struck a tank-car filled
+with oil. Like a flash of lightning a vast column of fire shot high in the
+air and billows of flame were roaring in every direction. These leaped
+from one to another of the derailed cars, until a dozen belonging to both
+trains, as well as the west-bound locomotive, were enveloped in their
+cruel embrace.</p>
+
+<p>Conductor Joe escaped somehow, but he was bruised, shaken, and stunned
+by the suddenness and awfulness of the catastrophe. In spite of his
+bewilderment, however, his years of training as a brakeman were not
+forgotten. Casting but a single glance at the blazing wreck, he turned and
+ran back along the east-bound track. He was no coward running away from
+duty and responsibility, though almost any one who saw him just then might
+have deemed him one. No, indeed! He was doing what none but a faithful
+and experienced railroad man would have thought of doing under the
+circumstances; doing his best to avert further calamity by warning
+approaching trains from the west of the danger before them. He ran half a
+mile and then placed the torpedoes, which, with a brakeman&#8217;s instinct, he
+still carried in his pocket.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 213]</span>
+<em>Bang-bang!</em> <span class="smcap">Bang</span>! Engineman Newman, driving locomotive number 385 at
+nearer one hundred miles an hour than it had ever gone before, heard the
+sharp reports above the rattling roar of his train, and realized their
+dread significance. It was a close call, and only cool-headed promptness
+could have checked the tremendous speed of that on-rushing train in the
+few seconds allowed for the purpose. As it was, 385&#8217;s paint was blistering
+in the intense heat from the oil flames as it came to a halt and then
+slowly backed to a place of safety.</p>
+
+<p>Conductor Joe had already returned to the scene of the wreck and was
+sending out other men with torpedoes and flags in both directions. Then he
+joined the brave fellows who were fighting for the lives of those still
+imprisoned in the wrecked caboose. Among these were Rod Blake, Conductor
+Tobin, and the sheriff. Snyder Appleby had turned sick at the heartrending
+sights and sounds to be seen and heard on all sides, and had gone back to
+his car to escape them. He did not believe a soul could be saved, and he
+had not the nerve to listen to the pitiful cries of those whom he
+considered doomed to a certain destruction.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 214]</span>
+In thus accepting defeat without a struggle, Snyder exhibited the worst
+form of cowardice, and if the world were made up of such as he, there
+would be no victories to record. But it is not. It not only contains those
+who will fight against overwhelming odds, but others who never know that
+they are beaten, and where indomitable wills often snatch victory from
+what appears to be defeat. General Grant was one of these, and Rod Blake
+was made of the same stuff.</p>
+
+<p>Again and again he and those with him plunged into the stifling smoke to
+battle with the fierce flames in their stronghold. They smothered them
+with clods of earth and buckets of sand. They cut away the blazing
+woodwork with keen-edged wrecking axes torn from their racks in the
+uninjured caboose and in Snyder Appleby&#8217;s special car. One by one they
+released and dragged out the victims, of whom the fire had been so
+certain, until none was left, and a splendid victory had been snatched
+from what had promised to be a certain defeat.</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg235" id="imgpg235"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 281px;">
+<img src="images/img235.jpg" width="281" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">in the railroad wreck.&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>There was a farm-house not far away, to which the victims of the disaster
+were tenderly borne. Here, too, came their rescuers, scorched,
+blackened,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> and exhausted; but forgetful of their own plight in their
+desire to further relieve the sufferings of those for whom they had done
+such brave battle. In one of the wounded men Rod Blake was especially
+interested, for the young brakeman had fought on with a stubborn
+determination to save him after the others had declared it to be
+impossible. The man had been a passenger in the caboose of the through
+freight, and was so crushed and held by the shattered timbers of the car
+that, though the rescuing party reached his side, they were unable to drag
+him out. A burst of flame drove them back and forced them to rush into the
+open air to save their own lives. Above the roar of the fire they could
+distinguish his piteous cries, and this was more than Rod could stand.
+With a wet cloth over his mouth and axe in hand he dashed back into the
+furnace. He was gone before the others knew what he was about to attempt,
+and now they listened with bated breath to the sound of rapid blows coming
+from behind the impenetrable veil of swirling smoke. As it eddied upward
+and was lifted for an instant they caught sight of him, and rushing to the
+spot, they dragged him out, with his arms tightly clasped about the
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 216]</span>
+helpless form he had succeeded in releasing from its fiery prison.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the young brakeman presented a sorry picture, blackened
+beyond recognition by his dearest friends, scorched, and with clothing
+hanging in charred shreds. By some miracle he was so far uninjured that a
+few dashes of cold water gave him strength to walk, supported by Conductor
+Tobin, to the farm-house, whither the others bore the unconscious man
+whom he had saved. The lad wished to help minister to the needs of the
+sufferer, but those who had cheered his act of successful bravery now
+insisted upon his taking absolute rest. So they made him lie down in a
+dimly-lighted room, where the sheriff sat beside him, and, big rough man
+that he was, soothed the exhausted lad with such tender gentleness, that
+after awhile the latter fell asleep. When this happened and the sheriff
+stole quietly out to where the others were assembled, he said
+emphatically:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Gentlemen, I am prouder to know that young fellow than I would be of the
+friendship of a president.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 217]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A WRECKING TRAIN.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>While Rod lay in a dreamless sleep, which is the best and safest of
+remedies for every ill, mental or physical, that human flesh is heir to, a
+wrecking train arrived from New York. With it came a doctor, who was at
+once taken to the farm-house. He first looked at the sleeping lad, but
+would not allow him to be wakened, then he turned his attention to the
+victims of the disaster, whose poor maimed bodies were so sadly in need of
+his soothing skill.</p>
+
+<p>During the long hours of the night, while the doctor was busy with his
+human wrecks, the gang of experienced workmen who had come by the same
+train, was rapidly clearing the wreck of cars from the tracks and putting
+them in order for a speedy resumption of traffic. The wrecking train to
+which they belonged was made up of a powerful
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 218]</span>locomotive and three cars.
+The first of these was an immensely strong and solid flat, supporting a
+small derrick, which was at the same time so powerful as to be capable of
+lifting enormous weights. Besides the derrick and its belongings the flat
+carried only a few spare car trucks.</p>
+
+<p>Next to it came a box-car, filled with timber ends for blocking, hawsers,
+chains, ropes, huge single-, double-, and treble-blocks, iron clamps, rods
+and bolts, frogs, sections of rail, heavy tarpaulins for the protection of
+valuable freight, and a multitude of other like supplies, all so neatly
+arranged as to be instantly available.</p>
+
+<p>Last, and most interesting of all, came the tool-car, which was divided
+by partitions into three rooms. Of these, the main one was used by the
+members of the wrecking gang as a living-room, and was provided with
+bunks, a cooking-stove and utensils, and a pantry, well stocked with
+flour, coffee, tea, and canned provisions. The smaller of the two end
+rooms contained a desk, table, chairs, stationery and electrical supplies.
+It was used by the foreman of the wrecking gang, as an office in which to
+write his reports, and by the telegraph operator, who always
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 219]</span> accompanies
+a train of this description. This operator&#8217;s first duty is to connect an
+instrument in his movable office with the railroad wire, which is one of
+the many strung on poles beside the track. From the temporary station thus
+established he is in constant communication with headquarters, to which he
+sends all possible information concerning the wreck, and from which he
+receives orders.</p>
+
+<p>In the tool-room at the other end of this car was kept everything that
+experience could suggest or ingenuity devise for handling and removing
+wrecked cars, freight, or locomotives. Along the sides were ranged a score
+or so of jack-screws, some of them powerful enough to lift a twenty-ton
+weight, though worked by but one man. There were also wrenches, axes,
+saws, hammers of all sizes, crowbars, torches, lanterns, drills, chisels,
+files, and, in fact, every conceivable tool that might be of use in an
+emergency.</p>
+
+<p>In less than three hours after the arrival of the wrecking train at the
+scene of the accident on the New York and Western road, the disabled
+locomotive, which had lain on its side in the ditch, had been picked up
+and replaced on the track. Such of<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 220]</span>
+the derailed cars as were not burned
+or crushed beyond hope of repair had also been restored to their original
+positions, scattered freight had been gathered up and reloaded, all
+inflammable <em>d&eacute;bris</em> was being burned in a great heap at one side, the
+tracks were repaired, and so little remained to tell of the disaster, that
+passengers by the next day&#8217;s trains looked in vain for its traces.</p>
+
+<p>The first train to go through after the accident was Snyder Appleby&#8217;s
+special. The private secretary had visited the farm-house to insist that
+Rod Blake should accompany him to New York; but he was met at the door by
+the watchful sheriff, who sternly refused to allow his sleeping charge to
+be awakened or in any way disturbed.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You needn&#8217;t worry yourself about him,&rdquo; said the sheriff. &ldquo;He&#8217;ll come
+to New York fast enough, and I&#8217;ll come with him. We&#8217;ll hunt the
+Superintendent&#8217;s office as quick as we get there, and maybe you won&#8217;t be
+so glad to see us as you think you will. That&#8217;s the best I can promise
+you, for that young fellow isn&#8217;t going to be disturbed before he gets good
+and ready to wake up of his own accord. Not if I can help it, and I rather
+think I can.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 221]</span>
+&ldquo;Oh, well,&rdquo; replied Snyder, who in the seclusion of his car had heard
+nothing of Rod&#8217;s brave fight. &ldquo;If he is such a tender plant that his sleep
+can&#8217;t be interrupted, I suppose I shall have to go on without him, for my
+time is too valuable to be wasted in waiting here any longer. But I warn
+you, sir, that if you don&#8217;t produce the young man in our office at an
+early hour to-morrow morning the company will hold you personally
+responsible for the loss of those diamonds.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>So saying, and ordering Conductor Tobin with the other witnesses to
+accompany him, the self-important young secretary took his departure,
+filled with anger against Rod Blake, the sheriff who had constituted
+himself the lad&#8217;s champion, the wreck by which he had been delayed, and
+pretty nearly everything else that happened to cross his mind at that
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>As for Rod, he slept so peacefully and soundly until long after sunrise,
+that when he awoke and gazed inquiringly about him, he was but little the
+worse for his thrilling experiences of the previous night. His first
+question after collecting his scattered thoughts was concerning the
+welfare of<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 222]</span> the man for whom he
+had risked so much a few hours before.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The poor fellow died soon after midnight,&rdquo; replied the sheriff. &ldquo;He did
+not suffer, for he was unconscious to the last, but in spite of that he
+left you a legacy, which I believe you will consider an ample reward for
+your brave struggle to save him. At any rate, I know it is one that you
+will value as long as you live.&rdquo;</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 223]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>ROD ACCEPTS THE LEGACY.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>&ldquo;I sha&#8217;n&#8217;t accept it,&rdquo; declared Rod. &ldquo;I couldn&#8217;t take a reward for trying
+to save a man&#8217;s life. You couldn&#8217;t yourself, sir. You know that all the
+money in the world wouldn&#8217;t have tempted you into those flames, while you
+were ready enough to go on the simple chance of saving a human being from
+an awful death. I&#8217;m sure you must feel that way, and so you know just how
+I feel about it. I only wish he could have known it too, and known how
+willingly we tried to save him. If he only had, he wouldn&#8217;t have thought
+of offering us a reward. Did you find out who he was?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I found out,&rdquo; answered the sheriff, with a queer little smile. &ldquo;I
+found out, too, that he was some one whom you knew quite well and were
+deeply interested in.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Some one I knew!&rdquo; cried Rod, in surprise, at
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 224]</span> the same time taking a
+rapid mental note of all his railroad friends who might have been
+connected with the accident. &ldquo;Who was he? Was he a railroad man?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, he was not a railroad man, and I can&#8217;t tell you his name, but if you
+feel strong enough, I should like to have you come and take a look at
+him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Of course I do,&rdquo; replied Rod whose curiosity was now fully aroused. &ldquo;I
+feel almost as well as ever I did, excepting a little shaky, and with a
+smart here and there in the burned places.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>As the two entered an adjoining room, Rod&#8217;s attention was instantly
+attracted by the motionless form, covered with a sheet, that lay on a bed.
+Several persons were engaged in a low-voiced conversation at one end of
+the room; but at first the lad did not notice them. He was too anxious to
+discover which of all his friends lay there so silently, to heed aught
+else just then.</p>
+
+<p>As he and the sheriff stepped to the side of the bed, the latter gently
+withdrew the covering and disclosed a peaceful face, from which every
+trace of grime and smoke had been tenderly removed.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 225]</span>
+Rod instantly recognized it. It was the same that he had last seen only
+the morning before lying by the forest roadside more than a hundred miles
+away. In a tone of awed amazement he exclaimed, &ldquo;the train robber!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think that settles it, gentlemen,&rdquo; said the sheriff quietly, and
+turning to the other occupants of the room who had gathered close behind
+Rod. &ldquo;We thought it must be the train robber,&rdquo; he continued, addressing
+the latter &ldquo;because we found the missing diamonds in a breast pocket of
+his coat; but we wanted your evidence to establish the fact. I have also
+recognized him as the alleged reporter who interviewed me yesterday
+morning, and who was accidentally left alone for a minute with the leather
+bag in my office. The moment I discovered that the diamonds were missing I
+suspected that he must have taken them, but thought it best to keep my
+suspicions to myself until I could trace him. I learned that a man
+answering his description had boarded the east-bound freight somewhere
+this side of Millbank and telegraphed Conductor Joe Miller to keep him in
+sight. By making use of Mr. Appleby&#8217;s special I hoped to overtake and pass
+him before<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 226]</span> he reached New York.
+I thus expected to be on hand to welcome
+and arrest him at his journey&#8217;s end, and by so doing relieve you of all
+suspicion of being anything but the honest plucky lad you have proved
+yourself. At the same time I looked forward to taking some of the conceit
+out of that young sprig of a secretary. That all my calculations were not
+upset by last night&#8217;s accident was largely owing to you, for I must
+confess that, but for the shame of being outdone in bravery by a mere slip
+of a boy, I should have given up the fight to save this man long before
+the victory was won. Of course the evidence of his crime would have
+vanished with him, and we should never have known for a certainty what had
+become of the train robber or the diamonds. Some persons might even have
+continued to suspect you of being connected with their disappearance,
+while now your record is one that any man may well envy. Was I not right
+then, in saying that this poor fellow had left you a reward for your
+bravery that you will value so long as you live?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Indeed you were,&rdquo; answered Rod, in a low tone, &ldquo;and it is a legacy that I
+can most gratefully accept, I wish he might have lived, though. It is
+terrible<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 227]</span> to think that by
+following him as I did I drove him to his death.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You must not think of it in that way,&rdquo; said one of the other witnesses of
+the scene, taking the lad&#8217;s hand as he spoke, and at the same time
+disclosing the well-known features of Mr. Hill, the Superintendent, &ldquo;You
+must only remember that you have done your duty faithfully and splendidly.
+Although I should not have approved the course you took at the outset, the
+results fully justify all that you have done, and I am very proud to
+number you among the employees of our company. You have certainly
+graduated with honors from the ranks of brakemen, and have fairly won your
+promotion to any position that you feel competent to fill. It only rests
+with you to say what it shall be.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;If the young man would accept a position with us,&rdquo; interrupted another
+gentleman, whom Rod knew to be a superintendent of the Express Company,
+&ldquo;we should be only too happy to offer him one, that carries with it a
+handsome salary and the promise of speedy promotion.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, indeed! You can&#8217;t have him!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Hill. &ldquo;A railroad company
+is said to be a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 228]</span> soulless corporation,
+but it has at least soul enough to
+appreciate and desire to retain such services as this lad has shown
+himself capable of rendering. He has chosen to be a railroad man, and I
+don&#8217;t believe he is ready to switch off on any other line just yet. How is
+it, Blake? Have you had enough of railroading?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;No, sir,&rdquo; replied Rod, earnestly. &ldquo;I certainly have not. I have only had
+enough of it to make me desirous of continuing in it, and if you think I
+could make a good enough fireman, I should be very glad to take Milt
+Sturgis&#8217; place on number 10, and learn to run a locomotive engine under
+Mr. Stump.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;A fireman!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Hill, in surprise. &ldquo;Is that the height of your
+ambition?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think it is at present, sir,&rdquo; replied Rod, modestly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But I thought you knew how to run an engine. It looked that way yesterday
+morning when you started off with the one belonging to the express
+special.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I thought I did too, sir; but by that very trial I found that I knew just
+nothing at all about it. I do want to learn though, and if you haven&#8217;t
+anyone else in view&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 229]</span>
+&ldquo;Of course you shall have the place if you want it,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Hill.
+&ldquo;Stump has already applied for you, and you should have had it even if all
+the events of yesterday had not happened. I must tell you though, that Joe
+Miller wants to resign his conductorship of the through freight to accept
+a position on a private car belonging to a young millionaire oil prince,
+and I was thinking of offering you his place.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Thank you ever so much, sir; but if you don&#8217;t mind, I would rather run on
+number 10.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Very well,&rdquo; replied the Superintendent, &ldquo;you have earned the right to do
+as you think best. Now, as the track is again clear, we will all go back
+to the city in the wrecking train, which is ready to start.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>When Mr. Hill entered his office an hour later his secretary handed him a
+report of his investigations in the matter of the express robbery. This
+report cast grave suspicions upon Rod Blake as having been connected with
+the affair, and advised his arrest. Snyder had spent some hours in
+preparing this document, and now awaited with entire self complaisance the
+praise which he was certain would<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 230]</span>
+reward his efforts. What then was his
+amazement when his superior, after glancing through the report,
+deliberately tore it into fragments, which he dropped into a waste-basket.
+At the same time he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am pleased to be able to inform you, Mr. Appleby, that the property you
+describe as missing has been recovered through the agency of this very
+Rodman Blake. I must also warn you that the company has no employee of
+whose integrity and faithfulness in the performance of duty they are more
+assured than they are of his. As you have evidently failed to discover
+this in your dealings with Mr. Blake, and as you have blundered through
+this investigation from first to last, I shall hereafter have no use for
+your services outside of routine office work.&rdquo; Thus saying, Mr. Hill
+closed the door of his private office behind him, leaving Snyder
+overwhelmed with bewilderment and indignation.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 231]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>FIRING ON NUMBER 10.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>In regard to Rod Blake&#8217;s new appointment, nothing more was said that day;
+but, sure enough, he received an order the following morning to report to
+the master mechanic for duty as fireman on engine number 10.</p>
+
+<p>Proud enough of his promotion, the lad promptly obeyed the order; and when
+that same evening he climbed into the cab of number 10, as the huge
+machine with a full head of steam on stood ready to start out with Freight
+Number 73, he felt that one of his chief ambitions was in a fair way of
+being realized. He tried to thank Truman Stump for getting him the job;
+but the old engineman only answered &ldquo;Nonsense, you won the place for
+yourself, and I&#8217;m glad enough to have such a chap as you. The only trouble
+is that you&#8217;ll learn too quick, and be given an engine of your own, just
+as you are<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 232]</span> getting the hang of
+my ways. I won&#8217;t teach you anything
+though, except how to fire properly, so you needn&#8217;t expect it.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>That is what he said. What he did was to take every opportunity for
+showing the young fireman the different parts of the wonderful machine on
+which they rode, and of explaining them to him in the clearest possible
+manner. He encouraged him to ask questions, often allowed him to handle
+the throttle for short distances, and evidently took the greatest pride in
+the rapid progress made by his pupil.</p>
+
+<p>Since first obtaining employment on the railroad, Rod had, according to
+his promise, written several times to his faithful friend Dan the stable
+boy on his uncle&#8217;s place with requests that he would keep him informed of
+all that took place in the village. Dan sent his answers through the
+station agent at Euston, and Rod had only been a fireman a few days when
+he received a note which read as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>&ldquo;<span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Rod</span>:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;They is a man here, who I don&#8217;t know, but who is asking all about
+you. He asked me many questions, and has talk with your uncle. He
+may mean good or he may mean bad, I don&#8217;t know which. If I find out
+ennything more I will let you know.</p>
+<p><span style="margin-left: 20em;" class="smcap">Yours respectful,</span></p>
+<p><span style="margin-left: 25em;" class="smcap">Dan.&rdquo;</span></p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 233]</span>
+Rod puzzled over this note a good deal, and wondered who on earth could be
+making inquiries about him. If he had known that it was Brown the railroad
+detective, he would have wondered still more. He finally decided that, as
+he was not conscious of having done anything wrong, he had no cause for
+worry. So he dismissed the affair, and devoted his whole attention to
+learning to be a fireman.</p>
+
+<p>Most people imagine it to be a very simple matter to shovel coal into a
+locomotive furnace, and so it is; but this is only a small part of a
+fireman&#8217;s responsibility. He must know when to begin shovelling coal, and
+when to stop; when to open the blower and when to shut it off; when to
+keep the furnace door closed, and when to open it; how to regulate the
+dampers; when and how to admit water to the boiler; when to pour oil into
+the lubricating cups of the cylinder valves and a dozen other places; when
+to ring the bell, and when and how to do a multitude of other things,
+every one of which is important. He must keep a constant watch of the
+steam-gauge, and see that its pointer does not fall below a certain mark.
+The water-gauge also comes in for a share of his attention. Above all, he
+must learn, as quickly as possible, how to start, stop, and
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 234]</span> reverse the
+engine, and how to apply, or throw off the air brakes, so that he can
+readily do any of these things in an emergency, if his engineman happens
+to be absent.</p>
+
+<p>In acquiring all this information, and at the same time attending to his
+back-breaking work of shovelling coal, Rod found himself so fully and
+happily occupied that he could spare but few thoughts to the stranger who
+was inquiring about him in Euston. After a few days of life in the cab of
+locomotive number 10, he became so accustomed to dashing through tunnels
+amid a blackness so intense that he could not see a foot beyond the cab
+windows, to whirling around sharp curves, to rattling over slender
+trestles a hundred feet or more up in the air, and to rushing with
+undiminished speed through the darkness of storm-swept nights, when the
+head-lights seemed of little more value than a tallow candle, that he
+ceased to think of the innumerable dangers connected with his position as
+completely as though they had not existed.</p>
+
+<p>There came a day, however, when they were recalled to his mind in a
+startling manner. It was late in the fall, and for a week there had been
+a<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 235]</span> steady down-pour of rain that filled the streams to overflowing, and
+soaked the earth until it seemed like a vast sponge. It made busy work for
+the section gangs, who had their hands more than full with landslides,
+undermined culverts, and overflowing ditches, and it caused enginemen
+to strain their eyes along the lines of wet track, with an unusual
+carefulness. At length the week of rain ended with a storm of terrific
+violence, accompanied by crashing thunder and vivid lightnings. While this
+storm was at its height, locomotive number 10, drawing a heavy freight,
+pulled in on the siding of a station to wait for the passing of a
+passenger special, and a regular express.</p>
+
+<p>Truman Stump sat on his side of the cab, calmly smoking a short, black
+pipe; and his fireman stood at the other side, looking out at the storm as
+the special, consisting of a locomotive and two cars, rushed by without
+stopping. As it was passing, a ball of fire, accompanied by a rending
+crash of thunder, illumined the whole scene with an awful, blinding glare.
+For an instant Rod saw a white face pressed against one of the rear
+windows of the flying train. He was almost certain that it was the face of
+Eltje Vanderveer.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 236]</span>
+A moment later the telegraph operator of that station came running toward
+them, bareheaded, and coatless, through the pitiless rain. The head-light
+showed his face to be bloodless and horror-stricken.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Cut loose from the train, Rod!&rdquo; he cried in a voice husky and choked
+with a terrible dread. &ldquo;True, word was just coming over the wire that the
+centre pier of Minkskill bridge had gone out from under the track, and for
+me to stop all trains, when that last bolt struck the line, and cut me
+off. If you can&#8217;t catch that special there&#8217;s no hope for it. It&#8217;s the only
+thing left to try.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Without waiting to hear all this Rod had instantly obeyed the first order,
+sprung to the rear of the tender, drawn the coupling-pin, and was back in
+the cab in less time than it takes to write of it. Truman Stump did not
+utter a word; but, before the operator finished speaking, number 10 was in
+motion. He had barely time to leap to the ground as she gathered headway
+and began to spring forward on the wildest race for life or death ever run
+on the New York and Western road.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 237]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>THE ONLY CHANCE OF SAVING THE SPECIAL.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>So well did Truman Stump and his young fireman understand each other,
+that, as locomotive number 10 sprang away on her race after the special,
+there was no necessity for words between them. Only after Rod had done
+everything in his power to ensure a full head of steam and paused for a
+moment&#8217;s breathing-spell, did he step up behind the engineman and ask,
+&ldquo;What is it, True?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Minkskill bridge gone! We are trying to catch the special,&rdquo; answered
+the driver, briefly, without turning his head. It was enough; and Rod
+instantly comprehended the situation. There was a choking sensation in his
+throat, as he remembered the face disclosed by the lightning a few moments
+before, and realized the awful danger that now threatened the sunny-haired
+girl who had been his playmate, and was still his friend. With a
+desperate<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 238]</span> energy he flung open
+the furnace-door, and toiled to feed the
+roaring flames behind it. They almost licked his face in their mad
+leapings, as their scorching breath mingled with his. He was bathed in
+perspiration; and, when the front windows of the cab were forced open by
+the fierce pressure of the gale, he welcomed the cold blast and hissing
+rain that swept through it.</p>
+
+<p>Number 10 had now attained a fearful speed, and rocked so violently from
+side to side that its occupants were obliged to brace themselves and cling
+to the solid framework. It was a miracle that she kept the track. At each
+curve, and there were many of them on this section, Rod held his breath,
+fully expecting the mighty mass of iron to leap from the rails and plunge
+headlong into the yawning blackness. But she clung to them, and the steady
+hand at the throttle opened it wider, and still a little wider, until the
+handle had passed any limit that even the old engineman had ever seen.
+Still the young fireman, with set teeth and nerves like steel, watched the
+dial on the steam-gauge, and flung coal to the raging flames behind the
+glowing furnace-door.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 239]</span>
+Mile after mile was passed in half the same number of minutes, and outside
+objects were whirled backward in one continuous, undistinguishable blur.
+The limb of a tree, flung to the track by the mighty wind, was caught up
+by the pilot and dashed against the head-light, instantly extinguishing
+it. So they rushed blindly on, through a blackness intensified by gleams
+of electric light, that every now and then ran like fiery serpents along
+the rails, or bathed the flying engine with its pallid flames.</p>
+
+<p>They were not more than two miles from the deadly bridge when they first
+saw the red lights on the rear of the special. The engineman&#8217;s hand
+clutched the whistle lever; and, high above the shriek of the storm,
+sounded the quick, sharp blasts of the danger signal. A moment later they
+swept past a glare of red fire blazing beside the track. The enginemen of
+the special had not understood their signal, and had thrown out a fusee to
+warn them of his presence immediately in front of them.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;ll have to set you aboard, Rod,&rdquo; shouted Truman Stump, and the young
+fireman knew what he meant. He did not answer; but crawling through the
+broken window and along the reeling foot-board,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> using his strength and
+agility as he had never used them before, the boy made his way to the
+pilot of the locomotive. Crouching there, and clinging to its slippery
+braces, he made ready for the desperate spring that should save or lose
+everything.</p>
+
+<p>Foot by foot, in reality very quickly, but seemingly at a laggard pace, he
+was borne closer and closer to the red lights, until they shone full in
+his face. Then, with all his energies concentrated into one mighty effort,
+he launched himself forward, and caught, with outstretched hands, the iron
+railing of the platform on which were the lights. Drawing himself up on
+it, he dashed into the astonished group standing in the glass-surrounded
+observation-room, that occupied the rear of the car, crying:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Stop the train! Stop it for your lives!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><a name="imgpg263" id="imgpg263"></a></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 624px;">
+<img src="images/img263.jpg" width="624" height="400" alt="Image" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&ldquo;he launched himself forward.&rdquo;&mdash;(<em>page <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</em>)</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Prompt obedience to orders, without pausing to question them, comes so
+naturally to a railroad man, that President Vanderveer himself now obeyed
+this grimy-faced young fireman as readily as though their positions had
+been reversed. With a quick movement he touched a button at one side of
+the car, and instantly a clear-voiced electric bell, in the cab of
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 241]</span> the
+locomotive that was dragging his train toward destruction, rang out an
+imperative call for brakes. The engineman&#8217;s right hand sought the little
+brass &ldquo;air&rdquo; lever as he heard the sound. With his left he shut off steam.
+Ten seconds later the special stood motionless, with its pilot pointing
+out over the Minkskill bridge.</p>
+
+<p>President Vanderveer had not recognized the panting, coal-begrimed,
+oil-stained young fireman who had so mysteriously boarded his car while it
+was running at full speed; but Eltje knew his voice. Now, as her father
+turned from the electric button to demand an explanation, he saw the girl
+seize the stranger&#8217;s hand. &ldquo;It&#8217;s Rod, father! It&#8217;s Rodman Blake!&rdquo; she
+cried.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;So it is!&rdquo; exclaimed the President, grasping the lad&#8217;s other hand, and
+scanning him closely. &ldquo;But what is the matter, Rodman? How came you here?
+Why have you stopped us, and what is the meaning of this disguise?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A few words served to explain the situation.</p>
+
+<p>Then the President, with Rod and the conductor of the special, left the
+car, lanterns in hand, to go<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 242]</span> ahead
+and discover how far they were from
+the treacherous bridge. As they reached the ground they were joined by
+Truman Stump, who had slowed the terrific speed of his locomotive at
+the moment of his fireman&#8217;s leap from its pilot, and brought it to a
+standstill close behind the special. In a voice trembling with emotion
+the old engineman said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It was the finest thing I&#8217;ve seen done in thirty years of running, Rod,
+and I thank God for your nerve.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A minute later, when President Vanderveer realized the full extent of the
+threatened danger, and the narrowness of their escape, he again held the
+young fireman&#8217;s hand, as he said:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;And I thank God, Rodman, not only for your nerve, but that he permitted
+you to be on time. A few seconds later and our run on this line would have
+been ended forever.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>After a short consultation it was decided that the special should remain
+where it was, while locomotive number 10 should run back to the station,
+where its train still waited, bearing a message to be telegraphed to the
+nearest gang of bridge carpenters.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 243]</span>
+How different was that backward ride from the mad, breathless race, with
+all its dreadful uncertainties, that Truman Stump and Rod Blake had just
+made over the same track. How silent they had been then, and how they
+talked now. How cheerily their whistle sounded as they approached the
+station! How lustily Rod pulled at the bell-rope, that the glad tidings
+of number 10&#8217;s glorious run might the sooner be guessed by the anxious
+watchers, who awaited their coming. What an eager throng gathered round
+the old locomotive as it rolled proudly up to the station. It almost
+seemed conscious of having performed a splendid deed. Long afterwards, in
+cab and caboose, or wherever the men of the N. Y. and W. road gathered,
+all fast time was compared with the great run made by number 10 on that
+memorable night.</p>
+
+<p>The storm had passed and the moon was shining when the station was
+reached. Already men were at work repairing the telegraph line, and an
+hour later a bridge gang, with a train of timber-laden flats, was on its
+way to the Minkskill bridge. Number 10 drew this train, and Rod was
+delighted to have this opportunity to learn something of bridge building.
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 244]</span>
+He was glad, too, to escape from the praises of the railroad men; for
+Truman Stump insisted on telling the story of his young fireman&#8217;s brave
+deed to each new crew as it reached the station, and they were equally
+determined to make a hero of him.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 245]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>INDEPENDENCE OR PRIDE.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>Smiler, the railroad dog, appeared on the scene with the bridge gang,
+though no one knew where he came from; and, quickly discovering Rod, he
+followed him into the cab of locomotive number 10. Here he took possession
+of the cushion on the fireman&#8217;s side of the cab, and sat on it with a wise
+expression on his honest face, that said as plainly as words: &ldquo;This is an
+important bit of work, and it is clearly my duty to superintend it.&rdquo; Rod
+was delighted to have this opportunity of introducing the dear dog to
+Eltje, and they became friends immediately. As for the President, Smiler
+not only condescended to recognize him, but treated him with quite as much
+cordiality as though he had been a fireman or a brakeman on a through
+freight.</p>
+
+<p>Rod got a few hours&#8217; sleep that night after all, and in the morning he and
+Engineman Stump accepted<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 246]</span> an invitation
+to take breakfast with President
+Vanderveer, his daughter, and Smiler, in the President&#8217;s private car. This
+car had just returned from the extended western trip on which it had
+started two months before, when Rod was seeking employment on the road. As
+neither Eltje nor her father had heard a word concerning him in all that
+time, they now plied him with questions. When he finished his story Eltje
+exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think it is perfectly splendid, Rod, and if I were only a boy I would
+do just as you have done! Wouldn&#8217;t you, papa?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am not quite sure that I would, my dear,&rdquo; answered her father, with a
+smile. &ldquo;While I heartily approve of a boy who wishes to become a railroad
+man, beginning at the very bottom of the ladder and working his way up, I
+cannot approve of his leaving his home with the slightest suspicion of a
+stain resting on his honor if he can possibly help it. Don&#8217;t you think,
+Rodman,&rdquo; he added kindly, turning to the lad, &ldquo;that the more manly course
+would have been to have stayed in Euston until you had solved the problem
+of who really did disable your cousin&#8217;s bicycle?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 247]</span>
+&ldquo;I don&#8217;t know but what it would,&rdquo; replied the young man, thoughtfully;
+&ldquo;but it would have been an awfully hard thing to do.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, I know it would. It would have been much harder than going hungry or
+fighting tramps or capturing express robbers; still it seems to me that it
+would have been more honorable.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;But Uncle turned me out of the house.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Did he order you to leave that very night, or did he ask you to make
+arrangements to do so at some future time, and promise to provide for you
+when you did go?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I believe he did say something of that kind,&rdquo; replied Rod, hesitatingly.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Do you believe he would have said even that the next morning!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Perhaps not, sir.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;You know he wouldn&#8217;t, Rodman. You know, as well as I do, that Major
+Appleby says a great many things on the impulse of the moment that he
+sincerely regrets upon reflection. He told me himself the morning I left
+Euston how badly he felt that you should have taken his hasty words so
+literally. He said that he should do everything in his power
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 248]</span> to cause you
+to forget them the moment you returned, as he hoped you would in a day or
+two. He gave Snyder instructions to use every effort to discover you in
+the city, where it was supposed you had gone, and provided him liberally
+with money to be expended in searching for you. I am surprised that Snyder
+has not found you out before this, especially as you are both in the
+employ of the same company. Didn&#8217;t you know that he was private secretary
+to our superintendent?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Yes, sir; I did,&rdquo; replied Rod, &ldquo;and&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; He was about to add, &ldquo;And he
+knows where I am&rdquo;; but obeying a more generous impulse, he changed it to
+&ldquo;and I have taken pains to avoid him.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I am sorry for that,&rdquo; said the President; &ldquo;for if he had only met you and
+delivered your uncle&#8217;s message you would have been reconciled to that most
+impetuous but most kindly-hearted of gentlemen long ago. Now, however, you
+will go home with us and have a full explanation with him, will you not?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I think not, sir,&rdquo; replied Rod, with a smile. &ldquo;In the first place, I
+can&#8217;t leave Mr. Stump, here, to run number 10 without a fireman, and in
+the second I<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 249]</span> would a great deal
+rather wait until I hear directly from my
+uncle that he wants me. Besides, I don&#8217;t want to give up being a railroad
+man; for, after the experience I have gained, I am more determined than
+ever to be one.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It would be a great pity, sir, to have so promising a young railroader
+lost to the business,&rdquo; said Truman Stump, earnestly, &ldquo;and I do hope you
+won&#8217;t think of taking him from us.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I should think, papa, that you would be glad to have anybody on the road
+who can do such splendid things as Rod can,&rdquo; said Eltje, warmly. &ldquo;I&#8217;m sure
+if I were president, I&#8217;d promote him at once, and make him conductor, or
+master of something, instead of trying to get rid of him. Why, it&#8217;s a
+perfect shame!&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I&#8217;ve no doubt, dear, that if you were president, the road would be
+managed just as it should be. As you are not, and I am, I beg leave to say
+that I have no intention of letting Rodman leave our employ, now that he
+has got into it, and proved himself such a valuable railroad man. He
+sha&#8217;n&#8217;t go, even if I have to make him &lsquo;master of something,&rsquo; as you
+suggest, in order to retain his services. All that I want
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 250]</span> him to do is to
+visit Euston and become reconciled to his uncle. I am certain the dear old
+gentleman has forgotten by this time that he ever spoke an unkind word to
+his nephew, and is deeply grieved that he does not return to him. However,
+so long as Rodman&#8217;s pride will not permit him to make the first advances
+towards a reconciliation, I will do my best to act as mediator between
+them. Then I shall expect our young fireman to appear in Euston as quickly
+as possible after receiving Major Appleby&#8217;s invitation, even if he has to
+leave his beloved number 10 for a time to do so.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;All right, sir, I will,&rdquo; laughed Rod, &ldquo;and I thank you ever so much for
+taking such an interest in me and my affairs.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;My dear boy,&rdquo; replied the President, earnestly, &ldquo;you need never thank me
+for anything I may do for you. I shall not do more than you deserve; and
+no matter what I may do, it can never cancel the obligation under which
+you and Truman Stump placed me last night.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It looks as though you and I were pretty solid on this road, doesn&#8217;t it,
+Rod?&rdquo; remarked the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 251]</span> engineman, after
+the bridge had been repaired, and
+they were once more seated in the cab of locomotive number 10, which was
+again on its way toward the city.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;It does so,&rdquo; replied the young fireman.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 252]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>A MORAL VICTORY.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>The special was the first train to cross the Minkskill bridge after it was
+repaired and pronounced safe, and as it was followed by all the delayed
+passenger trains, the through freight did not pull out for more than an
+hour later. As the special moved at the rate of nearly three miles to the
+freight&#8217;s one, and as it made but one stop, which was at Euston, where
+Eltje was left, President Vanderveer reached the terminus of the road in
+the evening; while Rod Blake did not get there until the following
+morning.</p>
+
+<p>After devoting some time to the discussion of important business matters
+with Superintendent Hill, the President suddenly asked: &ldquo;By the way, Hill,
+do you happen to have a personal acquaintance with a young fireman in our
+employ named Rodman Blake?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 253]</span>
+&ldquo;Yes, indeed I have,&rdquo; replied the Superintendent, and he related the
+incidents connected with the first meeting between himself and Rod. He
+also told of the imputation cast upon the lad&#8217;s character by his private
+secretary. &ldquo;In regard to this,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;I have been awaiting your
+return, before taking any action, because my secretary came to me with
+your recommendation. After Brown finished with the matter of the freight
+thieves, I sent him to Euston to make a thorough investigation of this
+charge against young Blake, and here is his report.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>President Vanderveer read the report carefully, and without comment, to
+the end; but a pained expression gradually settled on his face. As he
+handed it back, he said, &ldquo;So Brown thinks Appleby did it himself?&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;He has not a doubt of it,&rdquo; replied Mr. Hill.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said the President, &ldquo;I am deeply grieved and disappointed; but
+justice is justice, and the innocent must not be allowed to suffer for the
+guilty, if it can be helped. I am going to Euston to-night, and I wish
+that, without mentioning this affair to him, you would send Appleby out
+there to see me in the morning.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 254]</span>
+&ldquo;Very well, sir,&rdquo; replied the Superintendent, and then they talked of
+other matters.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, during the long run in from the Minkskill bridge, Rod
+had plenty of time to think over his recent interview with President
+Vanderveer. He recalled all the kindness shown him by his uncle, and
+realized now, what he had not allowed himself even to suspect before, that
+a selfish pride had been the motive of his whole course of action, ever
+since that unfortunate bicycle race. Pride had driven him from his uncle&#8217;s
+house. Pride had restrained him from letting that uncle know where he was,
+or what he was doing. Even now, though he knew that his dear mother&#8217;s only
+brother was willing and anxious to receive him again, pride forbade him to
+go to him. Should he continue to be the slave of pride, and submit to its
+dictates? or should he boldly throw off its yoke and declare himself free
+and independent? &ldquo;Yes, I will,&rdquo; he said aloud; &ldquo;I won&#8217;t give in to it any
+longer.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Will what, and won&#8217;t what?&rdquo; asked the engineman, whose curiosity was
+aroused by these words. Then Rod told him of the struggle that had been
+going on in his mind, and of the decision he had just
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 255]</span> reached. When he
+finished, the other exclaimed: &ldquo;Right, you are, lad! and True Stump thinks
+more of you for expressing those sentiments than he did when he saw you
+board the special last night, and that is saying a good deal. To fight
+with one&#8217;s own pride and whip it, is a blamed sight harder thing to do
+than anything else that I know of in this world.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>They had already passed Euston, and Rod could not have left his post of
+duty then, even if they had not; but he determined to return on the very
+first train from the city, and seek a complete reconciliation with his
+uncle.</p>
+
+<p>The day express had already left when the freight got in, and so he was
+obliged to wait for an excursion train that was to go out an hour later.
+It was made up of several coaches and a baggage car; but Rod did not care
+to ride in any of these. He already felt more at home on the locomotive
+than on any other part of the train, and so he swung himself into the cab,
+where he was cordially welcomed by the engineman and his assistant. They
+were glad of the chance to learn from him all the particulars of what had
+happened up the road during the great storm, and plied him with
+questions.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 256]</span>
+In spite of their friendliness, and of his recent resolution, Rod could
+not help feeling some uneasiness at the sight of Snyder Appleby sauntering
+down the platform and stepping aboard the train just as it started. He
+hoped his adopted cousin was not going to Euston. That is just where
+Snyder was going, though; and, having missed the express which he had been
+ordered to take, by his failure to be on time for it, he was obliged
+to proceed by the &ldquo;excursion extra.&rdquo; He was feeling particularly
+self-important that morning, in consequence of having been sent for on
+business by the President, and he sauntered through the train with an
+offensive air of proprietorship and authority. Not choosing to remain in
+one of the ordinary coaches, with ordinary excursionists, he walked into
+the empty baggage car, and stood looking through the window in its forward
+door. The moment he spied Rod, comfortably seated in the cab of the
+locomotive, all his old feeling of jealousy was aroused. He had applied
+to the engineman for permission to ride there a few minutes before Rod
+appeared, and it had been refused. Now to see the person whom he had most
+deeply injured, and consequently most thoroughly disliked, riding where he
+could not, was particularly galling to his pride.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 257]</span>
+During the first stop made by the train, he walked to the locomotive, and,
+in a most disagreeable tone, asked Rod if he had a written order
+permitting him to ride there.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I have not,&rdquo; answered the young fireman.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;Then I shall consider it my duty to report both you and the engineman,
+for a violation of rule 116, which provides that no person, except those
+employed upon it, shall be permitted to ride on a locomotive without a
+written order from the proper authority,&rdquo; said Snyder, as he turned away.</p>
+
+<p>This unwarranted assumption of authority made Rod furious; and, as he
+looked back and saw Snyder regarding him from the baggage car, he longed
+for an opportunity of giving the young man a piece of his mind. His
+feelings were fully shared by the other occupants of the cab. While they
+were still discussing the incident, the train plunged into a tunnel, just
+east of the Euston grade. Here, before it quite reached the other end, it
+became involved in one of the most curious and startling accidents known
+in the history of railroads.</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'>[Pg 258]</span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2>
+
+<p class="center"><strong>SNYDER IS FORGIVEN.</strong></p>
+
+
+<p>As the locomotive was beginning to emerge from the blackness of the
+tunnel, and those in its cab were just able to distinguish one another&#8217;s
+faces by the rapidly increasing light from the tunnel&#8217;s mouth, there came
+an awful crash and a shock like that of an earthquake. A shower of loose
+rocks fell on, and into, the cab. The locomotive was jerked backward with
+a sickening violence, and for a moment its driving wheels spun furiously
+above the track. Then it broke loose from the train, and sprang forward.
+In another moment it emerged from the tunnel, and was brought to a
+standstill, like some panting, frightened animal, a few yards beyond its
+mouth.</p>
+
+<p>The occupants of the cab, bruised and shaken, stared at each other with
+blanched, awe-stricken faces. They had seen the train behind them
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 259]</span>swallowed by a vast tumbling
+mass of rock, and believed themselves the
+only survivors of one of the most hideous of railroad disasters. Only
+Rod thought he had seen the end of the baggage car protruding from the
+crushing mass, just as the locomotive became released and sprang forward.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The tunnel roof has caved in,&rdquo; said the engineman with a tone of horror;
+&ldquo;and not a soul can have escaped beside ourselves. All those hundreds of
+people are lying in there, crushed beyond recognition. Oh, it is terrible!
+terrible!&rdquo; and tears, expressive of the agony of his mind, coursed down
+the strong man&#8217;s cheeks. Partially recovering himself in a moment, he
+said, &ldquo;There is nothing left for us to do but go on to Euston, report what
+has happened, and stop all trains.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>Rod Blake agreed that this was the engineman&#8217;s first duty; but declared
+his intention of staying behind, and of going back into the tunnel, to see
+if there was not some one who might yet be saved. In vain they urged him
+not to, and pointed out the danger as well as the hopelessness of the
+attempt. He was certain that the end of the baggage car could be reached,
+and remembered the figure he had seen<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 260]</span>
+standing in it, as they entered the
+tunnel. He felt no trace of resentment against Snyder Appleby now; only a
+great overwhelming pity, coupled with the conviction that he was still
+within reach of help.</p>
+
+<p>Finally they left him; and, armed with an axe from the tender, the young
+fireman again entered the dreadful darkness. Loose stones were still
+falling from the roof of the tunnel, and more than one of these struck and
+painfully bruised him. The air was stifling with clouds of dust and smoke.
+Only the lad&#8217;s dauntless will and splendid courage enabled him to keep on.
+All at once the splintered end of a car assumed shape in the obscurity
+ahead of him. He heard a slow rending of wood, as one after another of its
+stout timbers gave way, and then, above all other sounds, came an agonized
+human cry.</p>
+
+<p>How Rod cut his way into that car, how he found and dragged out Snyder
+Appleby&#8217;s mangled form, or how he managed to bear its helpless weight to
+the open air and lay it on the ground beside the track, he never knew. He
+only knew, after it had been done, that he had accomplished all this
+somehow, and that he was weak and faint from his exertions. He also knew
+that he had barely escaped from the<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 261]</span>
+baggage car with his precious burden,
+when it was wholly crushed, and buried beneath the weight of rock from
+above.</p>
+
+<p>Snyder had been conscious, and had spoken to him when he found him,
+pinned to the side of the car by its shattered timbers; but now he lay
+insensible, and apparently lifeless. Rod dashed water in his face, and in
+a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing a faint color flush the
+pallid cheeks. Then the closed eyes opened once more, and gazed into the
+young fireman&#8217;s face. The lips moved, and Rod bent his head to catch the
+faint sound.</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;The cup is fairly yours, Rod; for I put the emery in my wheel myself. Can
+you forgive&mdash;&rdquo; was what he heard.</p>
+
+<p>Rodman&#8217;s eyes were filled with tears as he answered, &ldquo;Of course I forgive
+you, fully and freely, old man. But don&#8217;t worry about that now. Keep quiet
+and don&#8217;t try to talk. We&#8217;ll soon have you at home, where you&#8217;ll be all
+right, and get over this shake-up in no time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>A bright smile passed over Snyder&#8217;s face, and glorified it. Then his eyes
+closed wearily, never again to be opened in this world. When help came,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 262]</span>
+and the poor, torn body was tenderly lifted, its spirit had fled. His
+faults had found forgiveness, here, from the one whom he had most deeply
+injured. Is there any doubt but what he also found it in the home to which
+he had gone so peacefully, and with so happy a smile lighting his face?</p>
+
+<p>Strange as it may seem, Snyder Appleby was the only victim of this curious
+accident; for the entire mass of falling material in the tunnel descended
+on the baggage car, of which he was the sole occupant. The hundreds of
+excursionists in the coaches were badly shaken up, and greatly frightened
+by the sudden stopping of the train; but not one was seriously injured.</p>
+
+<p>President Vanderveer first heard of the accident at Major Appleby&#8217;s house,
+where he was engaged in an earnest conversation with that gentleman, about
+his nephew and his adopted son. While they were still talking, a carriage
+drove to the door, bearing Rod Blake and the lifeless form of him whom the
+young fireman had risked his life to save.</p>
+
+<p>After the Major had listened to the story of the lad who brought to him at
+the same time joy and grief, the tears streamed down his furrowed cheeks,
+<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 263]</span>
+and he exclaimed, &ldquo;My boy! my dear boy! the pride and hope of my old age!
+Forgive me as you have forgiven him, and never leave me again.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&ldquo;I never will, Uncle,&rdquo; was the answer.</p>
+
+<p>At Snyder&#8217;s funeral the most beautiful floral tribute was an exact copy
+of the Steel Wheel Club&#8217;s railroad cup, in Parma violets, with the
+inscription, woven of white violets, &ldquo;Forgive us our Trespasses.&rdquo; Directly
+behind the coffin, the members of the club marched in a body, headed by
+their captain, Rod Blake, whose resignation had never been accepted.</p>
+
+<p>As for the young captain&#8217;s future, the events on which this story is
+founded, are of too recent occurrence for it to be predicted just yet.
+That he will become a prominent railroad man, in some one of the many
+lines now opening before him, is almost certain. He finished his
+apprenticeship with Truman Stump, on locomotive number 10, and became so
+fully competent to act as engineman himself, that the master mechanic
+offered him the position. At the same time President Vanderveer invited
+him to become his private secretary, which place Rod accepted, as it
+seemed to him the best school in which to study the higher branches of
+railroad management. He is<span class='pagenum'>[Pg 264]</span> still
+one of the most popular fellows on the
+road, and his popularity extends to every branch of the company&#8217;s service.
+Even Smiler, the railroad dog, will leave his beloved trains for days at a
+time, to sit in the President&#8217;s office, and mount guard over the desk of
+the private secretary.</p>
+
+<p>Not long ago, when the chief officer of the road was asked to explain the
+secret of Rod Blake&#8217;s universal popularity, he replied: &ldquo;I&#8217;m sure I don&#8217;t
+know, unless it is that he never allows his pride to get the better of his
+judgment, and always performs his duties on time.&rdquo;</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cab and Caboose, by Kirk Munroe
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Cab and Caboose
+       The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+
+Author: Kirk Munroe
+
+
+
+Release Date: September 4, 2007  [eBook #22497]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAB AND CABOOSE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Anne Storer, and the
+Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
+(https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 22497-h.htm or 22497-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22497/22497-h/22497-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/9/22497/22497-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE
+
+The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+by
+
+KIRK MUNROE
+
+
+
+
+OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
+
+Honorary President, THE HON. WOODROW WILSON
+Honorary Vice-President, HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT
+Honorary Vice-President, COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT
+President, COLIN H. LIVINGSTONE, Washington, D. C.
+Vice-President, B. L. DULANEY, Bristol, Tenn.
+Vice-President, MILTON A. McRAE, Detroit. Mich.
+Vice-President, DAVID STARR JORDAN, Stanford University, Cal.
+Vice-President, F. L. SEELY, Asheville, N. C.
+Vice-President, A. STAMFORD WHITE, Chicago, Ill.
+Chief Scout, ERNEST THOMPSON SETON, Greenwich, Connecticut
+National Scout Commissioner, DANIEL CARTER BEARD, Flushing, N. Y.
+
+
+NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
+BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
+THE FIFTH AVENUE BUILDING, 200 FIFTH AVENUE
+TELEPHONE GRAMERCY 545
+NEW YORK CITY
+
+
+FINANCE COMMITTEE
+
+John Sherman Hoyt, Chairman
+August Belmont
+George D. Pratt
+Mortimer L. Schiff
+H. Rogers Winthrop
+
+GEORGE D. PRATT, Treasurer
+
+JAMES E. WEST, Chief Scout Executive
+
+
+ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
+
+Ernest P. Bicknell
+Robert Garrett
+Lee F. Hanmer
+John Sherman Hoyt
+Charles C. Jackson
+Prof. Jeremiah W. Jenks
+William D. Murray
+Dr. Charles P. Neill
+George D. Porter
+Frank Presbrey
+Edgar M. Robinson
+Mortimer L. Schiff
+Lorillard Spencer
+Seth Sprague Terry
+                                July 31st, 1913.
+
+
+TO THE PUBLIC:--
+
+In the execution of its purpose to give educational value and moral worth
+to the recreational activities of the boyhood of America, the leaders of
+the Boy Scout Movement quickly learned that to effectively carry out its
+program, the boy must be influenced not only in his out-of-door life but
+also in the diversions of his other leisure moments. It is at such times
+that the boy is captured by the tales of daring enterprises and
+adventurous good times. What now is needful is not that his taste should
+be thwarted but trained. There should constantly be presented to him the
+books the boy likes best, yet always the books that will be best for the
+boy. As a matter of fact, however, the boy's taste is being constantly
+vitiated and exploited by the great mass of cheap juvenile literature.
+
+To help anxiously concerned parents and educators to meet this grave
+peril, the Library Commission of the Boy Scouts of America has been
+organized. EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY is the result of their labors. All the
+books chosen have been approved by them. The Commission is composed of the
+following members: George F. Bowerman, Librarian, Public Library of the
+District of Columbia, Washington, D. C.; Harrison W. Graver, Librarian,
+Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Claude G. Leland, Superintendent,
+Bureau of Libraries, Board of Education, New York City; Edward F.
+Stevens, Librarian, Pratt Institute Free Library, Brooklyn, New York;
+together with the Editorial Board of our Movement, William D. Murray,
+George D. Pratt and Frank Presbrey, with Franklin K. Mathiews, Chief Scout
+Librarian, as Secretary.
+
+                      "DO A GOOD TURN DAILY."
+
+In selecting the books, the Commission has chosen only such as are of
+interest to boys, the first twenty-five being either works of fiction or
+stirring stories of adventurous experiences. In later lists, books of a
+more serious sort will be included. It is hoped that as many as
+twenty-five may be added to the Library each year.
+
+Thanks are due the several publishers who have helped to inaugurate this
+new department of our work. Without their co-operation in making available
+for popular priced editions some of the best books ever published for
+boys, the promotion of EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY would have been impossible.
+
+We wish, too, to express our heartiest gratitude to the Library
+Commission, who, without compensation, have placed their vast experience
+and immense resources at the service of our Movement.
+
+The Commission invites suggestions as to future books to be included in
+the Library. Librarians, teachers, parents, and all others interested in
+welfare work for boys, can render a unique service by forwarding to
+National Headquarters lists of such books as in their judgment would be
+suitable for EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY.
+
+                              Signed
+                                  James E. West [handwritten]
+                                      Chief Scout Executive.
+
+
+[Illustration: THE PURSUIT OF THE TRAIN ROBBER.--(_Page 156._)
+_Frontispiece._]
+
+
+
+
+EVERY BOY'S LIBRARY--BOY SCOUT EDITION
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE
+
+The Story of a Railroad Boy
+
+by
+
+KIRK MUNROE
+
+Author of
+Under Orders, Prince Dusty,
+The Coral Ship, Etc.
+
+ILLUSTRATED
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Grosset & Dunlap
+Publishers
+
+Copyright, 1892
+by
+Kirk Munroe
+
+This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers
+G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London
+
+The Knickerbocker Press, New York
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER.                                                      PAGE.
+
+      I.--"RAILROAD BLAKE"                               1
+
+     II.--A RACE FOR THE RAILROAD CUP                    8
+
+    III.--A CRUEL ACCUSATION                            16
+
+     IV.--STARTING INTO THE WORLD                       22
+
+      V.--CHOOSING A CAREER                             27
+
+     VI.--SMILER, THE RAILROAD DOG                      34
+
+    VII.--ROD, SMILER, AND THE TRAMP                    40
+
+   VIII.--EARNING A BREAKFAST                           52
+
+     IX.--GAINING A FOOTHOLD                            59
+
+      X.--A THRILLING EXPERIENCE                        66
+
+     XI.--A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS                          71
+
+    XII.--BOUND, GAGGED, AND A PRISONER                 79
+
+   XIII.--HOW BRAKEMAN JOE WAS SAVED                    86
+
+    XIV.--THE SUPERINTENDENT INVESTIGATES               92
+
+     XV.--SMILER TO THE RESCUE                          99
+
+    XVI.--SNYDER APPLEBY'S JEALOUSY                    106
+
+   XVII.--ROD AS A BRAKEMAN                            115
+
+  XVIII.--WORKING FOR A PROMOTION                      121
+
+    XIX.--THE EXPRESS SPECIAL                          126
+
+     XX.--TROUBLE IN THE MONEY CAR                     135
+
+    XXI.--OVER THE TOP OF THE TRAIN                    142
+
+   XXII.--STOP THIEF!                                  148
+
+  XXIII.--A RACE OF LOCOMOTIVES                        155
+
+   XXIV.--ARRESTED ON SUSPICION                        161
+
+    XXV.--THE TRAIN ROBBER LEARNS OF ROD'S ARREST      168
+
+   XXVI.--A WELCOME VISITOR                            174
+
+  XXVII.--THE SHERIFF IS INTERVIEWED                   180
+
+ XXVIII.--LIGHT DAWNS UPON THE SITUATION               186
+
+   XXIX.--AN ARRIVAL OF FRIENDS AND ENEMIES            192
+
+    XXX.--WHERE ARE THE DIAMONDS?                      198
+
+   XXXI.--ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!                   205
+
+  XXXII.--SNATCHING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT                211
+
+ XXXIII.--A WRECKING TRAIN                             217
+
+  XXXIV.--ROD ACCEPTS THE LEGACY                       223
+
+   XXXV.--FIRING ON NUMBER 10                          231
+
+  XXXVI.--THE ONLY CHANCE OF SAVING THE SPECIAL        237
+
+ XXXVII.--INDEPENDENCE OR PRIDE                        245
+
+XXXVIII.--A MORAL VICTORY                              252
+
+  XXXIX.--SNYDER IS FORGIVEN                           258
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+THE PURSUIT OF THE TRAIN ROBBER       _Frontispiece_
+
+                                               PAGE
+
+ROD BLAKE WINS BY A LENGTH                       15
+
+SMILER DRIVES OFF THE TRAMP                      42
+
+IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY                        82
+
+ROD ASSISTS THE YOUNG MAN TO THE "LIMITED"      132
+
+THE SHERIFF HANDS ROD THE LEATHER BAG           202
+
+IN THE RAILROAD WRECK                           214
+
+"HE LAUNCHED HIMSELF FORWARD"                   240
+
+
+
+
+CAB AND CABOOSE:
+THE STORY OF A RAILROAD BOY.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"RAILROAD BLAKE."
+
+
+"Go it, Rod! You've got to go! One more spurt and you'll have him! There
+you are over the line! On time! On railroad time! Three cheers for
+Railroad Blake, fellows! 'Rah, 'rah, 'rah, and a tigah! Good for you, Rod
+Blake! the cup is yours. It was the prettiest race ever seen on the Euston
+track, and 'Cider' got so badly left that he cut off and went to the
+dressing-room without finishing. Billy Bliss was a good second, though,
+and you only beat him by a length."
+
+Amid a thousand such cries as these, from the throats of the excited boys
+and a furious waving of hats, handkerchiefs, and ribbon-decked parasols
+from the grand stand, the greatest bicycling event of the year so far as
+Euston was concerned, was finished, and Rodman Blake was declared winner
+of the Railroad Cup. It was the handsomest thing of the kind ever seen in
+that part of the country, and had been presented to the Steel Wheel Club
+of Euston by President Vanderveer of the great New York and Western
+Railroad, who made his summer home at that place. The race for this trophy
+was the principal event at the annual meet of the club, which always took
+place on the first Wednesday of September. If any member won it three
+years in succession it was to be his to keep, and every winner was
+entitled to have his name engraved on it.
+
+Snyder Appleby or "Cider Apples" as the boys, with their love for
+nicknames, sometimes called him, had won it two years in succession, and
+was confident of doing the same thing this year. He had just obtained,
+through President Vanderveer, a position in the office of the Railroad
+Company, and only waited to ride this last race for the "Railroad Cup,"
+as it was called in honor of its donor, before going to the city and
+entering upon his new duties.
+
+Now to be beaten so badly, and by that young upstart, for so he called
+Rod Blake, was a mortification almost too great to be borne. As Snyder
+left the track without finishing the last race and made his way to the
+dressing-room under the grand stand, he ground his teeth, and vowed to get
+even with his victorious rival yet. The cheers and yells of delight with
+which the fellows were hailing the victor, made him feel his defeat all
+the more bitterly, and seek the more eagerly for some plan for that
+victor's humiliation.
+
+Snyder Appleby was generally considered by the boys as one of the meanest
+fellows in Euston, and that is the reason why they called him "Cider
+Apples"; for those, as everybody knows, are most always the very poorest
+of the picking. So the name seemed to be appropriate, as well as a happy
+parody on that to which he was really entitled. He was the son, or rather
+the adopted son, of Major Arms Appleby, who, next to President Vanderveer,
+was the richest man in Euston, and lived in the great, rambling stone
+mansion that had been in his family for generations.
+
+The Major, who was a bachelor, was also one of the kindest-hearted, most
+generous, and most obstinate of men. He loved to do good deeds; but he
+loved to do them in his own way, and his way was certain to be the one
+that was contrary to the advice of everybody else. Thus it happened that
+he determined to adopt the year-old baby boy who was left on his doorstep
+one stormy night, a little more than sixteen years before this story
+opens. He was not fond of babies, nor did he care to have children about
+him. Simply because everybody advised him to send this one to the county
+house, where it might be cared for by the proper authorities, he declared
+he would do nothing of the kind; but would adopt the little waif and bring
+him up as his own son.
+
+As the boy grew, and developed many undesirable traits of character, Major
+Appleby was too kind-hearted to see them, and too obstinate to be warned
+against them.
+
+"Don't tell me," he would say, "I know more about the boy than anybody
+else, and am fully capable of forming my opinion concerning him."
+
+Thus Snyder Appleby, as he was called, because the name "Snyder" was
+found marked on the basket in which he had been left at the Major's door,
+grew up with the fixed idea that if he only pleased his adopted father
+he might act about as he chose with everybody else. Now he was nearly
+eighteen years of age, big and strong, with a face that, but for its
+coarseness, would have been called handsome. He was fond of display, did
+everything for effect, was intolerably lazy, had no idea of the word
+punctuality, and never kept an engagement unless he felt inclined to do
+so. He always had plenty of pocket money which he spent lavishly, and was
+not without a certain degree of popularity among the other boys of Euston.
+He had subscribed more largely than anybody else to the Steel Wheel Club
+upon its formation, and had thus succeeded in having himself elected its
+captain.
+
+As he was older and stronger than any of the other members who took up
+racing, and as he always rode the lightest and best wheel that money could
+procure, he had, without much hard work, easily maintained a lead in the
+racing field, and had come to consider himself as invincible. He regarded
+himself as such a sure winner of this last race for the Railroad Cup,
+that he had not taken the trouble to go into training for it. He would not
+even give up his cigarette smoking, a habit that he had acquired because
+he considered it fashionable and manly. Now he was beaten, disgracefully,
+and that by a boy nearly two years younger than himself. It was too much,
+and he determined to find some excuse for his defeat, that should at the
+same time remove the disgrace from him, and place it upon other shoulders.
+
+Rodman Ray Blake, or R. R. Blake as he signed his name, and "Railroad
+Blake" as the boys often called him, was Major Appleby's nephew, and the
+son of his only sister. She had married an impecunious young artist
+against her brother's wish, on which account he had declined ever to see
+her again. When she died, after two years of poverty-stricken widowhood,
+she left a loving, forgiving letter for her brother, and in it committed
+her darling boy to his charge. If she had not done this, but had trusted
+to his generous impulses, all would have gone well, and the events that
+serve to make up this story would never have taken place. As it was, the
+Major, feeling that the boy was forced upon him, was greatly aggrieved.
+That the lad should bear a remarkable resemblance to his handsome artist
+father also irritated him. As a result, while he really became very fond
+of the boy, and was never unkind to him, he treated him with an assumed
+indifference that was keenly felt by the loving, high-spirited lad. As for
+Snyder Appleby, he was jealous of Rodman from the very first; and when,
+only a short time before the race meeting of the Steel Wheel Club, the
+latter was almost unanimously elected to his place as captain, this
+feeling was greatly increased.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+A RACE FOR THE RAILROAD CUP.
+
+
+Young Blake had now been in Euston two years, and was, among the boys,
+decidedly the most popular fellow in the place. He was a slightly-built
+chap; but with muscles like steel wires, and possessed of wonderful
+agility and powers of endurance. He excelled in all athletic sports, was a
+capital boxer, and at the same time found little difficulty in maintaining
+a good rank in his classes. He had taken to bicycling from the very first,
+and quickly became an expert rider, though he had never gone in for
+racing. It was therefore a great surprise, even to his friends, when, on
+the very day before the race meeting, he entered his name for the event
+that was to result in the winning or losing of the Railroad Cup. It would
+not have been so much of a surprise had anybody known of his conversation,
+a few weeks before, with Eltje Vanderveer, the railroad president's only
+daughter. She was a few months younger than Rod, and ever since he had
+jumped into the river to save her pet kitten from drowning, they had been
+fast friends.
+
+So, when in talking of the approaching meeting, Eltje had said, "How I
+wish you were a racer, and could win our cup, Rod," the boy instantly made
+up his mind to try for it. He only answered, "Do you? Well, perhaps I may
+go in for that sort of thing some time."
+
+Then he began training, so secretly that nobody but Dan, a stable boy on
+his uncle's place and Rod's most ardent admirer, was aware of it; but with
+such steady determination that on the eventful day of the great race his
+physical condition was very nearly perfect.
+
+He was on hand at the race track bright and early; for, as captain of the
+club, Rod had a great deal to do in seeing that everything went smoothly,
+and in starting on time the dozen events that preceded the race for the
+Railroad Cup, which came last on the programme.
+
+While these earlier events were being run off Snyder Appleby, faultlessly
+attired, sat in the grand stand beside his adopted father, and directly
+behind President Vanderveer and his pretty daughter, to whom he tried to
+render himself especially agreeable. He listened respectfully to the
+Major's stories, made amusing comments on the racers for Eltje's benefit,
+and laughed heartily at the puns that her father was given to making.
+
+"But how about your own race, Mr. Appleby?" asked Eltje. "Don't you feel
+any anxiety concerning it? It is to be the hardest one of all, isn't it?"
+
+Immensely flattered at being addressed as Mister Appleby, Snyder replied
+carelessly, "Oh, yes! of course I am most anxious to win it, especially as
+you are here to see it run; but I don't anticipate much difficulty. Bliss
+is a hard man to beat; but I have done it before, and I guess I can do it
+again."
+
+"Then you don't think Rodman has any chance of winning?"
+
+"Well, hardly. You see this is his first race, and experience goes a long
+way in such affairs. Still, he rides well, and it wouldn't surprise me to
+see him make a good third at the finish."
+
+Eltje smiled as she answered, "Perhaps he will finish third; but it would
+surprise me greatly to see him do so."
+
+This pretty girl, with the Dutch name, had such faith in her friend Rod,
+that she did not believe he would ever be third, or even second, where he
+had once made up his mind to be first.
+
+Failing to catch her real meaning, Snyder replied: "Of course he may not
+do as well as that; but he ought to. As captain of the club he ought to
+sustain the honor of his position, you know. If he doesn't feel able to
+take at least third place in a five-starter race, he should either resign,
+or keep out of the racing field altogether. Now I must leave you; for I
+see I am wanted. You'll wish me good luck, won't you?"
+
+"Yes," answered Eltje mischievously, "I wish you all the luck you
+deserve."
+
+Forced to be content with this answer, but wondering if there was any
+hidden meaning in it, Snyder left the grand stand, and strolled leisurely
+around to the dressing-room, lighting a cigarette as he went.
+
+"Hurry up!" shouted Rod, who was the soul of punctuality and was
+particularly anxious that all the events of this, his first race meeting,
+should be started on time. "Hurry up. Our race will be called in five
+minutes, and you've barely time to dress for it."
+
+"Where's my wheel?" asked Snyder, glancing over the dozen or more machines
+stacked at one side of the room, but without seeing his own.
+
+"I haven't seen it," answered Rod, "but I supposed you had left it in some
+safe place."
+
+"So I did. I left it in the club house, where there would be no chance of
+anybody tampering with it; for I've heard of such things happening, but I
+ordered Dan to have it down here in time for the race."
+
+"Do you mean to insinuate--" began Rod hotly; but controlling himself, he
+continued more calmly, "I didn't know that you had given Dan any orders,
+and I sent him over to the house on an errand a few minutes ago. Never
+mind, though, I'll go for your machine myself, and have it here by the
+time you are dressed."
+
+Without waiting for a reply, the young captain started off on a run, while
+his adopted cousin began leisurely to undress, and get into his racing
+costume. By the time he was ready, Rod had returned leading the beautiful
+machine, which he had not ridden for fear lest some accident might happen
+to it.
+
+Then the race was called, and a pistol shot sent the five young athletes
+bending low over their handle-bars spinning down the course. They all wore
+the club colors of scarlet and white; but from Rod's bicycle fluttered the
+bit of blue ribbon that Dan had been sent to the young captain's room to
+get, and which he had hastily knotted to the handle-bar of his machine
+just before starting. Eltje Vanderveer smiled and flushed slightly as she
+noticed it, and then all her attention was concentrated upon the varying
+fortunes of the flying wheelmen.
+
+It was a five-mile race, and therefore a test of endurance rather than of
+strength or skill. There were two laps to the mile, and for seven of these
+Snyder Appleby held an easy lead. His name was heard above all others in
+the cheering that greeted each passing of the grand stand, though the
+others were encouraged to stick to him and not give it up yet. That two of
+them had no intention of giving it up, was shown at the end of the eighth
+lap, when the three leading wheels whirled past the grand stand so nearly
+abreast that no advantage could be claimed for either one.
+
+Now the cheering was tremendous; but the names of Rod Blake and Billy
+Bliss were tossed from mouth to mouth equally with that of Snyder Appleby.
+At the end of nine laps the champion of two years had fallen hopelessly
+behind. His face wore a distressed look, and his breath came in painful
+gasps. Cigarettes had done their work with him, and his wind was gone. The
+two leaders were still abreast; but Rod had obtained the inside position,
+and if he could keep up the pace the race was his.
+
+Eltje Vanderveer's face was pale, and her hands were clinched with the
+intense excitement of the moment. Was her champion to win after all? Was
+her bit of blue ribbon to be borne triumphantly to the front? Inch by inch
+it creeps into a lead. Now they are coming down the home stretch. The
+speed of that last spurt is wonderful. Nothing like it has ever been seen
+at the wind-up of a five-mile race on the Euston track. Looking at them,
+head on, it is for a few seconds hard to tell which is leading. Then a
+solitary shout for Rod Blake is heard. In another moment it has swelled
+into a perfect roar of cheering, and there is a tempest of tossing hats,
+handkerchiefs, and parasols.
+
+[Illustration: ROD BLAKE WINS BY A LENGTH.--(_Page 15._)]
+
+Rod Blake has won by a length, Billy Bliss is second, Snyder Appleby was
+such a bad third that he has gone to the dressing-room without finishing,
+and the others are nowhere.
+
+The speed of the winning wheels cannot be checked at once, and as they go
+shooting on past the stand, the exhausted riders are seen to reel in their
+saddles. They would have fallen but for the willing hands outstretched to
+receive them. Dan is the first to reach the side of his adored young
+master, and as the boy drops into his arms, the faithful fellow says:
+
+"You've won it, Mister Rod! You've won it fair and square; but you want to
+look out for Mister Snyder. I heerd him a-saying bad things about you when
+he passed me on that last lap, and I'm afeard he means some kind of
+mischief."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+A CRUEL ACCUSATION.
+
+
+The attention of the spectators, including the club members, was so
+entirely given to the finish of the famous race for the Railroad Cup,
+that, for a few minutes Snyder Appleby was the sole occupant of the
+dressing-room. When a group of the fellows, forming a sort of triumphal
+escort to the victors, noisily entered it, they found him standing by his
+machine. It was supported by two rests placed under its handle bars, and
+he was gazing curiously at the big wheel, which he was slowly spinning
+with one hand.
+
+"Hello, 'Cider'!" cried the first of the new-comers, "what's up? Anything
+the matter with your wheel?"
+
+"I believe there is," answered the ex-captain, in such a peculiar tone of
+voice that it at once arrested attention. "I don't know what is wrong, and
+I wouldn't make an examination until some of you fellows came in. In a
+case like this I believe in having plenty of witnesses and doing
+everything openly."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked one of the group, whose noisy entrance was now
+succeeded by a startled silence.
+
+"Turn that wheel and you'll see what I mean," replied Snyder.
+
+"Why, it turns as hard as though it were running on plain bearing that had
+never been oiled!" exclaimed the member who had undertaken to turn the
+wheel as requested.
+
+"That's just it, and I don't think it's very surprising that I failed to
+win the race with a wheel in that condition, do you?"
+
+"Indeed I do not. The only surprising thing is that you held the lead so
+long as you did, and managed to come in third. I know I couldn't have run
+a single lap if I'd been on that wheel. What's the matter with it? Wasn't
+it all right when you started?"
+
+"I thought it was," replied Snyder, "but I soon found that something was
+wrong, and before I left the track it was all I could do to move it. Now,
+I want you fellows to find out what the matter is."
+
+A few moments of animated discussion followed, while several of the
+fellows made a careful examination of the bicycle.
+
+"Great Scott!" exclaimed one; "what's in this oil cup? It looks as though
+it were choked with black sand."
+
+"It's emery powder!" cried another, extracting a few grains of the black,
+oil-soaked stuff on the point of a knife blade. "No wonder your wheel
+won't turn. How on earth did it get there?"
+
+"That is what I would like to find out," answered the owner of the
+machine. "It certainly was not there when I left the club house; for I had
+just gone over every part and assured myself that it was in perfect order.
+Since then but two persons have touched it, and I am one of them. I don't
+think it likely that anybody will charge me with having done this thing,
+seeing that my sole interest was to win the race, and that if I so nearly
+succeeded with my wheel in this condition, I could easily have done so had
+it been all right. Nothing could be more painful to me than to bring a
+charge against one who lives under the same roof that I do; but you all
+know who had the greatest interest in having me lose this race. I think
+you all know, too, that he is the only person besides myself who handled
+my wheel immediately before it. The one whom I trusted to bring it here in
+safety was sent off by this person on some frivolous errand at the last
+moment. Then, neglecting other and important duties, he volunteered to get
+the machine himself. He was gone before I had a chance to decline his
+offer. That is all I have to say upon this most unpleasant subject, and I
+should not have said so much had not my own reputation, both as a racing
+man and a gentleman, been at stake. Now I place the whole affair in the
+hands of the club, satisfied that they will do me justice."
+
+Rod Blake, seated on a camp-stool, with a heavy "sweater" thrown over his
+shoulders, and slowly recovering from the exhaustion of the race, had
+observed and listened to all this with a pained curiosity. He could not
+believe any member of the club guilty of such a cowardly act. When Snyder
+began to charge him with having committed it, his face became deadly pale,
+and he gazed at his adopted cousin with an expression akin to terror. As
+the latter finished, the young captain sprang to his feet, exclaiming:
+
+"Snyder Appleby, how dare you bring such an accusation against me? You
+know I am incapable of doing such a thing! Your wheel was in perfect
+condition when I delivered it to you, and you know it was."
+
+"I can easily believe that the fellow who would perform the act would be
+equally ready to lie out of it," replied Snyder.
+
+"Do you mean that I lie?"
+
+"That is about the size of it."
+
+This was more than the hot-tempered young athlete could bear; and almost
+before the words were out of Snyder's mouth, a blow delivered with all the
+nervous force of Rodman's right arm sent him staggering back. It would
+have laid him on the floor, had not several of the fellows caught him in
+their arms.
+
+He was furious with rage, and would have sprung at Rodman had he not been
+restrained. As it was, he hissed through his clinched teeth, "I'll make
+you suffer for this yet, see if I don't."
+
+Immediately after delivering the blow, Rod turned, without a word, and
+began putting on his clothes. The fellows watched him in silence. A minute
+later he was dressed, and stood in the doorway. Here he turned and said:
+
+"I am going home, fellows, and I shall wait there just one hour for an
+assurance that you have faith in me, and do not believe a word of this
+horrible charge. If such a message, sent by the whole club, reaches me
+within that time, I will undertake to prove my innocence. If it does not
+come, then I cease, not only to be your captain, but a member of the
+club."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+STARTING INTO THE WORLD.
+
+
+As Rod finished speaking he left the room and walked away. He had hardly
+disappeared, and the fellows were still looking at each other in a
+bewildered fashion, when a message was sent in. It was that President
+Vanderveer, who was distributing the prizes for the several races out in
+front of the grand stand, was ready to present the Railroad Cup to Rodman
+Blake, and wanted him to come and receive it. Then somebody went out and
+whispered to the President. Excusing himself for a moment to the throng of
+spectators, he visited the dressing-room, where he heard the whole story.
+It was hurriedly told; but he comprehended enough of it to know that the
+cup could not, at that moment, be presented to anybody. So he went back,
+and with a very sober face, told the people that owing to circumstances
+which he was not at liberty to explain just then, it was impossible to
+award the Railroad Cup at that meeting.
+
+The crowd slowly melted away; but before they left, everybody had heard
+one version or another of the story told to President Vanderveer in the
+dressing-room. Some believed Rod to be innocent of the charge brought
+against him, and some believed him guilty. Almost all of them said it was
+a pity that such races could not be won and lost honestly, and there must
+be some fire where there was so much smoke; and they told each other how
+they had noticed from the very first that something was wrong with Snyder
+Appleby's wheel.
+
+Major Appleby heard the story, first from President Vanderveer, and
+afterwards from his adopted son, who confirmed it by displaying the side
+of his face which was swollen and bruised from Rodman's blow. Fully
+believing what Snyder told him, the Major became very angry. He declared
+that no such disgrace had ever before been brought to his house, and that
+the boy who was the cause of it could no longer be sheltered by his roof.
+In vain did people talk to him, and urge him to reflect before he acted.
+He had decided upon his course, and the more they advised him, the more
+determined he became not to be moved from it.
+
+While he was thus storming and fuming outside the dressing-room, the
+members of the wheel club were holding a meeting behind its closed door.
+Did they believe Rodman Blake guilty of the act charged against him or did
+they not? The debate was a long and exciting one; but the question was
+finally decided in his favor. They did not believe him capable of doing
+anything so mean. They would make a thorough investigation of the affair,
+and aid him by every means in their power to prove his innocence.
+
+This was the purport of the message sent to the young captain by the club
+secretary, Billy Bliss; but it was sent too late. The members had taken no
+note of time in the heat of their discussion, and the hour named by Rodman
+had already elapsed before Billy Bliss started on his errand. The fellows
+did not think a few minutes more or less would make any difference, though
+they urged the secretary to hurry and deliver his message as quickly as
+possible. A few minutes however did make all the difference in the world
+to Rod Blake. With him an hour meant exactly sixty minutes; and when
+Billy Bliss reached Major Appleby's house the boy whom he sought was
+nowhere to be found.
+
+Major Appleby and his adopted son walked home together, the former full of
+wrath at what he believed to be the disgraceful action of his nephew, and
+the latter secretly rejoicing at it. On reaching the house, the Major went
+at once to Rodman's room where he found the boy gazing from the window,
+with a hard, defiant, expression on his face. He was longing for a single
+loving word; for a mother's sympathetic ear into which he might pour his
+griefs; but his pride was prepared to withstand any harshness, as well as
+to resent the faintest suspicion of injustice.
+
+"Well, sir," began the Major, "what have you to say for yourself? and how
+do you explain this disgraceful affair?"
+
+"I cannot explain it, Uncle; but----"
+
+"That will do, sir. If you cannot explain it, I want to hear nothing
+further. What I do want, however, is that you shall so arrange your future
+plans that you may no longer be dependent on my roof for shelter. Here is
+sufficient money for your immediate needs. As my sister's child you have
+a certain claim on me. This I shall be willing to honor to the extent of
+providing you against want, whenever you have settled upon your mode of
+life, and choose to favor me with your future address. The sooner you can
+decide upon your course of action the better." Thus saying the
+kind-hearted, impetuous, and wrong-headed old Major laid a roll of bills
+on the table, and left the room.
+
+Fifteen minutes later, or five minutes before Billy Bliss reached the
+house, Rod Blake also left the room. The roll of bills lay untouched where
+his uncle had placed it, and he carried only his M. I. P. or bicycle
+travelling bag, containing the pictures of his parents, a change of
+underclothing, and a few trifles that were absolutely his own. He passed
+out of the house by a side door, and was seen but by one person as he
+plunged into the twilight shadows of the park. Thus, through the gathering
+darkness, the poor boy, proud, high-spirited, and, as he thought,
+friendless, set forth alone, to fight his battle with the world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+CHOOSING A CAREER.
+
+
+As Rod Blake, heavy-hearted, and weary, both mentally and physically from
+his recent struggles, left his uncle's house, he felt utterly reckless,
+and paid no heed to the direction his footsteps were taking. His one idea
+was to get away as quickly, and as far as possible, from those who had
+treated him so cruelly. "If only the fellows had stood by me," he thought,
+"I might have stayed and fought it out. But to have them go back on me,
+and take Snyder's word in preference to mine, is too much."
+
+Had the poor boy but known that Billy Bliss was even then hastening to
+bear a message of good-will and confidence in him from the "fellows" how
+greatly his burden of trial would have been lightened. But he did not
+know, and so he pushed blindly on, suffering as much from his own hasty
+and ill-considered course of action, as from the more deliberate cruelty
+of his adopted cousin. At length he came to the brow of a steep slope
+leading down to the railroad, the very one of which Eltje's father was
+president. The railroad had always possessed a fascination for him, and he
+had often sat on this bank watching the passing trains, wondering at their
+speed, and speculating as to their destinations. He had frequently thought
+he should like to lead the life of a railroad man, and had been pleased
+when the fellows called him "Railroad Blake" on account of his initials.
+Now, this idea presented itself to him again more strongly than ever.
+
+An express train thundered by. The ruddy glow from the furnace door of its
+locomotive, which was opened at that moment, revealed the engineman seated
+in the cab, with one hand on the throttle lever, and peering steadily
+ahead through the gathering gloom. What a glorious life he led! So full of
+excitement and constant change. What a power he controlled. How easy it
+was for him to fly from whatever was unpleasant or trying. As these
+thoughts flashed through the boy's mind, the red lights at the rear of the
+train seemed to blink pleasantly at him, and invite him to follow them.
+
+"I will," he cried, springing to his feet. "I will follow wherever they
+may lead me. Why should I not be a railroad man as well as another? They
+have all been boys and all had to begin some time."
+
+At this moment he was startled by a sound of a voice close beside him
+saying, "Supper is ready, Mister Rod." It was Dan the stable boy; and, as
+Rodman asked him, almost angrily, how he dared follow him without orders,
+and what he was spying out his movements for, he replied humbly: "I ain't
+a-spying on you, Mister Rod, and I only followed you to tell you supper
+was ready, 'cause I thought maybe you didn't know it."
+
+"Well, I didn't and it makes no difference whether I did or not," said
+Rod. "I have left my uncle's house for good and all, Dan, and there are no
+more suppers in it for me."
+
+"I was afeard so! I was afeard so, Mister Rod," exclaimed the boy with a
+real distress in his voice, "an' to tell the truth that's why I came after
+you. I couldn't a-bear to have you go without saying good-by, and I
+thought maybe, perhaps, you'd let me go along with you. Please do, Mister
+Rod. I'll work for you and serve you faithfully, an' I'd a heap rather go
+on a tramp, or any place along with you, than stay here without you.
+Please, Mister Rod."
+
+"No, Dan, it would be impossible to take you with me," said Rodman, who
+was deeply touched by this proof of his humble friend's loyalty. "It will
+be all I can do to find work for myself; but I'm grateful to you all the
+same for showing that you still think well of me. It's a great thing, I
+can tell you, for a fellow in my position to know that he leaves even one
+friend behind him when he is forced to go away from his only home."
+
+"You leaves a-plenty of them--a-plenty!" interrupted the stable boy
+eagerly. "I heerd Miss Eltje telling her father that it was right down
+cruel not to give you the cup, an' that you couldn't do a thing, such as
+they said, any more than she could, or he could himself. An' her father
+said no more did he believe you could, an' you'd come out of it all right
+yet. Miss Eltje was right up an' down mad about it, she was. Oh, I tell
+you, Mister Rod, you've got a-plenty of friends; an' if you'll only stay
+you'll find 'em jest a-swarmin'."
+
+At this Rodman laughed outright, and said: "Dan, you are a fine fellow,
+and you have done me good already. Now what I want you to do is just to
+stay here and discover some more friends for me. I will manage to let you
+know what I am doing; but you must not tell anybody a word about me, nor
+where I am, nor anything. Now good-by, and mind, don't say a word about
+having seen me, unless Miss Eltje should happen to ask you. If she should,
+you might say that I shall always remember her, and be grateful to her for
+believing in me. Good-by."
+
+With this Rod plunged down the steep bank to the railroad track, and
+disappeared in the darkness. He went in the direction of the next station
+to Euston, about five miles away, as he did not wish to be recognized when
+he made the attempt to secure a ride on some train to New York. It was to
+be an attempt only; for he had not a cent of money in his pockets, and had
+no idea of how he should obtain the coveted ride. In addition to being
+penniless, he was hungry, and his hunger was increased tenfold by the
+knowledge that he had no means of satisfying it. Still he was a boy with
+unlimited confidence in himself. He always had fallen on his feet; and,
+though this was the worse fix in which he had ever found himself, he had
+faith that he would come out of it all right somehow. His heart was
+already so much lighter since he had learned from Dan that some of his
+friends, and especially Eltje Vanderveer, still believed in him, that his
+situation did not seem half so desperate as it had an hour before.
+
+Rod was already enough of a railroad man to know that, as he was going
+east, he must walk on the west bound track. By so doing he would be able
+to see trains bound west, while they were still at some distance from him,
+and would be in no danger from those bound east and overtaking him.
+
+When he was about half a mile from the little station, toward which he was
+walking, he heard the long-drawn, far-away whistle of a locomotive. Was it
+ahead of him or behind? On account of the bewildering echoes he could not
+tell. To settle the question he kneeled down, and placed his ear against
+one of rails of the west bound track. It was cold and silent. Then he
+tried the east bound track in the same way. This rail seemed to tingle
+with life, and a faint, humming sound came from it. It was a perfect
+railroad telephone, and it informed the listener as plainly as words could
+have told him, that a train was approaching from the west.
+
+He stopped to note its approach. In a few minutes the rails of the east
+bound track began to quiver with light from the powerful reflector in
+front of its locomotive. Then they stretched away toward the oncoming
+train in gleaming bands of indefinite length, while the dazzling light
+seemed to cut a bright pathway between walls of solid blackness for the
+use of the advancing monster. As the bewildering glare passed him, Rod saw
+that the train was a long, heavy-laden freight, and that some of its cars
+contained cattle. He stood motionless as it rushed past him, shaking the
+solid earth with its ponderous weight, and he drew a decided breath of
+relief at the sight of the blinking red eyes on the rear platform of its
+caboose. How he wished he was in that caboose, riding comfortably toward
+New York, instead of plodding wearily along on foot, with nothing but
+uncertainties ahead of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SMILER, THE RAILROAD DOG.
+
+
+As Rod stood gazing at the receding train he noticed a human figure step
+from the lighted interior of the caboose, through the open doorway, to the
+platform, apparently kick at something, and almost instantly return into
+the car. At the same time the boy fancied he heard a sharp cry of pain;
+but was not sure. As he resumed his tiresome walk, gazing longingly after
+the vanishing train lights, he saw another light, a white one that moved
+toward him with a swinging motion, close to the ground. While he was
+wondering what it was, he almost stumbled over a small animal that stood
+motionless on the track, directly in front of him. It was a dog. Now Rod
+dearly loved dogs, and seemed instinctively to know that this one was in
+some sort of trouble. As he stopped to pat it, the creature uttered a
+little whine, as though asking his sympathy and help. At the same time it
+licked his hand.
+
+While he was kneeling beside the dog and trying to discover what its
+trouble was, the swinging white light approached so closely that he saw
+it to be a lantern, borne by a man who, in his other hand, carried a
+long-handled iron wrench. He was the track-walker of that section, who
+was obliged to inspect every foot of the eight miles of track under his
+charge, at least twice a day; and the wrench was for the tightening of
+any loose rail joints that he might discover.
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed this individual as he came before the little group,
+and held his lantern so as to get a good view of them. "What's the matter
+here?"
+
+"I have just found this dog," replied Rod, "and he seems to be in pain. If
+you will please hold your light a little closer perhaps I can see what has
+happened to him."
+
+The man did as requested, and Rod uttered an exclamation of pleasure as
+the light fell full upon the dog; for it was the finest specimen of a bull
+terrier he had ever seen. It was white and brindled, its chest was of
+unusual breadth, and its square jaws indicated a tenacity of purpose that
+nothing short of death itself could overcome. Now one of its legs was
+evidently hurt, and it had an ugly cut under the left ear, from which
+blood was flowing. Its eyes expressed an almost human intelligence; and,
+as it looked up at Rod and tried to lick his face, it seemed to say, "I
+know you will be my friend, and I trust you to help me." About its neck
+was a leathern collar, bearing a silver plate, on which was inscribed:
+"Be kind to me, for I am Smiler the Railroad Dog."
+
+"I know this dog," exclaimed the track-walker, as he read these words,
+"and I reckon every railroad man in the country knows him; or at any rate
+has heard of him. He used to belong to Andrew Dean, who was killed when
+his engine went over the bank at Hager's two years ago. He thought the
+world of the dog, and it used to travel with him most always; only once in
+a while it would go visiting on some of the other engines. It was off that
+way when Andrew got killed, and since then it has travelled all over the
+country, like as though it was hunting for its old master. The dog lives
+on trains and engines, and railroad men are always glad to see him. Some
+of them got up this collar for him a while ago. Why, Smiler, old dog, how
+did you come here in this fix? I never heard of you getting left or
+falling off a train before."
+
+"I think he must have come from the freight that just passed us," said
+Rod, "and I shouldn't wonder," he added, suddenly recalling the strange
+movements of the figure he had seen appear for an instant at the caboose
+door, "if he was kicked off." Then he described the scene of which he had
+caught a glimpse as the freight train passed him.
+
+"I'd like to meet the man who'd dare do such a thing," exclaimed the
+track-walker. "If I wouldn't kick him! He'd dance to a lively tune if any
+of us railroad chaps got hold of him, I can tell you. It must have been an
+accident, though; for nobody would hurt Smiler. Now I don't know exactly
+what to do. Smiler can't be left here, and I'm afraid he isn't able to
+walk very far. If I had time I'd carry him back to the freight. She's
+side-tracked only a quarter of a mile from here, waiting for Number 8 to
+pass. I'm due at Euston inside of an hour, and I don't dare waste any more
+time."
+
+"I'll take him if you say so," answered Rod, who had been greatly
+interested in the dog's history. "I believe I can carry him that far."
+
+"All right," replied the track-walker. "I wish you would. You'll have to
+move lively though; for if Number 8 is on time, as she generally is, you
+haven't a moment to lose."
+
+"I'll do my best," said the boy, and a moment later he was hurrying down
+the track with his M. I. P. bag strapped to his shoulders, and with the
+dog so strangely committed to his care, clasped tightly in his arms. At
+the same time the track-walker, with his swinging lantern, was making
+equally good speed in the opposite direction. As Rod rounded a curve, and
+sighted the lights of the waiting freight train, he heard the warning
+whistle of Number 8 behind him, and redoubled his exertions. He did not
+stop even as the fast express whirled past him, though he was nearly
+blinded by the eddying cloud of dust and cinders that trailed behind it.
+But, if Number 8 was on time, so was he. Though Smiler had grown heavy
+as lead in his aching arms, and though his breath was coming in panting
+gasps, he managed to climb on the rear platform of the caboose, just as
+the freight was pulling out. How glad he was at that moment of the three
+weeks training he had just gone through with. It had won him something,
+even if his name was not to be engraved on the railroad cup of the Steel
+Wheel Club.
+
+As the boy stood in the rear doorway of the caboose, gazing doubtfully
+into its interior, a young fellow who looked like a tramp, and who had
+been lying on one of the cushioned lockers, or benches, that ran along the
+sides of the car, sprang to his feet with a startled exclamation. At the
+same moment Smiler drew back his upper lip so as to display a glistening
+row of teeth, and, uttering a deep growl, tried to escape from Rod's arms.
+
+"What are you doing in this car! and what do you mean by bringing that dog
+in here?" cried the fellow angrily, at the same time advancing with a
+threatening gesture. "Come, clear out of here or I'll put you out," he
+added. The better to defend himself, if he should be attacked, the boy
+dropped the dog; and, with another fierce growl, forgetful of his hurts,
+Smiler flew at the stranger's throat.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+ROD, SMILER, AND THE TRAMP.
+
+
+"Help! Murder! Take off your dog!" yelled the young tramp, throwing up his
+arm to protect his face from Smiler's attack, and springing backward. In
+so doing he tripped and fell heavily to the floor, with the dog on top of
+him, growling savagely, and tearing at the ragged coat-sleeve in which his
+teeth were fastened. Fearful lest the dog might inflict some serious
+injury upon the fellow, Rodman rushed to his assistance. He had just
+seized hold of Smiler, when a kick from the struggling tramp sent his feet
+flying from under him, and he too pitched headlong. There ensued a scene
+which would have been comical enough to a spectator, but which was
+anything but funny to those who took part in it. Over and over they
+rolled, striking, biting, kicking, and struggling. The tramp was the first
+to regain his feet; but almost at the same instant Smiler escaped from
+Rod's embrace, and again flew at him. They had rolled over the caboose
+floor until they were close to its rear door; and now, with a yell of
+terror, the tramp darted through it, sprang from the moving train, and
+disappeared in the darkness, leaving a large piece of his trousers in the
+dog's mouth. Just then the forward door was opened, and two men with
+lanterns on their arms, entered the car.
+
+They were Conductor Tobin, and rear-brakeman Joe, his right-hand man,
+who had just finished switching their train back on the main track, and
+getting it again started on its way toward New York. At the sight of Rod,
+who was of course a perfect stranger to them, sitting on the floor,
+hatless, covered with dust, his clothing bearing many signs of the recent
+fray, and ruefully feeling of a lump on his forehead that was rapidly
+increasing in size, and of Smiler whose head was bloody, and who was still
+worrying the last fragment of clothing that the tramp's rags had yielded
+him, they stood for a moment in silent bewilderment.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" said Conductor Tobin at length.
+
+"Me too," said Brakeman Joe, who believed in following the lead of his
+superior officer.
+
+"May I inquire," asked Conductor Tobin, seating himself on a locker close
+to where Rod still sat on the floor, "May I inquire who you are? and where
+you came from? and how you got here? and what's happened to Smiler? and
+what's came of the fellow we left sleeping here a few minutes ago? and
+what's the meaning of all this business, anyway?"
+
+"Yes, we'd like to know," said the Brakeman, taking a seat on the opposite
+locker, and regarding the boy with a curiosity that was not unmixed with
+suspicion. Owing to extensive dealings with tramps, Brakeman Joe was very
+apt to be suspicious of all persons who were dirty, and ragged, and had
+bumps on their foreheads.
+
+"The trouble is," replied Rod, looking first at Conductor Tobin and then
+at Brakeman Joe, "that I don't know all about it myself. Nobody does
+except the fellow who just left here in such a hurry, and Smiler, who
+can't tell."
+
+Here the dog, hearing his name mentioned, dragged himself rather stiffly
+to the boy's side; for now that the excitement was over, his hurts
+began to be painful again, and licked his face.
+
+[Illustration: SMILER DRIVES OFF THE TRAMP.--(_Page 41._)]
+
+"Well, you must be one of the right sort, at any rate," said Conductor
+Tobin, noting this movement, "for Smiler is a dog that doesn't make
+friends except with them as are."
+
+"He knows what's what, and who's who," added Brakeman Joe, nodding his
+head. "Don't you, Smiler, old dog?"
+
+"My name," continued the boy, "is R. R. Blake."
+
+"Railroad Blake?" interrupted Conductor Tobin inquiringly.
+
+"Or 'Runaway Blake'?" asked Brakeman Joe who, still somewhat suspicious,
+was studying the boy's face and the M. I. P. bag attached to his
+shoulders.
+
+"Both," answered Rod, with a smile. "The boys where I live, or rather
+where I did live, often call me 'Railroad Blake,' and I am a runaway. That
+is, I was turned away first, and ran away afterwards."
+
+Then, as briefly as possible, he gave them the whole history of his
+adventures, beginning with the bicycle race, and ending with the
+disappearance of the young tramp through the rear door of the caboose in
+which they sat. Both men listened with the deepest attention, and without
+interrupting him save by occasional ejaculations, expressive of wonder and
+sympathy.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Conductor Tobin, when he had finished;
+while Brakeman Joe, without a word, went to the rear door and examined the
+platform, with the hope, as he afterwards explained, of finding there the
+fellow who had kicked Smiler off the train, and of having a chance to
+serve him in the same way. Coming back with a disappointed air, he
+proceeded to light a fire in the little round caboose stove, and prepare a
+pot of coffee for supper, leaving Rodman's case to be managed by Conductor
+Tobin as he thought best.
+
+The latter told the boy that the young tramp, as they called him, was
+billed through to New York, to look after some cattle that were on the
+train; but that he was a worthless, ugly fellow, who had not paid the
+slightest attention to them, and whose only object in accepting the job
+was evidently to obtain a free ride in the caboose. Smiler, whom he had
+been delighted to find on the train when it was turned over to him, had
+taken a great dislike to the fellow from the first. He had growled and
+shown his teeth whenever the tramp moved about the car, and several times
+the latter had threatened to teach him better manners. When he and
+Brakeman Joe went to the forward end of the train, to make ready for
+side-tracking it, they left the dog sitting on the rear platform of the
+caboose, and the tramp apparently asleep, as Rod had found him, on one of
+the lockers. He must have taken advantage of their absence to deal the dog
+the cruel kick that cut his ear, and landed him, stunned and bruised, on
+the track where he had been discovered.
+
+"I'm glad he's gone," concluded Conductor Tobin, "for if he hadn't left,
+we would have fired him for what he did to Smiler. We won't have that dog
+hurt on this road, not if we know it. It won't hurt him to have to walk
+to New York, and I don't care if he never gets there. What worries me,
+though, is who'll look after those cattle, and go down to the stock-yard
+with them, now that he's gone."
+
+"Why couldn't I do it?" asked Rod eagerly. "I'd be glad to."
+
+"You!" said Conductor Tobin incredulously. "Why, you look like too much
+of a gentleman to be handling cattle."
+
+"I hope I am a gentleman," answered the boy with a smile; "but I am a very
+poverty-stricken one just at present, and if I can earn a ride to the
+city, just by looking after some cattle, I don't know why I shouldn't do
+that as well as anything else. What I would like to do though, most of all
+things, is to live up to my nickname, and become a railroad man."
+
+"You would, would you?" said Conductor Tobin. Then, as though he were
+propounding a conundrum, he asked: "Do you know the difference between
+a railroad man and a chap who wants to be one?"
+
+"I don't know that I do," answered the boy.
+
+"Well, the difference is, that the latter gets what he deserves, and the
+former deserves what he gets. What I mean is, that almost anybody who is
+willing to take whatever job is offered him can get a position on a
+railroad; but before he gets promoted he will have to deserve it several
+times over. In other words, it takes more honesty, steadiness,
+faithfulness, hard work, and brains to work your way up in railroad life
+than in any other business that I know of. However, at present, you are
+only going along with me as stockman, in which position I am glad to have
+you, so we won't stop now to discuss railroading. Let's see what Joe has
+got for supper, for I'm hungry and I shouldn't be surprised if you were."
+
+Indeed Rod was hungry, and just at that moment the word supper was the
+most welcome of the whole English language. First, though, he went to the
+wash-basin that he noticed at the forward end of the car. There he bathed
+his face and hands, brushed his hair, restored his clothing to something
+like order, and altogether made himself so presentable, that Conductor
+Tobin laughed when he saw him, and declared that he looked less like a
+stockman than ever.
+
+How good that supper, taken from the mammoth lunch pails of the train
+crew, tasted, and what delicious coffee came steaming out of the
+smoke-blackened pot that Brakeman Joe lifted so carefully from the stove!
+To be sure it had to be taken without milk, but there was plenty of sugar,
+and when Rod passed his tin cup for a second helping, the coffee maker's
+face fairly beamed with gratified pride.
+
+After these three and Smiler had finished their supper, Conductor Tobin
+lighted his pipe, and, climbing up into the cupola of the caboose,
+stretched himself comfortably on the cushioned seat arranged there for his
+especial accommodation. From here, through the windows ahead, behind, and
+on both sides of the cupola, he had an unobstructed view out into the
+night. Brakeman Joe went out over the tops of the cars to call in the
+other two brakeman of the train, and keep watch for them, while they went
+into the caboose and ate their supper. They looked curiously at Rod as
+they entered the car; but were too well used to seeing strangers riding
+there to ask any questions. They both spoke to Smiler though, and he
+wagged his tail as though recognizing old friends.
+
+The dog could not go to them and jump up to be petted because Rod was
+attending to his wounds. He carefully bathed the cut under the left ear,
+from which considerable blood had flowed, and drew its edges together with
+some sticking plaster, of which he always carried a small quantity in his
+M. I. P. bag. Then, finding one of the dog's fore shoulders strained and
+swollen, he soaked it for some time in water as hot as the animal could
+bear. After arranging a comfortable bed in one corner of the car, he
+finally persuaded Smiler to lie there quietly, though not until he had
+submitted to a grateful licking of his face and hands.
+
+Next the boy turned his attention to the supper dishes, and had them very
+nearly washed and wiped when Brakeman Joe returned, greatly to that
+stalwart fellow's surprise and delight; for Joe hated to wash dishes.
+By this time Rod had been nearly two hours on the train, and was so
+thoroughly tired that he concluded to lie down and rest until he should be
+wanted for something else. He did not mean to even close his eyes, but
+within three minutes he was fast asleep. All through the night he slept,
+while the long freight train, stopping only now and then for water, or to
+allow some faster train to pass it, rumbled heavily along toward the great
+city.
+
+He could not at first realize where he was, when, in the gray of the next
+morning, a hand was laid on his shoulder, and Conductor Tobin's voice
+said: "Come, my young stockman, here we are at the end of our run, and it
+is time for you to be looking after your cattle." A quick dash of cold
+water on his head and face cleared the boy's faculties in an instant.
+Then Conductor Tobin pointed out the two stock cars full of cattle that
+were being uncoupled from the rest of the train, and bade him go with them
+to the stock-yard. There he was to see that the cattle were well watered
+and safely secured in the pen that would be assigned to them. Rod was also
+told that he might leave his bag in the caboose and come back, after he
+was through with his work, for a bit of breakfast with Brakeman Joe, who
+lived at the other end of the division, and always made the car his home
+when at this end. As for himself, Conductor Tobin said he must bid the boy
+good-by, as he lived a short distance out on the road, and must hurry to
+catch the train that would take him home. He would be back, ready to start
+out again with the through freight, that evening, and hoped Rod would come
+and tell him what luck he had in obtaining a position. Then rough but
+kind-hearted Conductor Tobin left the boy, never for a moment imagining
+that he was absolutely penniless and without friends in that part of the
+country, or in the great city across the river.
+
+For the next two hours Rod worked hard and faithfully with the cattle
+committed to his charge, and then, anticipating with a keen appetite a
+share of Brakeman Joe's breakfast, he returned to where he had left the
+caboose. It was not there, nor could he find a trace of it. He saw plenty
+of other cabooses looking just like it, but none of them was the one he
+wanted.
+
+He inquired of a busy switch-tender where it could be found, and the man
+asked him its number. He had not noticed. What was the number of the train
+with which it came in? Rod had no idea. The number of the locomotive that
+drew it then? The boy did not know that either.
+
+"Well," said the man impatiently, "you don't seem to know much of
+anything, and I'd advise you to learn what it is you want to find out
+before you bother busy folks with questions."
+
+So the poor fellow was left standing alone and bewildered in the great,
+busy freight-yard, friendless and hungry. He had lost even the few
+treasures contained in his M. I. P. bag, and never had life seemed darker
+or more hopeless. For some moments he could not think what to do, or which
+way to turn.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+EARNING A BREAKFAST.
+
+
+If Rod Blake had only known the number of the caboose for which he was
+searching, he could easily have learned what had happened to it. Soon
+after he left it, while it was being switched on to a siding, one of its
+draw-bars became broken, and it had been sent to the repair shop, a mile
+or so away, to be put in condition for going out again that night. He had
+not thought of looking at its number, though; for he had yet to learn that
+on a railroad everything goes by numbers instead of by names. A few years
+ago all locomotives bore names, such as "Flying Cloud," "North Wind,"
+etc., or were called after prominent men; but now they are simply
+numbered. It is the same with cars, except sleepers, drawing-rooms, and a
+few mail cars. Trains are also numbered, odd numbers being given to west
+or south bound, and even numbers to east or north bound trains. Thus,
+while a passenger says he is going out by the Chicago Limited, the Pacific
+Express, or the Fitchburg Local, the railroad man would say that he was
+going on No. 1, 3, or 5, as the case might be. The sections, from three to
+eight miles long, into which every road is divided, are numbered, as are
+all its bridges. Even the stations are numbered, and so are the tracks.
+
+All this Rodman discovered afterwards; but he did not know it then, and so
+he was only bewildered by the switchman's questions. For a few minutes he
+stood irresolute, though keeping a sharp lookout for the hurrying switch
+engines, and moving cars that, singly or in trains, were flying in all
+directions about him, apparently without any reason or method. Finally he
+decided to follow out his original plan of going to the superintendent's
+office and asking for employment. By inquiry he found that it was located
+over the passenger station, nearly a mile away from where he stood. When
+he reached the station, and inquired for the person of whom he was in
+search, he was laughed at, and told that the "super" never came to his
+office at that time of day, nor until two or three hours later. So,
+feeling faint for want of breakfast, as well as tired and somewhat
+discouraged, the boy sat down in the great bustling waiting-room of the
+station.
+
+At one side of the room was a lunch-counter, from which the odor of
+newly-made coffee was wafted to him in the most tantalizing manner. What
+wouldn't he give for a cup at that moment? But there was no use in
+thinking of such things; and so he resolutely turned his back upon
+the steaming urn, and the tempting pile of eatables by which it was
+surrounded. In watching the endless streams of passengers steadily ebbing
+and flowing past him, he almost forgot the emptiness of his stomach. Where
+could they all be going to, or coming from? Did people always travel in
+such overwhelming numbers, that it seemed as though the whole world were
+on the move, or was this some special occasion? He thought the latter must
+be the case, and wondered what the occasion was. Then there were the
+babies and children! How they swarmed about him! He soon found that he
+could keep pretty busy, and win many a grateful smile from anxious
+mothers, by capturing and picking up little toddlers who would persist in
+running about and falling down right in the way of hurrying passengers.
+He also kept an eye on the old ladies, who were so flustered and
+bewildered, and asked such meaningless questions of everybody, that he
+wondered how they were ever to reach their destinations in safety.
+
+One of these deposited a perfect avalanche of little bags, packages, and
+umbrellas on the seat beside him. Several of them fell to the floor, and
+Rod was good-naturedly picking them up when he was startled by the sound
+of a clear, girlish voice that he knew as well as he knew his own,
+directly behind him. He turned, with a quickly beating heart, and saw
+Eltje Vanderveer. She was walking between her father and Snyder Appleby.
+They had already passed without seeing him, and had evidently just arrived
+by an early morning train from Euston.
+
+Rod's first impulse was to run after them; and, starting to do so, he was
+only a step behind them when he heard Snyder say: "He must have money,
+because he refused a hundred dollars that the Major offered him. At any
+rate we'll hear from him soon enough if he gets hard up or into trouble.
+He isn't the kind of a----"
+
+But Rod had already turned away, and what he wasn't, in Snyder's opinion,
+he never knew.
+
+He had hardly resumed his seat, when there was a merry jingle on the
+floor beside him, and a quantity of silver coins began to roll in all
+directions. The nervous old lady of the bags and bundles had dropped her
+purse, and now she stood gazing at her scattered wealth, the very image
+of despair.
+
+"Never mind, ma'am," said Rod, cheerily, as he began to capture the truant
+coins. "I'll have them all picked up in a moment." It took several minutes
+of searching here and there, under the seats, and in all sorts of
+out-of-the-way hiding places, before all the bits of silver were
+recovered, and handed to their owner.
+
+She drew a great sigh of relief as she counted her money and found that
+none was lost. Then, beaming at the boy through her spectacles, she said:
+"Well, thee is an honest lad; and, if thee'll look after my bags while I
+get my ticket, and then help me to the train, I'll give thee a quarter."
+
+Rod was on the point of saying, politely: "I shall be most happy to do
+anything I can for you, ma'am; but I couldn't think of accepting pay for
+it," when the thought of his position flashed over him. A quarter would
+buy him a breakfast, and it would be honorably earned too. Would it not be
+absolutely wrong to refuse it under the circumstances? Thus thinking, he
+touched his cap, and said: "Certainly I will do all I can to help you,
+ma'am, and will be glad of the chance to earn a quarter."
+
+When the old lady had procured her ticket, and Rod had received the
+first bit of money he had ever earned in his life by helping her to a
+comfortable seat in the right car, she would have detained and questioned
+him, but for her fear that he might be carried off. So she bade him hurry
+from the car as quickly as possible, though it still lacked nearly ten
+minutes of the time of starting.
+
+The hungry boy knew well enough where he wanted to go, and what he wanted
+to do, now. In about three seconds after leaving the car he was seated at
+the railroad lunch-counter, with a cup of coffee, two hard-boiled eggs,
+and a big hot roll before him. He could easily have disposed of twice as
+much; but prudently determined to save some of his money for another meal,
+which he realized, with a sigh, would be demanded by his vigorous appetite
+before the day was over.
+
+To his dismay, when he asked the young woman behind the counter how much
+he owed for what he had eaten, she answered, "Twenty-five cents, please."
+He thought there must be some mistake, and asked her if there was not; but
+she answered: "Not at all. Ten cents for coffee, ten for eggs, and five
+for the roll." With this she swept Rod's solitary quarter into the
+money-drawer, and turned to wait on another customer.
+
+"Well, it costs something to live," thought the boy, ruefully, as he
+walked away from the counter. "At that rate I could easily have eaten a
+dollar's worth of breakfast, and I certainly sha'n't choose this for my
+boarding place, whatever happens."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+GAINING A FOOTHOLD.
+
+
+Though he could have eaten more, Rod felt decidedly better for the meal so
+unexpectedly secured, and made up his mind that now was the time to see
+the superintendent and ask for employment. So he made his way to that
+gentleman's office, where he was met by a small boy, who told him that the
+superintendent had been there a few minutes before, but had gone away with
+President Vanderveer.
+
+"When will he be back?" asked Rod.
+
+"Not till he gets ready," was the reply; "but the best time to catch him
+is about five o'clock."
+
+For the next six hours poor Rod wandered about the station and the
+railroad yard, with nothing to do and nobody to speak to, feeling about as
+lonely and uncomfortable as it is possible for a healthy and naturally
+light-hearted boy to feel. He strolled into the station twenty times to
+study the slow moving hands of its big clock, and never had the hours
+appeared to drag along so wearily. When not thus engaged he haunted the
+freight yard, mounting the steps of every caboose he saw, in the hope of
+recognizing it. At length, to his great joy, shortly before five o'clock
+he saw, through a window set in the door of one of these, the
+well-remembered interior in which he had spent the preceding night. He
+could not be mistaken, for there lay his own M. I. P. bag on one of the
+lockers. But the car was empty, and its doors were locked. Carefully
+observing its number, which was 18, and determined to return to it as
+quickly as possible, Rod directed his steps once more in the direction of
+the superintendent's office.
+
+The same boy whom he had seen in the morning greeted him with an
+aggravating grin, and said: "You're too late. The 'super' was here half an
+hour ago; but he's left, and gone out over the road. Perhaps he won't be
+back for a week."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Rod in such a hopeless tone that even the boy's stony
+young heart was touched by it.
+
+"Is it R. R. B.?" he asked, meaning, "Are you on railroad business?"
+
+"Yes," answered Rod, thinking his own initials were meant.
+
+"Then perhaps the private secretary can attend to it," said the boy. "He's
+in there." Here he pointed with his thumb towards an inner room, "and I'll
+go see."
+
+In a moment he returned, saying, "Yes. He says he'll see you if it's R. R.
+B., and you can go right in."
+
+Rodman did as directed, and found himself in a handsomely-furnished
+office, which, somewhat to his surprise, was filled with cigarette smoke.
+In it, with his back turned toward the door, and apparently busily engaged
+in writing, a young man sat at one of the two desks that it contained.
+
+"Well, sir," said this individual, without looking up, in a voice intended
+to be severe and business-like, but which was somewhat disguised by a
+cigarette held between his teeth, "What can I do for you?"
+
+"I came," answered Rod, hesitatingly, "to see if the superintendent of
+this road could give me any employment on it."
+
+The words were not out of his mouth, before the private secretary,
+wheeling abruptly about, disclosed the unwelcome face of Snyder Appleby.
+
+"Well, if this isn't a pretty go!" he exclaimed, with a sneer. "So you've
+come here looking for work, have you? I'd like to know what you know about
+railroad business, anyhow? No, sir; you won't get a job on this road, not
+if I can help it, and I rather think I can. The best thing for you to do
+is to go back to Euston, and make up with the old gentleman. He's soft
+enough to forgive anything, if you're only humble enough. As for the idea
+of you trying to be a railroad man, it's simply absurd. We want men, not
+boys, in this business."
+
+Too surprised and indignant to reply at once to this cruel speech, and
+fearful lest he should be unable to control his temper if he remained a
+moment longer in the room, Rodman turned, without a word, and hurried from
+it. He was choked with a bitter indignation, and could not breathe freely
+until he was once more outside the building, and in the busy railroad
+yard.
+
+As he walked mechanically forward, hardly noting, in the raging tumult of
+his thoughts, whither his steps were tending, a heavy hand was laid on his
+shoulder, and a hearty voice exclaimed: "Hello, young fellow! Where have
+you been, and where are you bound? I've been looking for you everywhere.
+Here's your grip that I was just taking to the lost-parcel room."
+
+It was Brakeman Joe, with Rod's M. I. P. bag in his hand, and his honest,
+friendly countenance seemed to the unhappy boy the very most welcome face
+he had ever seen. They walked together to caboose Number 18, where Rod
+poured into the sympathizing ears of his railroad friend the story of his
+day's experience.
+
+"Well, I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Brakeman Joe, using Conductor Tobin's
+favorite expression, when the boy had finished. "If that isn't tough luck,
+then I don't know what is. But I'll tell you what we'll do. I can't get
+you a place on the road, of course; but I believe you are just on time for
+a job, such as it is, that will put a few dollars in your pocket, and keep
+you for a day or two, besides giving you a chance to pick up some
+experience of a trainman's life."
+
+"Oh, if you only will!----" began the boy, gratefully.
+
+"Better wait till you hear what it is, and we see if we can get it,"
+interrupted Joe. "You see the way of it is this, there was a gent around
+here awhile ago with a horse, that he wants to send out on our train, to
+some place in the western part of the State. I don't know just where it's
+going, but his brother is to meet it at the end of our run, and take
+charge of it from there. Now the chap that the gent had engaged to look
+after the horse that far, has gone back on him, and didn't show up here as
+he promised, and the man's looking for somebody else. We'll just go down
+to the stock-yard, and if he hasn't found anybody yet, maybe you can get
+the job. See?"
+
+Half an hour later it was all arranged. The gentleman was found, and had
+not yet engaged any one to take the place of his missing man. He was so
+pleased with Rod's appearance, besides being so thoroughly satisfied by
+the flattering recommendations given him by Brakeman Joe, and the master
+of the stock-yard, who had noticed the boy in the morning, that he readily
+employed him, offering him five dollars for the trip.
+
+So Rod's name was written on the way-bill, he helped get the horse, whose
+name was Juniper, comfortably fixed in the car set apart for him, and then
+he gladly accepted the gentleman's invitation to dine with him in a
+restaurant near by. There he received his final instructions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
+
+
+Between the time that Rod took charge of Juniper, and the time of the
+train's starting, the young "stockman," as he was termed on the way-bill,
+had some pretty lively experiences. Before the owner of the horse left, he
+handed the boy two dollars and fifty cents, which was half the amount he
+had agreed to pay him, and a note to his brother, requesting him to pay
+the bearer the same sum at the end of the trip. After spending fifty cents
+for a lunch, consisting of crackers, cheese, sandwiches, and a pie, for
+the boy had no idea of going hungry again if he could help it, nor of
+paying the extravagant prices charged at railroad lunch-counters, Rod took
+his place, with Juniper, in car number 1160, which was the one assigned to
+them. Here he proceeded to make the acquaintance of his charge; and, aided
+by a few lumps of sugar that he had obtained for this purpose, he soon
+succeeded in establishing the most friendly relations between them.
+
+Suddenly, while he was patting and talking to the horse, car number 1160
+received a heavy bump from a string of empties, that had just been sent
+flying down the track on which it stood, by a switch engine. Juniper was
+very nearly flung off his feet, and was greatly frightened. Before Rod
+could quiet him, there came another bump from the opposite direction,
+followed by a jerk. Then the car began to move, while Juniper, quivering
+in every limb, snorted with terror. Now came a period of "drilling," as it
+is called, that proved anything but pleasant either to the boy or to the
+frightened animal. The car was pushed and pulled from one track to
+another, sometimes alone and sometimes in company with other cars. The
+train of which it was to form a part was being made up, and the "drilling"
+was for the purpose of getting together the several cars bound to certain
+places, and of placing those that were to be dropped off first, behind
+those that were to make the longest runs.
+
+Juniper's fears increased with each moment, until at length, when a
+passenger locomotive, with shrieking whistle, rushed past within a few
+feet, he gave a jump that broke the rope halter confining him, and bounded
+to the extreme end of the car. Rod sprang to the open door--not with any
+idea of leaving the car, oh, no! his sense of duty was too strong for
+that, but for the purpose of closing it so that the horse should not leap
+out. Then he approached the terrified animal with soothing words, and
+caught hold of the broken halter. At the same moment the car was again set
+in motion, and the horse, now wild with terror, flew to the other end,
+dragging Rod after him. The only lantern in the car was overturned and its
+light extinguished, so that the struggle between boy and horse was
+continued in utter darkness. Finally a tremendous bump of the car flung
+the horse to the floor; and, before he could regain his feet, Rod was
+sitting on his head. The boy was panting from his exertions, as well as
+bruised from head to foot; but he was thankful to feel that no bones were
+broken, and hoped the horse had escaped serious injury as well as himself.
+
+After several minutes of quiet he became satisfied that that last bump
+was the end of the drilling, and that car number 1160 had at length
+reached its assigned position in the train. Still he did not think it safe
+to let the horse up just yet, and so he waited until he heard voices
+outside. Then he called for help. The next moment the car door was pushed
+open, and Conductor Tobin, followed by Brakeman Joe, entered it.
+
+"Well, I'll be everlastingly blowed!" cried Conductor Tobin, using the
+very strongest form of his peculiar expression, as the light from his
+lantern fell on the strange tableau presented by the boy and horse. "If
+this doesn't beat all the stock-tending I ever heard of. Joe here was just
+telling me you was going out with us to-night, in charge of a horse, and
+we were looking for your car. But what are you doing to him?"
+
+"Sitting on his head," answered Rod, gravely.
+
+"So I see," said Conductor Tobin, "and you look very comfortable; but how
+does he like it?"
+
+"I don't suppose he likes it at all," replied the boy; "but I couldn't
+think of anything else to do." Then he told them of the terror inspired in
+the animal by the recent drilling; how it had broken loose and dragged
+him up and down the car, and how he came to occupy his present position.
+
+"Well, you've got sand!" remarked Conductor Tobin admiringly when the
+story was finished. "More 'n I have," he added. "I wouldn't have stayed
+here in the dark, with a loose horse tearing round like mad. Not for a
+month's pay I wouldn't."
+
+"No more would I," said Brakeman Joe; "a scared hoss is a terror."
+
+Then they brought some stout ropes, and Juniper was helped to his feet,
+securely fastened and soothed and petted until all his recent terror was
+forgotten. To Rod's great delight he was found to be uninjured, except for
+some insignificant scratches; and by his recent experience he was so well
+broken to railroad riding that he endured the long trip that followed with
+the utmost composure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+A BATTLE WITH TRAMPS.
+
+
+After quieting Juniper, and having the satisfaction of seeing him begin to
+eat hay quite as though he were in his own stable, Rod left the car and
+followed his railroad friends in order to learn something about getting a
+train ready for its run. He found them walking on opposite sides of it,
+examining each car by the light of their lanterns, and calling to each
+other the inscriptions on the little leaden seals by which the doors were
+fastened. These told where the cars came from, which information, together
+with the car numbers, and the initials showing to what road they belonged,
+Conductor Tobin jotted down in his train-book. He also compared it with
+similar information noted on certain brown cards, about as wide and twice
+as long as ordinary playing-cards, a package of which he carried in his
+hand. The destinations of the several cars could also be learned from
+these cards, which are called "running slips." Each car in the train was
+represented by one of them, which would accompany it wherever it went,
+being handed from one conductor to another, until its final destination
+was reached.
+
+At length, about ten o'clock, through Freight Number 73, to which car
+number 1160 was attached, received its "clearance," or order to start,
+from the train-dispatcher, and began to move heavily out from the yard, on
+to the main west-bound track. Juniper now did not seem to mind the motion
+of the car in the least; but continued quietly eating his hay as though he
+had been a railroad traveller all his life. So Rod, who had watched him a
+little anxiously at first, had nothing to do but stand at the open door of
+his car and gaze at what scenery the darkness disclosed. Now that he was
+beginning to comprehend their use, he was deeply interested in the bright
+red, green, and white lights of the semaphore signals that guarded every
+switch and siding. He knew that at night a white light displayed from the
+top of a post, or swung across the track in the form of a lantern, meant
+safety, a red light meant danger, and a green light meant caution. If it
+had been daytime he would have seen thin wooden blades, about four feet
+long by six inches wide, pivoted near the top of the same posts that now
+displayed the lights. He would have learned that when these stretched out
+horizontally over the track, their warning colors must be regarded by
+every engineman; while if they hung down at an angle, no attention need
+be paid to them.
+
+Being a very observant boy, as well as keenly interested in everything to
+be seen on a railroad, Rod soon discovered that the semaphore lights also
+appeared at intervals of a few miles along the track, at places where
+there were no switches, and that these always moved as soon as the train
+passed them. He afterwards discovered that these guarded the ends of the
+five-mile blocks, into which the road was divided along its entire length.
+Each of the stations, at these points, is occupied by a telegraph operator
+who, as soon as the train enters his block, displays a red danger signal
+behind it. This forbids any other train to enter the block, on that track,
+until he receives word from the operator at the other end of the block
+that the first train has passed out of it. Then he changes his signal
+from red to white, as a notice that the block is free for the admission of
+the next train. This "block system," as it is called, which is now in use
+on all principal railroad lines, renders travel over them very much safer
+than it used to be before the system was devised.
+
+After watching the semaphore lights for some time, and after assuring
+himself that Juniper was riding comfortably, Rod spread a blanket, that
+Brakeman Joe had loaned him, over a pile of loose hay, placed his M. I. P.
+bag for a pillow, and in a few minutes was sleeping on this rude bed as
+soundly as though he were at home.
+
+Some hours later the long, heavily laden train stopped at the foot of the
+steep grade just east of Euston, and was cut in two in order that half of
+it might be drawn to the top at a time. Rear Brakeman Joe was left to
+guard the part of the train that remained behind, and he did this by
+walking back a few hundred yards along the track, and placing a torpedo on
+top of one of the rails. Then he went back as much farther and placed two
+torpedoes, one a rail's length behind the other.
+
+These railroad torpedoes are small, round tin boxes, about the size of
+a silver dollar, filled with percussion powder. To each is attached two
+little straps of lead, which are bent under the upper part of the rail to
+hold the torpedo in position. When it is struck by the ponderous wheels
+of a locomotive, it explodes with the sound of a cannon cracker. The
+explosion of two torpedoes, one directly after the other, is the signal
+for caution, and bids the engineman proceed slowly, keeping a sharp
+lookout for danger. The explosion of a single torpedo is the signal of
+immediate danger, and bids him stop his train as quickly as possible. Thus
+Brakeman Joe had protected his train by arranging a cautionary signal,
+which would be followed immediately by that of danger. Before his train
+started again he intended to take up the single torpedo, leaving only
+those calling for caution, to show that the freight had been delayed. In
+the meantime he decided to walk back to the cars left in his charge and
+see that no one was meddling with them.
+
+Rod was too soundly asleep to know anything of all this, nor did he know
+when an ugly-looking fellow peered cautiously into his car, and said, in a
+low tone: "This here ain't it. It must be the one ahead." The first thing
+of which he was conscious was hearing, as in a dream, the sound of blows,
+mingled with shouts, and a pistol shot, and then Brakeman Joe's voice
+calling: "Rod! Rod Blake! Help! quick!"
+
+An instant later the boy had leaped from the car, and was by his friend's
+side, engaged in a desperate struggle with four as villainous-looking
+tramps as could well be found; though, of course, he could not judge of
+their appearance in the darkness. Joe was wielding the heavy oak stick
+that at other times he used as a lever to aid him in twisting the brake
+wheels; but Rod was obliged to depend entirely on his fists. The skill
+with which he used these was evidently a surprise to the big fellow who
+rushed at him, only to receive a stinging blow in the face, which was
+followed by others delivered with equal promptness and effect. There were
+a few minutes of fierce but confused fighting. Then, all at once, Rod
+found himself standing alone beside a car the door of which was half-way
+open. Two of the tramps had mysteriously disappeared; he himself had sent
+a third staggering backward down the bank into a clump of bushes, and he
+could hear Brakeman Joe chasing the fourth down the track.
+
+A few minutes later the locomotive came back, sounding four long blasts
+and one short one on its whistle, as a recall signal for the rear flagman.
+It was coupled on, and some one waved a lantern, with an up-and-down
+motion, from the rear of the train, as a signal to go ahead. The engineman
+opened the throttle, and the great driving wheels spun round furiously;
+but the train refused to move. He sounded two long whistle blasts as a
+signal to throw off brakes. Then a lantern was seen moving over the tops
+of the cars, the brakes that had been holding them, were loosened, and the
+signal to go ahead was again waved. After this the lantern disappeared as
+though it had been taken into the caboose, and the train moved on.
+
+Its severed parts were re-united at the top of the grade, and it passed
+on out of the block in which all these events had taken place, before
+Conductor Tobin, who had wondered somewhat at not seeing Brakeman Joe,
+discovered that the faithful fellow was missing. He was not on top of any
+of the cars, nor in the caboose, and must have been left behind. Well, it
+was too late to stop for him now. Freight Number 73 must side-track at the
+next station, to allow the night express to pass, and it had already been
+so delayed, that there was no time to lose.
+
+When the station was reached, and Conductor Tobin had seen his train
+safely side-tracked, he went to look for Rod Blake. He meant to ask the
+boy to take Brakeman Joe's place for the rest of the run, or until that
+individual should rejoin them by coming ahead on some faster train. To his
+surprise the young stockman was not in car number 1160, nor could a trace
+of him be found. He, too, had disappeared and the conductor began to feel
+somewhat alarmed, as well as puzzled, by such a curious and unaccountable
+state of affairs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+BOUND, GAGGED, AND A PRISONER.
+
+
+When Rod Blake was left standing alone beside the train, after the short
+but sharp encounter with tramps described in the preceding chapter, he was
+as bewildered by its sudden termination as he had been, on awaking from a
+sound sleep, to find himself engaged in it. He knew what had become of two
+of the tramps, for one of them he had sent staggering backward down the
+embankment, and Brakeman Joe was at that moment pursuing the second; but
+the disappearance of the others was a mystery. What could have become of
+them? They must have slipped away unnoticed, and taken advantage of the
+darkness to make good their escape. "Yes, that must be it; for tramps are
+always cowards," thought the boy. "But four of them ought to have whipped
+two of us easy enough."
+
+Then he wondered what the object of the attack could have been, and what
+the tramps were after. All at once it flashed into his mind that the M. S.
+and T. car number 50, beside which he was standing, was filled with costly
+silks and laces from France which were being sent West in bond. He had
+overheard Conductor Tobin say so; and, now, there was the door of that
+very car half-way open. The tramps must have learned of its valuable
+contents in some way, and been attempting to rob it when Brakeman Joe
+discovered them. What a plucky fellow Joe was to tackle them
+single-handed.
+
+"I wonder if they got anything before he caught them?" thought the boy;
+and, to satisfy his curiosity on this point, he went to his own car for
+the lantern that was still hanging in it, and returned to car number 50,
+determined to have a look at its interior. As he could not see much of it
+from the ground, he set the lantern just within the open doorway, and
+began to climb in after it. He had hardly stepped inside, and was stooping
+to pick up his lantern, when he was knocked down by a heavy blow, and
+immediately seized by two men who sprang from out of the darkness on
+either side of him. Without a word they bound his wrists with a stout bit
+of cord, and, thrusting his own handkerchief into his mouth, fastened it
+securely so that he could not utter a sound. Then they allowed him to rise
+and sit on a box, where they took the precaution of passing a rope about
+his body and making it fast to an iron stanchion near the door.
+
+Having thus secured him, one of the men, holding the lantern close to the
+boy's face, said in a threatening tone: "Now, my chicken, perhaps this'll
+be a lesson to you never to interfere again in a business that doesn't
+concern you."
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed the other, as he recognized Rod's features, "if this
+ere hain't the same cove wot set the dog onto me last night. Oh, you young
+willin, I'll get even with you now!"
+
+With this he made a motion as though to strike the helpless prisoner; but
+the other tramp restrained him, saying: "Hold on, Bill, we hain't got no
+time for fooling now. Don't you hear the engine coming back? I'll take
+this lantern and give 'em the signal to go ahead, in case that fool of a
+brakeman doesn't turn up on time, which I don't believe he will." Here the
+fellow chuckled meaningly. "You," he continued, "want to stay right here,
+and begin to pitch out the boxes as soon as she starts, and the rest of
+us'll be on hand to gather 'em in. You can easy jump out when she slows up
+at the top of the grade. You want to be sure, though, and shut the door
+behind you so as nothing won't be suspected, and so this chap'll have a
+good, long ride undisturbed by visitors; see?"
+
+If Rod could not talk, he could still hear; and, by paying close attention
+to this conversation, he formed a very clear idea of the tramps' plans.
+They meant to rob car number 50 of as many of its valuable packages as
+Bill could throw from it while the train was on the grade. He felt
+satisfied that they had, in some way, disposed of Brakeman Joe. Now, they
+intended to get rid of him by leaving him in the closed car, helplessly
+bound, and unable to call for assistance. What would become of him? That
+car might be going to San Francisco for aught he knew, and its door might
+not be opened for days, or even weeks. It might not be opened until he was
+dead of thirst or starvation. What tortures might he not suffer in this
+moving prison? It seemed as though these thoughts would drive him crazy,
+and he realized that if he wished to retain his senses and think out a
+way of escape, he must not dwell upon them.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.--(_Page 81._)]
+
+So he tried to think of plans for outwitting the tramps. The chances of so
+doing seemed slender enough; but he felt certain there must be some way.
+In the meantime one of his assailants had left the car, very nearly
+closing the door as he did so for fear lest somebody might come along and
+notice it if it were wide open. He had taken the lantern with him, the
+train was in motion, the young tramp called Bill was already preparing to
+carry out his part of the programme and begin throwing out the boxes.
+Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a plan that would not only save the
+car from being robbed, but would ensure its door being opened before he
+could die of either thirst or hunger, darted into Rod's mind.
+
+He knew that the car door closed with a spring latch that could only be
+opened from the outside. He knew that no one could board the train, now
+that it was in motion, to open the door. Above all he knew that if the
+young tramp were shut in there with him he would not suffer long from
+hunger and thirst before raising his voice and making his presence known
+to outsiders. Rod could reach the door with his foot. A quick push, the
+welcome click of the latch as it sprang sharply into place, and the plan
+was carried out.
+
+It took Bill, the young tramp, several minutes to find out what had
+happened, and that the door could not be opened from the inside. When he
+finally realized his position he broke out with a torrent of yells and
+threats against his recent companions. It never occurred to him that Rod
+had closed the door. He imagined that it must have been done from the
+outside, by one of his fellow thieves, and his rage against them knew no
+bounds. If he had for a moment suspected the captive, whom he regarded as
+helplessly bound, he would undoubtedly have directed his fury towards him,
+and Rod might have suffered severely at his hands. As it was, he only
+yelled and kicked against the door until the train began to slow up at the
+top of the grade. Then, fearful of attracting undesirable attention, he
+subsided into a sullen silence.
+
+While these things were happening to Rod, Brakeman Joe was suffering even
+greater misfortunes. His left arm had been broken by the pistol shot, that
+was one of the first sounds of the fight by which the young stockman was
+awakened; and when he started in pursuit of the flying tramp, he was
+weaker than he realized, from loss of blood. The tramp quickly discovered
+that he could easily keep out of his pursuer's way. Judging from this that
+the Brakeman must be either wounded or exhausted, he gradually slackened
+his pace, until Joe was close upon him. Then springing to one side, and
+whirling around, the tramp dealt the poor fellow a blow on the head with
+the butt of a revolver, that stretched him senseless across the rails of
+the west-bound track. After satisfying himself that his victim was not in
+a condition to molest him again for some time to come, and brutally
+leaving him where he had fallen, directly in the path of the next
+west-bound train, the tramp began leisurely to retrace his steps toward
+Freight Number 73, in the plunder of which he now hoped to take a part.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+HOW BRAKEMAN JOE WAS SAVED.
+
+
+For ten minutes Brakeman Joe lies insensible and motionless, just as
+he fell. His own train has gone on without him, and now another is
+approaching. Its shrill whistle sounds near at hand, and the rails, across
+which the helpless form is stretched, are already quivering with the
+thrill of its coming. There seems no earthly help for him; nothing to warn
+the controlling mind of that on-rushing mass of his presence. In a few
+seconds the tragedy will be over.
+
+Suddenly, crack! crack! two loud reports ring out sharply above the roar
+and rattle of the train, one just after the other. The engineman is keenly
+alert on the instant; and, with one hand on the brake lever, the other on
+the throttle, he peers steadily ahead. The head-light, that seems so
+dazzling, and to cast its radiance so far, to those approaching it, in
+reality illumines but a short space to him who sits behind it, and the
+engineman sees no evidence of danger. There is no red beacon to stop him,
+nor any train on the track ahead. He is beginning to think the alarm a
+false one, when another report, loud and imperative, rings in his startled
+ear. In an instant the powerful air brakes are grinding against the wheels
+of every car in the night express, until the track is lighted with a blaze
+of streaming sparks. A moment later the rushing train is brought to a
+stop, inside half its own length.
+
+Even now nobody knew why it had been stopped, nor what danger threatened
+it. It was not until the engineman left his cab, and discovered the
+senseless form of Brakeman Joe lying across the rails, less than a hundred
+feet away, that he knew why he had been signalled. The wounded man was
+recognized at once, as belonging to the train ahead of them; but how he
+came in that sad plight, and who had placed the warning torpedoes to which
+he owed his escape from death, were perplexing questions that none could
+answer.
+
+Very tenderly they lifted him, and laid him in the baggage car. Here
+Conductor Tobin found him a few minutes later, when, to his surprise, the
+night express, that generally whirled past him at full speed, slowed up
+and halted beside his own train, standing on the siding. "Yes," this was
+his brakeman, one of the best and most faithful fellows in the service;
+but how he got where they found him, or what had happened, he could not
+explain. He had lost another man off his train that night, a young fellow
+named Rodman Blake. Had they seen anything of him? "No! well, then he
+must have thrown up his job and gone into Euston where he belonged.
+Good-night." In another minute only a far-away murmur among the sleeping
+hills told of the passing of the night express.
+
+Brakeman Joe was placed on the station agent's little cot bed, and the
+doctor was sent for. That was all they could do, and so Freight Number 73
+also pulled out, leaving him behind. A minute later, and it too was gone,
+and the drowsy echoes answered its heavy rumblings faintly and more
+faintly, until they again fell asleep, and all was still.
+
+Through the long hours of the night Rod Blake sat and silently suffered.
+The distress of the gag in his mouth became wellnigh intolerable, and his
+wrists swelled beneath the cords that bound them, until he could have
+cried out with the pain. He grew thirsty too. Oh, so thirsty! and it
+seemed as though the daylight would never come. He had no idea what
+good, or even what change for the better, the daylight would bring him;
+but still he longed for it. Nor was the young tramp who shared his
+imprisonment at all happy or comfortable. He too was thirsty, and hungry
+as well, and though he was not gagged nor bound, he suffered, in
+anticipation, the punishment he expected to receive when he and his
+wickedness should be discovered. Thus, whenever the train stopped, a sense
+of his just deserts terrified him into silence; though while it was in
+motion his ravings were terrible to hear.
+
+At length the morning light began to show itself through chinks and
+crevices of the closed car. Conductor Tobin and his men reached the end of
+their run, and turned the train over to a new crew, who brought with them
+a fresh locomotive and their own caboose.
+
+Still the young tramp would not give in. The morning was nearly gone,
+and Rod was desperate with suffering, before he did, and, during a stop,
+began to shout to be let out. Nobody heard him, apparently, and when the
+train again moved on, the situation of the prisoners was as bad as ever.
+
+Now the fellow began to grow as much alarmed for fear he would not be
+discovered, as he had previously been for fear lest he should be. In this
+state of mind he decided that at the next stop the shouting for help
+should be undertaken by two voices instead of one. So he removed the gag
+from Rod's mouth, and cut the cord by which his wrists were bound. The
+poor lad's throat was dry and husky; but he readily agreed to aid in
+raising a shout, as soon as the train should stop.
+
+In the meantime the arrival of Freight Number 73 was awaited with a lively
+interest at the very station it was approaching, when this agreement
+between the prisoners was made. It was aroused by a despatch, just sent
+along the line by the agent in whose charge Brakeman Joe had been left.
+The despatch stated that he had recovered sufficiently to give a partial
+account of what had been done to him by a gang of thieves, whom he had
+discovered trying to rob car number 50. It requested the first agent who
+should see Train Number 73, to examine into the condition of car number
+50, and discover if anything had been stolen from it. It also stated that
+Brakeman Joe was very anxious concerning the safety of a young stockman,
+who had been on the train, and assisted him to drive off the thieves; but
+who had not since been heard from.
+
+Thus, while the imprisoned inmates of car number 50 were waiting with
+feverish impatience for the train to reach a station at which it would
+stop, the railroad men belonging to this station, were waiting for it with
+a lively curiosity, that was wholly centered on car number 50.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE SUPERINTENDENT INVESTIGATES.
+
+
+At length a long-drawn whistle from the locomotive attached to Freight
+Number 73, warned Rod and his fellow-prisoner that the time for them to
+make a combined effort for liberty was at hand. It also notified the
+curious watchers at the station of the approach of the train for which
+they were waiting. The trainmen were surprised at the unusual number of
+people gathered about the station, and the evident interest with which
+their arrival was regarded. At the same time those composing the little
+throng of waiting spectators were amazed, as the train drew up and
+stopped, to hear loud cries for help proceeding from a car in its centre.
+
+"It's number 50!" exclaimed one, "the very car we are looking for."
+
+"So it is! Break open the door! Some one is being murdered in there!"
+shouted other voices, and a rush was made for the car.
+
+As its door was pushed open, by a dozen eager hands, a wretched-looked
+figure, who had evidently been pressing closely against it, and was
+unprepared for such a sudden movement, pitched out headlong into the
+crowd. As he staggered to his feet he tried to force his way through them,
+with the evident intention of running away; but he was seized and held.
+
+For a moment the whole attention of the spectators was directed toward
+him, and he was stupefied by the multitude of questions showered upon him
+at once. Then some one cried "Look out! There's another in there!" and
+immediately poor Rod was roughly dragged to the ground. "Take them into
+the waiting-room, and see that they don't escape while I examine the car.
+There may be more of the gang hidden in there," commanded the station
+agent. So to the waiting-room the prisoners were hustled with scant
+ceremony. As yet no one knew what they had done, nor even what they were
+charged with doing; but every one agreed that they were two of the
+toughest looking young villains ever seen in that part of the country.
+
+During the confusion, no one had paid any attention to the arrival, from
+the west, of a locomotive drawing a single car. Nor did they notice a
+brisk, business-like appearing man who left this car, and walked, with
+a quick step, toward the waiting-room. Every one therefore looked up in
+surprise when he entered it and demanded, in a tone of authority, "What's
+the trouble here?"
+
+Instantly a murmur was heard of, "It's the superintendent. It's the
+'super' himself"; and, as the crowd respectfully made way for him, a dozen
+of voices were raised in attempted explanation of what had happened. As no
+one really knew what had happened, no two of the voices told the same
+story; but the superintendent catching the words "murderers, thieves,
+tramps, brakeman killed, and car robbed," became convinced that he had a
+most serious case on his hands, and that the disreputable-looking young
+fellows before him must be exceedingly dangerous characters. In order to
+arrive at an understanding of the case more quickly, he ordered the room
+to be cleared of all except the prisoners, the station agent, and the
+trainmen of Freight Number 73, whom he told to guard the doors.
+
+He first examined the conductor, who was as surprised as any one else to
+find that he had been carrying two passengers of whom he knew nothing on
+his train. He had no information to give, excepting what Conductor Tobin
+had told him, and what the superintendent had already learned by
+telegraph, of Brakeman Joe's condition. The other trainmen knew nothing
+more.
+
+The station agent told of the despatch he had received, of the finding of
+the lads in car number 50, and that its contents were apparently
+untouched.
+
+Here the superintendent dismissed the trainmen, and ordered Freight Number
+73 to go ahead. Then, with new guards stationed at the doors, he proceeded
+to question the prisoners themselves. As Bill, the tramp, seemed to be the
+elder of the two, he was the first examined. In answer to the questions
+who he was, where he came from, and what he had been doing in car number
+50, Bill said, with exactly the manner he would have used in addressing a
+Police Justice:
+
+"Please yer Honor we's pards, me an' him is, an' we's bin tendin' stock on
+de road. We was on de train last night when it was attackeded by a lot of
+fellers who was beatin' de brakeman. We went to help him, an' was chucked
+inter de car, an' de door locked on us. We's bin tryin' to get out even
+since, me an' him has, yer Honor, but we couldn't make nobody hear us till
+we got here. We's nearly dead for food an' drink, yer Honor, an' we's
+honest, hard-working boys, an' dat's de truth if I die for it, yer Honor.
+He'd tell yer de same, but fer a bit of a difference me and him had when
+he swore to git even wid me. So maybe he'll lie now; but yer Honor can
+depend on what I'm--"
+
+"That will do," interrupted the superintendent. Then turning to Rodman he
+asked, "What have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"If you'll please give me a drink of water I'll try to tell all I know of
+this affair," answered the boy huskily, now speaking for the first time
+since he had been taken from the car.
+
+When the water was brought, and Bill had been given a drink as well as
+himself, Rod continued, "I was a stockman on that train in charge of a
+horse"--
+
+"Jest as I was a-tellin' yer Honor," murmured Bill.
+
+"And there was a fight with tramps, who attempted to rob the car in which
+we were found."
+
+Here Bill nodded his head approvingly as much as to say "I told you so."
+
+"But this fellow was one of them, and he helped make a prisoner of me, and
+to bind and gag me. He would have thrown the freight out of the car to
+those who were waiting outside to receive it, if I hadn't succeeded in
+closing the door, and locking us both in--"
+
+"Ooo! didn't I tell yer Honor he'd maybe lie on me?" protested Bill.
+
+"Keep quiet!" commanded the superintendent sharply, and then to Rod he
+said: "How can you prove your statements?"
+
+"I can prove that I was bound and gagged by these marks," replied the boy,
+pointing to the sides of his mouth which were red and chafed, and holding
+out his swollen wrists for the superintendent's inspection. "And I can
+prove that I was travelling in charge of a horse by this." Here Rod
+produced the note from Juniper's owner, asking his brother to pay the
+bearer two dollars and a half upon the safe delivery of the horse.
+
+"I have a paper too," broke in Bill, fumbling in his pockets. From one of
+them he finally produced a dirty note, signed by a Western cattle dealer,
+and authorizing one Bill Miner to take charge of certain stock about to
+be shipped over the New York and Western railroad.
+
+The superintendent read the two notes, and looked at the two young
+fellows. In general appearance one was very nearly as bad as the other;
+for, though Rod did not realize the fact, his clothing and person were so
+torn and dirty from the fight of the preceding night and his subsequent
+rough experience, that he looked very nearly as much of a tramp as Bill
+himself.
+
+"I wonder which of you I am to believe, or if either is telling me the
+truth?" said the superintendent dubiously, half aloud and half to
+himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+SMILER TO THE RESCUE.
+
+
+At that moment a small dog walked into the room, wagging his tail with an
+air of being perfectly at home there. Rod was the first to notice him, and
+his eye lighted with a gleam of genuine pleasure.
+
+"Smiler? Smiler, old dog!" he said.
+
+The next instant Smiler was licking his face and testifying to his joy at
+again meeting this friend, in the most extravagant manner. Suddenly he
+caught sight of Bill, and drawing back his upper lip with an ominous
+growl, would have flown at the young tramp had not Rodman restrained him.
+
+"That settles it, so far as I am concerned," exclaimed the superintendent,
+with a relieved air. "Any one that Smiler recognizes as a friend must be
+an honest fellow; while the person whom Smiler calls an enemy, must have
+given him good cause for his enmity, and is to be regarded with distrust
+by all railroad men. Now, I am going to carry you two chaps to the
+Junction where Conductor Tobin and his crew are lying off to-day. There,
+I have no doubt, this whole matter will be explained satisfactorily to me
+and to one of you, as well as with perfect justice to you both."
+
+Smiler, who had reached this station on a passenger locomotive, now
+attached himself resolutely to Rod, and followed him into the
+superintendent's private car, here he was made as cordially welcome as
+he would have been in the humblest caboose on the road. Some of his
+enthusiastic admirers declared that Smiler owned the road; while all
+admitted that there was but one other individual connected with it, whose
+appearance was so uniformly welcome as his, and that was the paymaster.
+
+Now, there was a marked difference shown between the treatment of Smiler's
+friend, and that of his enemy. The former was invited to sit down with the
+superintendent and eat dinner, which was announced as ready soon after
+they left the station; but Bill was consigned to the care of a brakeman
+who received strict orders not to give him a chance to escape. He was
+given a substantial meal of course; for Mr. Hill the superintendent was
+not a man who would permit anybody to suffer from hunger if he could help
+it. Here the courtesy extended to him ended, and he was treated in all
+respects like a prisoner. Most of the time he rode in sullen silence; but
+occasionally he broke forth with vehement protestations of his innocence,
+and of the truth of the story he had told.
+
+Rodman, on the other hand, was treated with marked consideration; for,
+not only was he a friend of Smiler's, but the more Mr. Hill talked with
+him the more he believed him to be a gentleman, as well as an honest,
+truth-telling lad, who had, by a brave and prompt action, saved the
+railroad company a large amount of property. He was confirmed in his
+belief that Rod was a gentleman, by his having asked to be allowed to wash
+his face and hands before sitting down to dinner. The lad was shocked at
+his own appearance when he glanced into a mirror, and the superintendent
+smiled at the wonderful change made by the use of soap, water, and
+brushes, when he emerged from the well-appointed dressing-room of the
+car.
+
+While they sat at table Mr. Hill drew the lad's story from him, including
+the manner in which he had obtained Smiler's friendship, and his desire to
+become a railroad man. Rod did not however mention the name of President
+Vanderveer; for he was desirous of winning success by himself, and on his
+own merits, nor did he give his reasons for leaving Euston.
+
+When the locomotive, drawing the superintendent's private car, and
+displaying two white flags in front to denote that it was running as an
+"extra" train, drew up, a couple of hours later, at the Junction, Rod was
+asked to remain in the car for a few minutes, and Bill was ordered to do
+so. Then Mr. Hill walked over to caboose number 18, in which, as he
+expected, he found Conductor Tobin and his two brakemen fast asleep, with
+bits of mosquito netting spread over their faces to keep off the flies.
+Conductor Tobin was greatly confused when he discovered who was shaking
+him into wakefulness, and began to apologize for having been asleep.
+
+"No excuses are necessary, Tobin," said the other kindly. "A man who works
+as faithfully as you do at night, has a perfect right to sleep in the
+daytime. I wouldn't have disturbed you, but that I wanted to ask if you
+were acquainted with a young fellow named Rod Blake."
+
+Yes, indeed! Conductor Tobin not only knew the lad, but was, at that
+moment, quite anxious concerning him. He had learned by telegraph from
+Brakeman Joe, further particulars of the occurrences of the preceding
+night, including Rod's splendid behavior during the fight with the
+would-be thieves. Since then nothing had been heard from him, and the
+conductor greatly feared that the brave young fellow had met with some
+harm.
+
+"Do you consider him a person whose word is to be trusted?" asked the
+superintendent.
+
+"Well, sir," answered Conductor Tobin, "I haven't known him long, seeing
+that I first met him only night before last; but I've already seen enough
+of him to be willing to take his word as quick as that of any man living."
+
+"That is saying a good deal," laughed the superintendent, "but I believe
+you are right. If I am any judge of character, that lad is an honest
+fellow." Then he explained how, and under what circumstances he had met
+Rod, and ending by asking, "What sort of a railroad man do you think he
+would make?"
+
+"First-rate, sir! He seems to me to be one who knows when he is wanted,
+and who always turns up at the right time."
+
+"Then you wouldn't mind having him on your train, while Joe is laid by?"
+
+"I should be proud to have him, sir, and to be the one to start him on the
+right track as a railroader."
+
+"Very well, we will consider it settled, then, and I will send him over to
+you. I want you to do the best you can by him, and remember that from this
+time on I take a personal interest in his welfare, though of course you
+needn't tell him so."
+
+Rod was more than delighted when Mr. Hill returned to the car, and offered
+him the position of brakeman on Conductor Tobin's train. He promptly and
+gladly accepted it, and tried to thank the superintendent for giving it to
+him; but that gentleman said: "Never mind expressing any thanks in words.
+Express them by deeds instead, and remember, that you can win a certain
+success in railroad life, by keeping on as you have begun and by always
+being on time."
+
+Thus Rod secured a position; a humble one to be sure, but one that he had
+sought and won wholly by merit. When Snyder Appleby heard of it he was
+filled with jealous anger. He declared that there was not room for both of
+them on that road, even if one was only a brakeman, and vowed that if he
+could manage it, his adopted cousin should find it harder to keep his
+position than it had been to win it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+SNYDER APPLEBY'S JEALOUSY.
+
+
+Bill Miner, the tramp, underwent some novel mental experiences on the day
+that Rod obtained his position. In the first place the young fellow, whom
+he had treated so badly, came to him while the superintendent was
+interviewing Conductor Tobin, and said:
+
+"Look here, Bill, you and I suffered a good deal together last night, and
+you know it was mostly your fault that we did so; but I'll forgive you for
+my share of the suffering if you'll only confess the whole business to the
+superintendent. He is bound to find out all about it anyway; for he finds
+out everything; but he'll think a good deal more of you if you own up
+like a man. I would like to be your friend; but my friends must be honest
+fellows, who are willing to work for a living, not tramps and thieves. Now
+shake hands, and make up your mind to do what I have asked you."
+
+Mr. Hill's return interrupted the conversation at this point; but it left
+Bill in an unusually reflective state of mind. No gentleman, such as his
+late companion in captivity evidently was, had ever shaken hands with, or
+asked a favor of him before. In all his hard young life no one had ever
+proposed that he should try honesty and hard work. Ever since he could
+remember anything, his associates had advised dishonesty, and the shirking
+of work in every possible way. Yet, now that he thought of it, he had
+worked hard, all his life, at being dishonest. Now what had he to show for
+it? Nothing but rags, and poverty, and a bad reputation. He wondered how
+it would seem to be honest, and do honest work, and associate only with
+honest people. He had half a mind to try it, just out of curiosity. The
+idea of he, Bill the tramp, being an honest workman, and perhaps, even
+getting to be called "Honest Bill," struck him as so odd that he chuckled
+hoarsely over it.
+
+"What are you laughing at?" demanded the brakeman who stood on the rear
+platform of the car to prevent his escape, and who looked suspiciously in
+at the door to discover the meaning of this novel sound from his
+prisoner.
+
+"Nothing," replied Bill.
+
+"Well, I wish I could get so much fun out of nothing as you seem able to,"
+said the brakeman, who was particularly down on tramps. "I reckon the
+super'll give you something to laugh about directly that won't seem so
+funny," he added significantly.
+
+But Bill did not mind this. He was too busy with his own thoughts. Besides
+he was used to such speeches, and was also listening to something else
+just at that moment. He was listening to the conversation between Rod and
+the superintendent. It certainly was a fine thing for a boy to be talked
+to as the greatest man he had ever known was now talking to his one honest
+friend, and to be offered such a position too. How he would like to be a
+brakeman; and, if he were one, how well he would know how to deal with
+tramps. He wondered what Mr. Hill meant by being "on time." Perhaps it
+meant being honest.
+
+Then Rod left the car, giving him a nod and a smile as he did so. A moment
+later it was again whirling away toward New York, and the superintendent,
+coming to where the young tramp was sitting, said: "Now, sir, I'm ready to
+attend to your case. Are you willing to tell me what you know about this
+business of robbing our freight trains? Or do you prefer to stick to your
+lying story and go to prison for it?"
+
+"I'll tell you all I know, if you'll give me a job for it," answered Bill,
+with a sudden resolution to try for Rod Blake's friendship, and at the
+same time to make a good bargain for himself if he could.
+
+Regarding him keenly, the superintendent said: "So you want to be paid for
+being honest, do you? Well, I don't know but what you are right. Honesty
+is well worth paying for. So, if you will tell me, truthfully, all you
+know of this business I promise you a job that will earn you an honest
+living, and that you can keep just so long as you work faithfully at it."
+
+"Honesty again. How often these gentlemen use the word, and how much
+they seem to think of it," thought Bill. However, as it seemed to promise
+something different from anything he had ever known, he determined to try
+it, and see what it would do for him. So he told, in his awkward fashion,
+all that he knew of the gang of tramp thieves, who had been for some time
+systematically robbing freight trains at several points along the road,
+and Mr. Hill listened to him with the deepest interest.
+
+As a speedy result of this confession a freight clerk in the main office
+of the company, who had been giving secret information to the thieves,
+was discharged the very next day. Brown, the chief of the company's
+detectives, learned where and how he could discover the places where the
+stolen goods were hidden, and was thus enabled to recover a large portion
+of them. And Bill Miner, no longer Bill the tramp, found himself doing
+honest work, as a locomotive wiper and assistant hostler, in a round
+house, at a salary of one dollar and twenty-nine cents per day.
+
+Certainly Rod Blake's influence was being felt on the New York and Western
+railroad.
+
+After his conversation with Bill, the busy superintendent found time to
+stop his flying car at the station where Brakeman Joe lay suffering from
+his wounds, to speak a few kindly words to the faithful fellow, praise his
+bravery, and assure him that his full pay should be continued until he
+had entirely recovered from his injuries and was able to resume duty.
+
+Late that afternoon the private car finished its long journey in the
+station at the terminus of the road, and Mr. Hill hastened to his own
+office. The moment he opened the door of the inner room a cloud of
+cigarette smoke issued from it, and a frown settled on his face as he
+hesitated a moment on the threshold. His private secretary, who had been
+comfortably tilted back in the superintendent's own easy chair, puffing
+wreathes of smoke from a cigarette, started to his feet. "We did not
+expect you to return so soon, sir"--he began.
+
+"Evidently not," interrupted Mr. Hill dryly; "You are the young man
+recommended to me by President Vanderveer, I believe?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Well, sir, you will please to remember for the future, that neither in
+this office, nor in any other belonging to the company, is cigarette
+smoking among the qualifications required of our employees. If you must
+smoke during business hours, I will endeavor to fill your position with
+somebody who is not under that necessity."
+
+For the next half hour Snyder Appleby sat at his own desk, for once in
+his life hard at work, and feeling that he had been decidedly snubbed if
+not actually insulted. He was even meditating the handing in of his
+resignation, when the superintendent again addressed him, but this time
+in a much more friendly tone.
+
+"You are from Euston, I believe?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Do you happen to know a young man from there named Rodman Blake?"
+
+"Yes, sir. I have an acquaintance there of that name," replied Snyder
+hesitatingly, and wondering what possible interest the "super" could have
+in Rod Blake. "The fact is," he added with an assumed air of frankness,
+"the young person in question is a sort of adopted cousin of my own; but
+circumstances have arisen that lead me to consider him an undesirable
+acquaintance."
+
+"What are they?" inquired the superintendent bluntly.
+
+"It would hardly be becoming in me to state them," replied Snyder, wishing
+he knew why the other was making these inquiries. "I should be very sorry
+to say anything that might injure the young man's future prospects."
+
+"Had they anything to do with his leaving Euston, and seeking employment
+on this road?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I think they had," admitted Snyder with apparent reluctance.
+
+"Then I consider it your duty to tell me what they are," said Mr. Hill;
+"for I have just given young Blake the position of brakeman, and if there
+is any reason why he is unfit for it I should like to know it."
+
+This aroused all the jealousy in Snyder's nature and he answered: "Well,
+sir, if you put it in that light, I suppose I must tell you that Blake's
+uncle, with whom he lived, turned him from the house without a penny in
+his pocket on account of his connection with a most infamous piece of
+rascality. But I beg that you will not question me any further on the
+subject. It is most painful to me to speak of even a distant connection
+in the terms I should be obliged to use in referring to Rodman Blake.
+President Vanderveer knows the whole history of the affair, and can give
+you full information regarding it."
+
+"The President has gone West on a business trip that will occupy some
+weeks," replied Mr. Hill, "so I could not ask him even if I were inclined
+to trouble him with so trifling a matter. I shall certainly investigate
+it, however, and if I find this young Blake to be a person of such a
+character as you intimate, I shall as certainly discharge him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ROD AS A BRAKEMAN.
+
+
+In the meantime Rod, who was happily ignorant of this conversation, had
+been warmly welcomed in caboose number 18. There Conductor Tobin and the
+two brakemen listened with intense interest to all he had to tell them
+of his recent experiences. They in turn informed him of Brakeman Joe's
+condition, and of how the torpedoes had saved him from being run over by
+the night express.
+
+He found his M. I. P. bag in the caboose where Conductor Tobin had been
+keeping it until he should hear from him. The conductor also handed Rod
+a ten dollar bill, that had been left for him by the brother of Juniper's
+owner, as a reward for his gallant struggle with the terrified horse in
+the closed car, and the subsequent care of him.
+
+Feeling very rich and independent with this amount of money, of his own
+earning, at his disposal, Rod at once bought for himself a blue checkered
+shirt and pair of overalls, a cap, a pair of buckskin gloves with which to
+handle brake wheels, one of the great tin lunch-pails such as railroad
+men carry, and a blanket. Thus equipped he felt he was ready for any
+emergency. To these purchases he added a supply of provisions, and a
+basket of fruit that he intended to leave for Brakeman Joe when they
+should pass the station at which he was.
+
+The train that they were ordered to take came along shortly before sunset.
+When it again pulled out, drawing caboose number 18, and with Rod Blake,
+brake-stick in hand, standing on the "deck" of one of its rear cars, there
+was no happier nor prouder lad than he in the country. How he did enjoy
+the novelty of that first ride on top of a freight train, and what a fine
+thing it seemed, to be really a railroad man. The night was clear and
+cold; but the exercise of setting up brakes on down grades, and throwing
+them off for up grades or level stretches, kept him in a glow of warmth.
+Then how bright and cosy the interior of the caboose, that was now his
+home, seemed during the occasional visits that he paid it.
+
+Before the night grew dark, Conductor Tobin showed him how to place the
+two red lanterns on its rear platform, and the lights that showed red
+behind, green in front, and green at the side, on its upper rear corners.
+Then he was asked to make a fire in the little round stove, and prepare a
+huge pot of coffee for the train crew to drink during the night. When
+there was nothing else to do he might sit up in the cupola, on the side
+opposite to that occupied by Conductor Tobin; but on this first night he
+preferred taking his own lantern, and going out on "deck," as the top of
+the cars is called. Here he was too far from the locomotive to be annoyed
+by its smoke or cinders, and he loved to feel the cool night air rushing
+past him. He enjoyed rumbling through the depths of dark forests, and
+rattling over bridges or long trestles. It was strange to roll heavily
+through sleeping towns, where the only signs of life were the bright
+lights of the stations, and the twinkling red, green or white semaphore
+lights at the switches.
+
+Some of the time he amused himself by holding his watch in hand, and
+counting the clicks of the car wheels over the rail joints; for he
+remembered having read that the number of rails passed in twenty seconds
+is almost exactly the number of miles run by a train in an hour. If it had
+been day time he might also have noted the number of telegraph poles
+passed in a minute, and calculated the speed of the train, by allowing
+thirty-five poles to the mile.
+
+All this time, however, he was under orders to keep a watch on the
+movements of the brakemen ahead of him, and to set up, or throw off,
+brakes on at least two of the six cars under his charge, whenever he
+noticed them doing so. He was surprised to learn that it was by no means
+necessary to put on all the brakes of a train to check its speed, or even
+to stop it, and that the application of those on a third, or even a
+quarter of its cars answered every purpose. He also soon learned to jump
+quickly whenever brakes were called for by a single short whistle blast
+from the locomotive, and to throw them off at the order of the two short
+blasts that called for brakes to be loosened. At first he thought it
+curious that the other brakemen should run along the tops of the cars, and
+wondered why they were always in such a hurry. He soon discovered though
+that it was much easier to keep his footing running than walking, and
+safer to jump from car to car than to step deliberately across the open
+spaces between them.
+
+Once, during the night, when he and Conductor Tobin were seated in the
+caboose eating their midnight lunch, the latter began to sniff the air
+suspiciously, and even to Rod's unaccustomed nostrils, there came a most
+unpleasant smell. "Hot box!" said Conductor Tobin, and the next time they
+stopped, they found the packing in an iron box at the end of an axle,
+under one of the cars, blazing at a furious rate. The journals, or
+bearings, in which the axle turned, had become dry and so heated by
+friction as to set the oil-soaked cotton waste, or packing, with which the
+box was filled, on fire. The job of cooling the box with buckets of water,
+and repacking it with waste, and thick, black, evil-smelling oil was a
+dirty and disagreeable one, as Rod quickly learned from experience. He
+also realized from what he saw, that if it were not done in time, the car
+itself might be set on fire, or the axle broken off.
+
+These, and many other valuable lessons in railroading, did Rod Blake
+learn that night; and when in the gray dawn, the train pulled into the
+home yard, with its run completed, he was wiser, more sleepy and tired,
+than he had ever been before in all his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+WORKING FOR A PROMOTION.
+
+
+For several weeks Rod Blake continued to lead the life of a brakeman on
+Conductor Tobin's train. Although it was a very humble position, and
+though the life was one of constant danger and hard work, he thoroughly
+enjoyed it. Blessed with youth, health and a perfect physical condition,
+he even found pleasure in the stormy nights, when the running boards that
+formed his pathway over the roofs of the swaying cars were slippery with
+sleet, and fierce winds tried their best to hurl him from them. He
+experienced a wild joy in battling with, and conquering, gales that forced
+him to crawl along the storm-swept "deck" on hands and knees, clinging
+tightly to the running boards, often with lantern extinguished, and making
+the passage from car to car through pitchy darkness. On such nights how
+warm and cheerful was the interior of the caboose, when at rare intervals
+he found a chance to pay it dripping visits! How welcome were the cups of
+hot coffee from the steaming pot on the glowing stove, and how the
+appreciation of all its comforts was intensified by the wildness of the
+outside night!
+
+By his unfailing cheerfulness of disposition, his promptness to answer any
+call, and on account of his splendid athletic training, the lad rapidly
+extended his circle of friendships, until there was not a trainman on the
+division but had a word of greeting, or a friendly wave of the hand for
+him, as they met at stations or were whirled past each other on the road.
+During the leisure "lay-off" hours at either end of the run, he gave them
+boxing lessons in the caboose. These proved so popular as entertainments
+that on such occasions the car was always crowded with eager pupils and
+enthusiastic spectators. In fact, before he had been a month on the road,
+Rod Blake had attained a popularity among the rough, but honest and manly,
+fellows who shared his labors, only approached by that of Smiler himself.
+With this wise animal he was also such a prime favorite that the dog was
+now more frequently to be seen on his train than on any other.
+
+After working as rear brakeman, under Conductor Tobin's especial care,
+long enough to become thoroughly acquainted with his duties, Rod was, at
+his own request, transferred to the forward end of the train. Here he had
+charge of the six or eight cars immediately following the locomotive. This
+was not nearly so pleasant a position as that at the rear end; for now,
+while running, he seldom had a chance to visit the caboose, and when on
+duty he was directly in the path of the very worst of the smoke and
+cinders. Then too the work here was harder than anywhere else on the
+train; for, in addition to his regular duties as brakeman, he was expected
+to assist the fireman at water stations, and by shovelling coal down from
+the rear end of the tender so that it was more easily within his reach. It
+was for this very reason though that Rod sought the place. He did not wish
+to remain a brakeman very long, nor even to become a conductor; but he did
+want to learn how to run a locomotive, and looked forward with longing
+anticipation to the day when he might fill the proud position of
+engineman. So he shovelled coal with a hearty good-will, and seized every
+opportunity for riding on the locomotive, and carefully watched the
+movements of the men who managed it. Sometimes he asked questions, but not
+often; when he did they were of such a nature that the answers were of
+practical value to him.
+
+From many years of riding in a locomotive cab, where, with the constant
+rattle and roar, conversation is very difficult, the engineman, Truman
+Stump, had become a most reticent man, who rarely spoke unless it was
+necessary. He had thus gained the reputation of being ill-tempered and
+morose, which was exactly what he was not. Everybody admitted, though,
+that he was a first-class engine-driver, and one who could always be
+relied upon to do exactly the thing in an emergency.
+
+This man took a liking to the bright-faced young brakeman from the very
+first; and, when Rod began to appear in his cab, he watched him with a
+real, but concealed interest. One day when it was announced that Milt
+Sturgis, the fireman, was about to be promoted and get his engine,
+everybody wondered who would take his place, and how a new man would get
+along with old True Stump. Another bit of news received on the train at
+the the same time, was that Brakeman Joe had fully recovered from his
+injuries, and was ready to resume his place. While Rod was glad, for Joe's
+sake, that he was well enough to come back, he could not help feeling some
+anxiety on his own account, now that he would no longer be needed as
+brakeman. This anxiety was unexpectedly relieved by the engineman; who,
+while standing beside him at a water station, turned and said:
+
+"Joe's coming back."
+
+"Yes; to-morrow."
+
+"Milt's going to leave."
+
+"So I hear."
+
+"How would you like to fire for me in his place?"
+
+"I," exclaimed Rod in astonishment. "Why, I should like it very much if
+you think I know enough for the job."
+
+"All right, I'll fix it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+THE EXPRESS SPECIAL.
+
+
+Nothing further was said at the time concerning Rod's most cherished
+scheme and as Brakeman Joe reported for duty that very day Rod was at a
+loss to know what he should do next. He doubted if Truman Stump could
+command sufficient influence to secure his appointment as fireman before
+he had undergone a preliminary training as wiper and hostler in the
+round-house, though he felt that he already possessed experience as
+valuable as any to be gained in those positions. Still it was a rule that
+firemen should be taken from the round-house and Rod knew by this time
+that railroad rules are rarely broken.
+
+Of course he could not retain Joe's position now that the latter had
+returned to it, and he would not if he could. No indeed! Joe's face still
+pale from his long confinement was too radiant with happiness at once
+more getting back among his old friends and associations for Rod to dim it
+by the faintest suggestion that the honest fellow's return to duty was
+likely to throw him out of a job. So he congratulated Joe upon his
+recovery, as heartily as any one, and retold the story of his plucky fight
+with the thieving tramps to the little group of railroad men gathered in
+caboose number 18 to welcome him back.
+
+As they were all talking at once and making a hero of Brakeman Joe they
+were hushed into a sudden silence by the unexpected entrance of Mr. Hill
+the Superintendent. Merely nodding to the others this gentleman stepped up
+to Brakeman Joe with extended hand, saying cordially:
+
+"Good evening, conductor. I am glad to see you back among us again. I hope
+you are all right and will be able to take your train out on time
+to-night."
+
+"Sir! I----" stammered the astonished Joe.
+
+"You must be mistaking me for Conductor Tobin, sir."
+
+"Tobin? oh no! I know him too well ever to mistake any one else for him. I
+take you to be Conductor Joseph Miller of the through freight, whose
+promotion has just been posted, to take effect immediately. I have also
+assigned two new men to your train, with orders to report at once. Here
+they come now."
+
+This announcement fell like a bomb-shell; and the cheer of congratulation
+that Joe's friends attempted to raise was checked, half-uttered, by the
+distressed look on Conductor Tobin's face. Could it be that he had heard
+aright? Was it possible that he was thus unceremoniously thrown out of
+work to make a place for his former brakeman? His expression was quite as
+bewildered as that of Brakeman Joe, and the Superintendent, noticing it,
+allowed an amused smile to flit across his own face.
+
+"Don't be alarmed, Tobin," he said, reassuringly; "the Company can't very
+well spare your services, and have no idea of doing so. If you can make it
+convenient I should like to have you take out number 29 to-night, and, as
+you will need an extra hand, I have decided to send young Blake on the
+same train; that is, if it will be agreeable to you to have him."
+
+Number 29! The Continental Express Company's Special! Why, only passenger
+conductors had that train! What could Mr. Hill mean?
+
+"It's all right, Tobin," continued that gentleman, noting the other's
+embarrassment; "your name has gone on to the passenger list, and if you
+do as well there as you have with your freights I shall be more than
+satisfied. I hope this change strikes you as being one for the better
+also?" he added, turning to Rod.
+
+"Yes, sir, only----" began Rodman, who was about to say something
+concerning his desire to be made a fireman, when he suddenly remembered
+that Truman Stump had requested him not to speak of it just yet.
+
+"Only what?" asked Mr. Hill, a little sharply.
+
+"I was afraid I hadn't experience enough," answered Rod.
+
+"That is a matter of which I claim to be the best judge," replied the
+Superintendent, with a smile. "And if I am satisfied of your fitness for
+the position you certainly ought to be. Now, Tobin, look lively. Number 29
+must be ready to leave in half an hour. Good-night and good luck to you."
+
+Thus Conductor Tobin's long and faithful service, and Brakeman Joe's
+suffering, and Rod Blake's strict attention to duty were all rewarded at
+once, though in Rodman's case the reward had not taken exactly the shape
+he desired. Still, a promotion was a promotion, and where there were so
+many competitors for each upward step, as there always are on a railroad,
+it was not for him to grumble at the form in which it came.
+
+So as the young railroad man gathered up his few belongings, he gratefully
+accepted the congratulations of his friends. A few minutes later he bade
+freight conductor Joe good-by, and in company with passenger conductor
+Tobin he left caboose number 18 with much the same feeling that a young
+scholar leaves his primary school for one a grade higher.
+
+Number 29 was a peculiar train, and one that Rod had often watched rush
+past his side-tracked freight with feelings of deep interest, not unmixed
+with envy. It always followed the "Limited," with all the latter's
+privileges of precedence and right of way. Thus it was such a flyer that
+the contrast between it and the freight, which always had to get out
+of the way, was as great as that between a thoroughbred racer and a
+farm-horse. It was made up of express cars, loaded with money, jewelry,
+plate, and other valuable packages, which caused it to be known along the
+road as the "gold mine." In its money-car was carried specie and bank
+notes from the United States Treasury, and from Eastern banks to Western
+cities. Thus it was no unusual thing for this one car to carry a million
+dollars' worth of such express matter. Each car was in charge of a trusted
+and well-armed messenger, who locked himself in from one end of his run to
+the other, and was prepared to defend the valuables entrusted to his care
+with his life. Thus number 29 was one of the most important as well as one
+of the very fastest trains on the road; while to run on it was considered
+such an honor that many envious glances were cast at Rod as he stood on
+the platform beside it awaiting the starting-signal.
+
+There had been no time for him to procure the blue uniform suit, such as
+the crews of passenger trains, with whom he now ranked, are required to
+wear; and as the jumper and overalls of a freight brakeman would have been
+decidedly out of place on an express special, Rod had hastily donned his
+best suit of every-day clothes. Thus as he stood near the steps of the
+single passenger coach that was attached to the train in place of a
+caboose for the accommodation of its conductor and brakemen, he was not
+to be distinguished from the throng of passengers hastening aboard the
+"Limited" on the opposite side of the platform.
+
+For this reason a young man, with a stout leather travelling bag slung on
+his shoulder, paid no attention to the young brakeman, as after a hurried
+glance up and down the platform, he sprang aboard and entered the coach.
+
+With a bound Rod was after him. "Hello, sir!" he cried; "you must have
+made a mistake. This is not a passenger train."
+
+"No?" said the other coolly, and Rod now noticed that he wore a pair of
+smoked glasses. I thought it was the "Limited."
+
+"That is the 'Limited,' across the platform," explained Rod politely.
+
+"Are you sure of it?"
+
+"Certainly I am."
+
+"What makes you think this is not it?" asked the other with a provoking
+slowness of speech as though time was no object to him, and he did not
+care whether the "Limited" started without him or not.
+
+[Illustration: ROD ASSISTS THE YOUNG MAN TO THE "LIMITED."--(_Page
+133._)]
+
+"Because I belong on this train and it is my business to be sure of things
+connected with it," replied Rod, still speaking pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, you do, do you. Are you its conductor?"
+
+"No, sir, but I am one of its brakemen."
+
+"Are there any more like you?"
+
+"Yes, sir, there is another like me. I sha'n't need his help though to put
+you off this train if you don't get off, and in a hurry too," answered Rod
+hotly, for he began to suspect that the young man was making fun of him.
+
+"Oh, come now!" said the passenger mildly, "don't get excited, I'm
+perfectly willing to go. It was a very natural mistake for a blind man to
+make. You may be blind yourself some day, and then you'll find out."
+
+"I didn't know you were blind, sir," exclaimed Rod apologetically and
+instantly regretting his harshness toward one so cruelly afflicted. "I am
+very sorry, and if you will allow me, I will see you safely aboard the
+'Limited.'"
+
+The young man accepted this offer, explaining at the same time that while
+he was not totally blind, his sight was very dim. So Rod helped him off
+one train and into the other, striving by every attention to atone for
+the abruptness with which he had spoken before learning of the other's
+infirmity. As he took the stranger's hand to guide him down the steps of
+the coach he noticed that the large diamond of a ring worn by the latter,
+had cut its way through the back of one of his kid gloves.
+
+A moment later the "Limited" pulled out, and in a few minutes the express
+special, laden that night with a freight of unusual value, followed it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+TROUBLE IN THE MONEY CAR.
+
+
+Until after midnight the run of the express special was without
+interruption or incident. Thus far it had made but two stops. The second
+of these was at the end of the freight division where Conductor Tobin had
+been accustomed to turn over his train to a relieving crew and spend the
+day. With such a flyer as the special, however, his run was now to be
+twice as long as formerly, so that he and Rod looked forward to doing a
+hundred and fifty miles more before being relieved. There was but one
+other brakeman besides Rod, and as there was little for either of them to
+do, save to see that the rear end lights burned brightly, and always to be
+prepared for emergencies, time hung rather heavily on their hands.
+
+Thanks to automatic air brakes, the life of a passenger brakeman is now a
+very easy one as compared with the same life a few years ago. The
+brakeman of those days, almost as greasy and smoke begrimed as a fireman,
+spent most of his time on the swaying platforms between cars amid showers
+of cinders and clouds of blinding dust. At every call for brakes he was
+obliged to spring to the wheels of the two entrusted to his care and set
+them up by hand with the utmost exercise of his strength. He was not
+allowed to remain inside the cars between stations, and the only glimpses
+he got of their scant comfort was when he flung open their doors to call
+out the names of stations in his own undistinguishable jargon. He was
+invariably a well-grown powerfully built fellow, as rough in manner as in
+appearance.
+
+To-day, on all passenger trains and on many freights as well, the
+automatic brakes are operated by compressed air controlled by the
+engineman. By a single pull of a small brass lever within easy reach he
+can instantly apply every brake on his train with such force as to bring
+it to a standstill inside of a few seconds. The two small cylinders
+connected by a piston-rod on the right hand side of every locomotive just
+in front of the cab form the air-pump. It is always at work while a train
+is standing still, forcing air through lengths of rubber hose between the
+cars and into the reservoirs located beneath each one. As brakes are
+applied by the reduction of this air the engineman's lever merely opens a
+valve that allows the imprisoned force to escape with a sharp hissing
+sound. If a train should break in two the connecting lengths of rubber
+hose would be torn asunder, and the outrushing air would instantly apply
+brakes to the cars of both sections bringing them to a speedy standstill.
+
+Thus the brakeman of to-day, instead of being the powerful, cinder-coated
+and rough-voiced fellow of a few years back, may be as slim and elegant as
+any of the passengers under his care provided he is polite, wide-awake,
+and attentive to his duty. Clad in a natty uniform, he now spends his time
+inside the car instead of on its platform. He has reports to make out,
+lamps and flags to look after, and in cases of unexpected delay must run
+back to protect his train from any other that may be approaching it.
+Formerly it was necessary to have as many brakemen on a passenger train as
+there were cars, while now it is rare to find more than two on each train.
+
+So Rod had very little to do in his new position, and soon after leaving
+the second stopping-place of his train, was sitting near the forward end
+of the coach with his head resting on the back of a seat, gazing at the
+ceiling and buried in deep thought. Conductor Tobin and the other brakeman
+were seated some distance behind him engaged in conversation.
+
+Rod was thinking of what an awful thing it was to be blind, and this chain
+of thought was suggested by a glimpse of the young man with smoked
+glasses, whom he had assisted on board the "Limited" some hours before,
+standing on the platform of the station they had just left. He had
+evidently reached his journey's end and was patiently waiting for some one
+to come and lead him away--or at least this was what Rod imagined the
+situation to be. In reality, that same young man, with unimpaired eyesight
+and no longer wearing smoked glasses, was on board the express special at
+that very moment. He had sprung on to the forward platform of the money
+car undetected in the darkness as the train left the circle of station
+lights and was now on its roof fastening a light rope ladder to a ledge
+just above one of the middle and half-glazed doors of the car. A red
+flannel mask concealed the lower half of his face, and as he swung
+himself down on his frail and fearfully swaying support he held a powerful
+navy revolver in his right hand. He was taking frightful risks to win a
+desperate game. Failing in his effort to conceal himself aboard the very
+train he intended to rob, he had taken passage on the "Limited" as far as
+its first stopping-place and had there awaited the coming of the Express
+Special. Thus far his reckless venture had succeeded, and as Rod sat in
+the coach thinking pityingly of him, he was covering the unsuspecting
+messenger in the money car with his revolver.
+
+"What would I do if I were blind?" thought Rod. "I suppose uncle would
+take care of me; but how humiliating it would be to have to go back to him
+helpless and dependent. How thankful I should be that I can see besides
+being well and strong and able to care for myself. I will do it too
+without asking help from any one, and I'll win such a name for honesty
+and faithfulness on this road that even Uncle Arms will be compelled to
+believe whatever I may tell him. I wonder if Snyder could have put that
+emery into the oil-cup himself? It doesn't seem as though any one could be
+so mean."
+
+Just here a slight incident interrupted the lad's thoughts so suddenly
+that he sprang to his feet--unconsciously his eyes had been fixed on the
+bell-cord that ran through the entire train to the cab of the locomotive.
+It had hung a little slack, but all at once this slack was jerked up as
+though some one had pulled the cord. This would have been a signal to stop
+the train, and if the train were to be stopped at that point something
+must be wrong. A backward glance showed Conductor Tobin and the other
+brakeman to be still quietly engaged in conversation. Neither of them
+could have pulled the cord. Rod stepped to the door and looked out. The
+train was tearing along at a terrific speed, and the rush of air nearly
+took away his breath. There was no sign of slackening speed and everything
+appeared to be all right. The next car ahead of the coach was the money
+car. At least Conductor Tobin had thought so, though none of the trainmen
+was ever quite sure which one of the half dozen or more express cars it
+was. Its rear door was of course closed and locked, but some impulse moved
+Rod to clamber up on its platform railing and peer through the little hole
+by which the bell-cord entered. He could not see much, but that which
+was disclosed in a single glimpse almost caused his heart to cease its
+beating. Within his range of vision came the heads of two men evidently
+engaged in a struggle and one of them wore a mask over the lower part of
+his face. The next instant Rod had sprung down from his perilous perch and
+dashed back into the coach shouting breathlessly:
+
+"There's a masked man fighting the messenger in the money car!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+OVER THE TOP OF THE TRAIN.
+
+
+At Rodman's startling announcement Conductor Tobin sprang to his feet,
+reached for the bell-cord, and gave it two sharp pulls. A single whistle
+blast from the locomotive made instant reply that his signal was received
+and understood. So promptly was it obeyed that as the conductor and his
+two brakemen ran to the front platform to swing far out and look along the
+sides of the express cars ahead of them, the grinding brakes were already
+reducing the speed of the flying train.
+
+Suddenly a pistol shot rang angrily out, and a bullet crashed into the
+woodwork close above Rod Blake's head. He and the conductor were leaning
+out on one side while the other brakeman occupied the opposite one.
+
+"Give the signal to go ahead at once, or I'll come back there and blow
+your brains out!" came in a hoarse voice from a side door of the money
+car.
+
+"All right, I'll do it; only don't shoot," shouted Conductor Tobin in
+answer, giving the desired signal to the engineman, by raising and
+lowering his lantern vertically, as he spoke. At the same time he said
+hurriedly to the brakeman on the opposite side of the platform, and thus
+concealed from the robber's view:
+
+"Drop off, Tom, and run back to number 10. Telegraph ahead to all
+stations, and we'll bag that fellow yet!"
+
+The man did as directed, swinging low and giving a forward spring that
+landed him safely beside the track, though the train was still moving
+fully twenty miles an hour.
+
+The engineman, though greatly puzzled at receiving the signal to go ahead
+immediately after being ordered to stop, had obeyed it, thrown off brakes,
+and the train was again gathering its usual headway.
+
+"Now Rod," said Conductor Tobin, as the other brakeman disappeared; "I
+want you to make your way over the top of the train to the engine, and
+tell Eli what is taking place. Tell him to keep her wide open till we
+reach Millbank, and not to give her the "air" till we are well up with the
+station. It's a tough job for you, and one I hate to send you on. At the
+same time it's got to be done, and after your experience on the freight
+deck, I believe you are the lad to undertake it. Anyway, you'll be safe
+from that pistol when once you reach the cab."
+
+"But I don't like to leave you here alone to be shot," remonstrated Rod.
+
+"Never mind me. I don't believe I'll get shot. At any rate, this is my
+place, and here I must stay. Now move along, and God bless you."
+
+There was a strong hand-clasp between the conductor and brakeman, and
+then the latter started on the perilous journey he had been ordered to
+undertake. It was no easy task to maintain a footing on the rounded roofs
+of those express cars as they were hurled on through the night at the rate
+of nearly a mile a minute; while to leap from one to another seemed almost
+suicidal. Not more than one brakeman in a thousand could have done it; but
+Rod Blake, with his light weight, athletic training, and recent experience
+combined with absolute fearlessness, was that one. His inclination was to
+get down on his hands and knees and crawl along the slippery roofs. If he
+had yielded to it he would never have accomplished the trip. He believed
+that the only way to make it was by running and clearing the spaces
+between cars with flying leaps, and, incredible as it may seem, that is
+the way he did it. He had kicked off his shoes before starting, and now
+ran with stockinged feet.
+
+The occupants of the cab were as startled by his appearance beside them
+as though he had been a ghost, and when his story was told the engineman
+wanted to stop the train at once and go back to the assistance of the
+imperilled messenger. Rod however succeeded in persuading him that, as
+the messenger's fate was probably already decided, their only hope of
+capturing the robber lay in carrying out Conductor Tobin's plan of running
+at such speed that he would not dare jump from the train until a station
+prepared for his reception was reached.
+
+When the engineman finally agreed to this, and before he could utter
+the remonstrance that sprang to his lips, Rodman clambered back over the
+heaped-up coal of the tender, swung himself to the roof of the forward car
+and began to retrace his perilous journey to the rear end of the train. He
+argued that if Conductor Tobin's place was back there exposed to the
+shots of a desperate man, his brakeman's place was beside him. Even if Rod
+had not been a railroad boy, or "man," as he now called himself, his
+natural bravery and sense of honor would have taken him back to that
+coach. Ever since he had enlisted in the service that demands as strict
+obedience as that required of a soldier and an equal contempt of danger,
+this lad was doubly alert to the call of whatever he regarded as duty.
+There is no service in the world, outside of the army, so nearly
+resembling it in requirements and discipline as that of a railroad. It is
+no place for cowards nor weaklings; but to such a lad as Rod Blake it adds
+the stimulus of excitement and ever-present danger and the promise of
+certain promotion and ample reward for the conscientious performance of
+every-day duties.
+
+So Rod, feeling in duty bound to do so, made his way back over the reeling
+roofs of that on-rushing train to the side of his superior officer. As he
+scrambled and slipped and leaped from car to car he fully realized the
+imminent peril of his situation, but was at the same time filled with a
+wild exhilaration and buoyance of spirits such as he had never before
+known.
+
+Conductor Tobin, standing just inside the coach door with pale face and
+set lips, was amazed to see him. For a moment he fancied the lad had been
+daunted by the task imposed upon him and had turned back without reaching
+the locomotive. When he realized that Rod had not only made the perilous
+trip once, but twice, his admiration was unbounded, and though he tried to
+scold him for his foolhardiness the words refused to come. He shook the
+young brakeman's hand so heartily instead that the action conveyed a
+volume of praise and appreciation.
+
+Now, as they watched together with an intense eagerness for the lights of
+Millbank they became conscious of a yellow glare, like that of an open
+furnace, streaming from the side door of the money car.
+
+"The scoundrel has set the car on fire!" gasped Conductor Tobin.
+
+"Don't you think we ought to break in the door with an axe and make a rush
+for him?" asked Rod.
+
+Before the other could reply, a long, ear-splitting whistle blast
+announcing their approach to a station sounded from the locomotive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+STOP THIEF!
+
+
+As Train Number 29 dashed up to the Millbank station and was brought to a
+stop almost as suddenly as a spirited horse is reined back on his haunches
+by a curb bit, the many flashing lanterns guarding all approaches, and the
+confused throng of dark forms on its platform told that Brakeman Tom had
+performed his duty and that its arrival was anticipated.
+
+The abruptness of this unexpected stop caused the messengers in the
+several cars to open their doors and look out inquiringly. At the same
+time, and even before it was safe to do so, Conductor Tobin and Rod
+dropped to the ground and ran to the door of the money car. The glare of
+firelight streaming from it attracted others to the same spot. There were
+loud cries for buckets and water, and almost before the car wheels ceased
+to slide on the polished rails a score of willing hands were drenching
+out the fire of way-bills, other papers, and a broken chair that was
+blazing merrily in the middle of its floor. The flames were already
+licking the interior woodwork, and but for this opportune stop would have
+gathered such headway inside of another minute as would not only have
+destroyed the car but probably the entire train.
+
+The moment the subsiding flames rendered such a thing possible, a rush was
+made for the inside of the car, but Conductor Tobin calling one of the
+express messengers and the engineman who had come running back, to aid
+him, and telling Rod to guard the door, sternly ordered the crowd to keep
+out until he had made an examination. From his post at the doorway Rod
+could look in at a sight that filled him with horror. The interior of the
+car was spattered with blood. On the floor, half hidden beneath a pile of
+packages, lay the messenger, still alive but unconscious and bleeding from
+half a dozen wounds. The brave right hand that had tried to pull the
+bell cord had been shattered by a pistol ball, and the messenger's own
+Winchester lay on the floor beside him. Broken packages that had contained
+money, jewelry, and other valuables were scattered in every direction,
+while the open safe from which they had come was as empty as the day it
+was made.
+
+The trainmen became furious as one after another of these mute witnesses
+told of the outrages so recently perpetrated, and swore vengeance on the
+robber when they should catch him. They ransacked every corner of the car,
+but search as they might they could discover no trace of his presence nor
+of the method of his flight. The man had left the car as he had entered it
+taking the precaution of removing his rope ladder as he went.
+
+The baffled searchers had just reached the conclusion that he must have
+leaped from the train in spite of its speed and of Conductor Tobin's
+watchfulness, when Rod, who from his position in the doorway could look
+over the heads of the crowd surrounding the car called out:
+
+"Stop that man! The one with a leather bag slung over his shoulder! Stop
+him! Stop thief! He is the robber!"
+
+In the glare of an electric light that happened to shine full upon him for
+a moment, Rod had seen the man walk away from the forward end of the car
+next ahead of the one they were searching as though he had just left it.
+He was not noticed by the bystanders as all eyes were directed toward the
+door of the money car. To the young brakeman his figure and the stout
+leather bag that he carried seemed familiar. As he looked, the man raised
+a kid-gloved hand to shift the position of his satchel, and from it shot
+the momentary flash of a diamond. With Rod this was enough to at once
+establish the man's identity. Although he no longer wore smoked glasses
+Rod knew him to be the man who, pretending partial blindness, had first
+boarded the Express Special, then taken passage on the "Limited," and whom
+he had seen on the platform of the last station at which they had stopped.
+How could he have reached Millbank? He must have come by the Express
+Special, and so must be connected with its robbery.
+
+All these thoughts darted through Rod's head like a flash of lightning,
+and as he uttered his shouts of warning he sprang to the ground with a
+vague idea of preventing the stranger's escape. At the same moment the
+crowd surged back upon him, and when he finally cleared himself from it he
+saw the man backing down the platform, holding his would-be pursuers in
+check with a levelled pistol, and just disappearing from the circle of
+electric light.
+
+A minute later two frightened men were driven at the point of a revolver
+from the cab of a freight locomotive that, under a full head of steam,
+was standing on the outer one of the two west-bound tracks. They had
+hardly left it in sole charge of the robber, by whom it had already been
+uncoupled from its train, before it sprang forward and began to move away
+through the darkness.
+
+Rod, who was now well in advance of all other pursuers, instantly
+comprehended the situation. His own train stood on the inner west-bound
+track and he was near its forward end. The robber with his blood-stained
+plunder was disappearing before his very eyes, and if lost to view might
+easily run on for a few miles and then make good his escape. He must not
+be allowed to do so! He must be kept in sight!
+
+This was Rod's all-absorbing thought at the moment. Moved by it, he jerked
+out the coupling-pin, by which the locomotive of the Express Special was
+attached to its train, leaped into the cab, threw over the lever, pulled
+open the throttle, and had started on one of the most thrilling races
+recorded in the annals of railroading, before the astonished fireman, who
+had been left in charge, found time to remonstrate.
+
+"Look here, young fellow! what are you about?" he shouted, stepping
+threateningly toward Rod.
+
+"We are about chasing the train robber, who has just gone off with that
+engine on number four track, and you want to keep up the best head of
+steam you know how," was the answer.
+
+"Have we any orders to do so?"
+
+"You have, at any rate, for I give them to you."
+
+"And who are you? I never saw you before to-night."
+
+"I am Rod Blake, one of Tobin's trainmen, and if you don't quit bothering
+me with your stupidity and go to work, I'll pitch you out of this cab!"
+shouted Rod savagely, in a tone that betrayed the intensity of his nervous
+excitement.
+
+The man had heard of the young brakeman and of his skill as a boxer,
+though he had never met him before that night, and his half-formed
+intention of compelling the lad to turn back was decidedly weakened by
+the mention of his name. Still he hesitated. He was a powerful fellow with
+whom in a struggle Rod could not have held his own for a minute, but he
+was clearly lacking in what railroad men call "sand." Suddenly Rod made a
+movement as though to spring at him, at the same time shouting, "Do as I
+tell you, sir, and get to work at once!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A RACE OF LOCOMOTIVES.
+
+
+In any struggle between two human beings, the one possessed of the more
+powerful will is certain to win. In the present case, Rod Blake's will was
+so much stronger than that of the fireman that the burly fellow obeyed his
+order, turned sullenly away, and began to shovel coal into the roaring
+furnace.
+
+Their speed was now tremendous, for though Rod knew but little about the
+management of a locomotive engine, he did know that the wider the throttle
+was opened the faster it would go. So he pulled the handle as far back as
+he dared, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the dark form of the
+fugitive locomotive disclosed by the glare of their own head-light. Now
+if he could keep it in sight, and so force the speed, that it would be
+impossible for the robber to jump off until some large station was
+reached, Rod felt that all would yet go well.
+
+Suddenly the runaway seemed to stop. Then it began to move back toward
+them. In another instant they had dashed past it, but not before two
+pistol bullets had come crashing through the cab windows. A bit of
+splintered glass cut Rod's forehead and a little stream of blood began to
+trickle down his face. Without heeding it, he shut off steam, reversed,
+opened again, and within half a minute the pursuers were rushing back over
+the ground they had just covered.
+
+Again the train robber tried the same game, again the two locomotives flew
+by each other, and again pistol balls came singing past Rod Blake's ears.
+As for the fireman he had flung himself flat on the floor of the cab. Rod
+could hardly believe that he had not been hit by one of those hissing
+bullets, but as he felt no wound he again reversed his engine and again
+dashed ahead.
+
+Now they gained steadily on the fugitive. His steam was giving out, and he
+had neither the time to renew his supply nor the knowledge of how to do
+so. The pursuit was decidedly hotter than he had anticipated, and had not
+been checked in the least by his pistol shots, as he had hoped it would
+be. He must try some other plan of escape, and that quickly. He did not
+know how many men were on that fiercely pursuing locomotive, nor whether
+they were armed or not. He only knew that within another minute they would
+overtake him. He formed a desperate resolve, and a moment later Rod Blake
+thought he saw a dark form scrambling from a ditch beside the track as
+they flew past. When they reached the "dying" locomotive of which they
+were in pursuit and found it abandoned, he knew what had taken place. The
+train robber had leaped from its cab and was now making his way across
+country on foot.
+
+"We must follow him!" exclaimed Rod.
+
+"You may if you are such a fool; but I'll be blowed if I will," answered
+the fireman.
+
+There was no time to be lost in argument, neither was Rod sure that those
+locomotives ought to be left unguarded. So, without another word, he
+dropped to the ground and started on a run across the fields in the
+direction he was almost certain the fugitive had taken.
+
+The young brakeman soon came to a wagon road running parallel to the
+railway. Here he was brought to a halt. Which way should he go? To attempt
+to continue the pursuit in either direction without some definite
+knowledge to act upon seemed foolish. If he could only discover a house at
+which to make inquiries, or if some belated traveller would only come that
+way.
+
+"'Belated traveller' is good," mused Rod as his eye caught a faint glow in
+the eastern sky. "Here it is almost to-morrow while I thought it was still
+to-day. What a wild-goose chase I have come on anyway, and what should I
+do if I overtook the robber? I'm sure I don't know. I won't give it up
+though now that I have started in on it. Hello! Here comes some one now.
+Perhaps I can learn something from him. Hi, there!"
+
+The sound that had attracted the lad's attention was that of a rapidly
+galloping horse, though it was so deadened by the sandy road that he did
+not hear it until the animal was close upon him. The light was very dim,
+and as Rod stood in a shadow neither the horse nor its rider perceived him
+until he started forward and shouted to attract the latter's attention.
+
+In an instant the startled animal had sprung to one side so suddenly as to
+fling its rider violently to the ground, where he lay motionless. The
+horse ran a short distance, then stopped and stood trembling.
+
+Horrified at the result of his hasty action, Rod kneeled beside the
+motionless man. His head had struck the root of a tree and though the boy
+could not discover that he was seriously injured, he was unconscious. In
+vain did the distressed lad attempt to restore him. He had little idea of
+what to do, there was no water at hand, and to his ignorance it seemed as
+if the man must be dying. He lifted one of the limp hands to chafe it, and
+started with amazement at the sight of a diamond ring that had cut its way
+through the torn and blackened kid glove in which the hand was encased.
+
+Could this be the very train robber of whom he was in pursuit? Where,
+then, was his leather satchel? Why, there it was, only a few feet away,
+lying where it had fallen as the man was flung to the ground. Incredible
+as it seemed, this must be the very man, and now what was to be done? Was
+ever a fellow placed in a more perplexing situation? He could not revive
+the unconscious form. Neither could he remove it from that place. Clearly
+he must have help. As he arrived at this conclusion Rod started on a run
+down the road, determined to find a habitation and secure human aid.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
+
+
+As Rod started on his quest for assistance the riderless horse, which had
+begun to nibble grass by the roadside, lifted his head with a snort that
+brought the lad to a sudden halt. Why not make use of this animal if he
+could catch it? Certainly his mission could be accomplished more quickly
+on horseback than on foot. He started gently toward it, holding out his
+hand and speaking soothingly; but the cautious animal tossed its head and
+began to move away. "How much he resembles Juniper," thought Rod. "Here,
+Juniper! Here June, old fellow!" he called. At the sound of his name the
+horse wheeled about and faced the lad in whose company he had recently
+undergone such a thrilling experience. The next instant Rod grasped the
+animal's halter, for it had neither saddle nor bridle, and Juniper was
+evidently recognizing him.
+
+As the young brakeman was about to leap on the horse's back it occurred
+to him that the leather bag, which was undoubtedly filled with valuable
+plunder from the rifled express car ought not to be left lying in the
+road. No, it would be much better to carry it to a place of safety. With
+this thought came a recollection of the pistol shots so lately fired by
+the man at his feet. Would it not be well to disarm him lest he should
+revive and again prove dangerous before assistance could be found and
+brought to the place. Rod believed it would, and, acting upon the thought,
+transferred two revolvers from the train-robber's pockets to his own.
+Then, after dragging the still unconscious man a little to one side beyond
+danger from any wagon that might happen along, the lad slung the heavy
+satchel over his shoulder, scrambled on to Juniper's back and galloped
+away.
+
+The road was a lonely one, and he rode more than a mile before reaching
+a farm-house. Here the excited lad rapped loudly on the front door and
+shouted. No one was yet astir, and several minutes passed before an upper
+window was cautiously opened and a woman's voice inquired who was there
+and what was wanted.
+
+Rod began to explain his errand; but after a few words the woman called to
+him to wait until she could come down, and then slammed the window down.
+To the young brakeman's impatience the ensuing delay seemed an hour in
+length, though in reality not more than five minutes elapsed before the
+front door opened and the woman again appeared.
+
+"Now, what were you trying to tell me about men dying in the road?" she
+asked sharply.
+
+As Rod was about to reply there came a sound of galloping horses and a
+shout from the place where he had left Juniper fastened to a fence post.
+
+"There he is!"
+
+"Now we've got him!"
+
+"Throw up your hands, you scoundrel!"
+
+"Don't you dare draw a pistol or we'll fill you full of holes!"
+
+These and a score of similar cries came to the ears of the bewildered lad
+as half a dozen horsemen dashed up to the front gate, and four of them,
+leaping to the ground, ran towards him while the others held the horses.
+
+He was too astonished even to remonstrate, and as they seized him he
+submitted to the indignity as quietly as one who is dazed.
+
+The woman in the doorway regarded this startling scene with amazement.
+When in answer to her eager questions the new-comers told her that the
+young desperado whom she had so nearly admitted to her house was a
+horse-thief, who, but a short time before, had stolen the animal now
+tied to her front fence, at the point of a revolver from the man who was
+leading him to water, she said she wouldn't have believed that such a mere
+boy could be so great a villian.
+
+"It's the truth though," affirmed the man who acted as spokesman. "Isn't
+it, Al?"
+
+"Yes, siree," replied Al, a heavy-looking young farm hand. "An more 'n
+that, he fired at me too afore I'd give up the 'orse. Oh, yes, he's a bad
+un, young as he looks, an hangin' wouldn't be none too good for him."
+
+"I did nothing of the kind!" cried Rod, indignantly, now finding a chance
+to speak. "This is an outrage, and----"
+
+"Is this the fellow, Al?" asked the spokesman, interrupting the young
+brakeman's vehement protest.
+
+"Of course it is. I'd know him anywhere by that bag slung over his
+shoulders, an he's got pistols in his pockets, too."
+
+"Yes, here they are," replied the leader, thrusting his hands into Rod's
+coat pockets and drawing forth the two revolvers. "Oh, there's no use
+talking, young man. The proof against you is too strong. The only thing
+for you to do is to come along quietly and make the best of the situation.
+Horse thieves have been getting altogether too plenty in this part of the
+country of late, and we've been laying for one to make an example of for
+more 'n a week now. Its mighty lucky for you that you didn't tackle an
+armed man instead of Al there, this morning. If you had you'd have got a
+bullet instead of a horse."
+
+"But I tell you," cried Rod, "that I took those things from a man who was
+flung from that horse back here in the road about a mile. He is----"
+
+"I haven't any doubt that you took them," interrupted the man, grimly,
+"the same as you took the horse."
+
+"And I only made use of the horse to obtain assistance for him the more
+quickly," continued Rod. "I left him stunned by his fall, and he may be
+dead by this time. He will be soon, anyway, if some one doesn't go to him,
+and then you'll be murderers, that's what you'll be."
+
+"Let us examine this bag that you admit you took from somebody without his
+permission, and see what it contains," said the man quietly, paying no
+heed to the lad's statement. So saying, he opened the satchel that still
+hung from Rod's shoulders. At the sight of its contents he uttered an
+exclamation of amazement.
+
+"Well, if this don't beat anything I ever heard of!"
+
+The others crowded eagerly about him.
+
+"Whew! look at the greenbacks!" cried one.
+
+"And gold!" shouted another.
+
+"He must have robbed a bank!"
+
+"There'll be a big reward offered for this chap."
+
+"He's a more desperate character than we thought."
+
+"A regular jail-bird!"
+
+"There's blood on some of these bills!"
+
+"He ought to be tied."
+
+This last sentiment met with such general approval that some one produced
+a bit of rope, and in another moment poor Rod's hands were securely bound
+together behind him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+THE TRAIN ROBBER LEARNS OF ROD'S ARREST.
+
+
+"I tell you the man who did it all is lying back there in the road!"
+screamed Rod, furious with indignation at this outrage and almost sobbing
+with the bitterness of his distress. "He is a train robber, and I'm a
+passenger brakeman on the New York and Western road. He made an escape and
+I was chasing him."
+
+"Just listen to that now," said one of the men jeeringly. "It's more than
+likely you are the train robber yourself."
+
+"Looks like a brakeman, doesn't he?" sneered another, "especially as they
+are all obliged to wear a uniform when on duty."
+
+"He's a nice big party of men, he is. Just such a one as the railroad
+folks would collect and send in pursuit of a train robber," remarked the
+leader ironically. "Oh, no, my lad, that's too thin. If you must tell
+lies I'd advise you to invent some that folks might have a living chance
+of believing."
+
+"It's not a lie!" declared Rod earnestly and almost calmly; for though his
+face was quite pale with suppressed excitement, he was regaining control
+of his voice. "It's the solemn truth and I'm willing to swear to it."
+
+"Oh, hush, sonny, don't swear. That would be naughty," remonstrated one of
+the men, mockingly.
+
+Without noticing him, Rod continued: "If you will only take me back about
+a mile on the road I will show you the real train robber, and so prove
+that part of my story. Then at Millbank I can prove the rest."
+
+"Look here, young fellow," said the leader, harshly, "why will you persist
+in such nonsense? We have just came over that part of the road and we
+didn't see anything of any man lying in it."
+
+"Because I dragged him to one side," explained Rod.
+
+"Oh, well, you'll have a chance to show us your man if you can find him,
+for we are going to take you back that way anyhow. Come on, fellows, let's
+be moving. The sooner we get this young horse-thief behind bolts and bars
+the sooner we'll be rid of an awkward responsibility."
+
+So poor Rod, still bound, was placed on Juniper's back, and, with one man
+on each side of him, two in front and two behind, rode unhappily back over
+the road that he had traversed on an errand of mercy but a short time
+before.
+
+As the little group disappeared, the woman in whose front yard this
+exciting arrest had been made turned to hasten the preparations for her
+children's breakfast that she might the sooner visit her nearest neighbors
+and tell them of these wonderful happenings. She was filled with the
+belief that she had had a most remarkable escape, and was eager to have
+her theory confirmed.
+
+When she finally reached her neighbor's house and burst in upon them
+breathless and unannounced, she was somewhat taken aback to see a strange
+young man, wearing a pair of smoked glasses and having a very pale face,
+sitting at breakfast with them. The woman of the house informed her in a
+whisper, that he was a poor theological student making his way on foot
+back to college in order to save travelling expenses, and though he had
+only stopped to ask for a glass of water they had insisted upon his
+taking breakfast with them.
+
+Then the visitor unburdened herself of her budget of startling news,
+ending up with: "An' I knew he was a desp'rate character the minit I set
+eyes onto him, for I'm a master-hand at reading faces, I am. Why, sir,"
+here she turned to the pale student by whose evident interest in her story
+she was greatly flattered, "I could no more take him for the honest lad he
+claimed to be than I would take you for a train robber. No, indeed. A face
+is like a printed page to me every time and I'm not likely to be fooled, I
+can tell you."
+
+"It is truly a wonderful gift," murmured the young man as he rose from the
+table and started to leave the house, excusing his haste on the plea of
+having a long distance still to travel.
+
+"What a saintly expression that young man has!" exclaimed the visitor,
+watching him out of sight, "and what a preacher he will make!"
+
+At the same moment he of the smoked glasses was saying to himself: "So
+that is what happened while I lay there like a log by the roadside, is it?
+Well, it's hard luck; but certainly I ought to be able to turn the
+information furnished by that silly woman to some good account."
+
+In the meantime poor Rod was far from enjoying a morning ride that under
+other circumstances would have proved delightful. The sun shone from an
+unclouded sky, the air was deliciously cool and bracing, and the crisp
+autumn leaves of the forest-road rustled pleasantly beneath the horses'
+feet. But the boy was thinking too intently, and his thoughts were of too
+unpleasant a nature for him to take note of these things. He was wondering
+what would happen in case the train robber should not be found where he
+had left him.
+
+He was not left long in suspense, for when they reached the place that he
+was certain was the right one there was no man, unconscious or otherwise,
+to be seen on either side or in any direction. He had simply regained his
+senses soon after Rod left him, staggered to his feet, and, with ever
+increasing strength, walked slowly along the road. He finally discovered
+a side path through the woods that led him to the farm-house where, on
+account of his readily concocted tale, he received and accepted a cordial
+invitation to breakfast.
+
+As for Rod, his disappointment at not finding the proof of which he had
+been so confident was so great that he hardly uttered a protest, when
+instead of carrying him to Millbank or any other station on the line where
+he might have found friends, his captors turned into a cross-road from the
+left and journeyed directly away from the railroad.
+
+In about an hour they reached the village of Center where the young
+brakeman, escorted by half the population of the place, was conducted
+through the main street to the county jail. Here he was delivered to the
+custody of the sheriff with such an account of his terrible deeds, and
+strict injunctions as to his safe keeping, that the official locked him
+into the very strongest of all his cells. As the heavy door clanged in
+his face, and Rod realized that he was actually a prisoner, he vaguely
+wondered if railroad men often got into such scrapes while attempting the
+faithful discharge of their duties.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+A WELCOME VISITOR.
+
+
+To be cast into jail and locked up in a cell is not a pleasant experience
+even for one who deserves such a fate; while to an honest lad like Rodman
+Blake who had only tried to perform what he considered his duty to the
+best of his ability, it was terrible. In vain did he assure himself that
+his friends would soon discover his predicament and release him from it.
+He could not shake off the depressing influence of that narrow room, of
+the forbidding white walls, and the grim grating of the massive door. He
+was too sensible to feel any sense of disgrace in being thus wrongfully
+imprisoned; but the horror of the situation remained, and it seemed as
+though he should suffocate behind those bars if not speedily released.
+
+In the meantime the sheriff, whose breakfast had been interrupted by the
+arrival of the self-appointed constables and their prisoner, returned to
+his own pleasant dining-room to finish that meal. He was a bachelor, and
+the only other occupant of the room was his mother, who kept house for
+him, and was one of the dearest old ladies in the world. She was a
+Quakeress, and did not at all approve of her son's occupation. As she
+could not change it, however, she made the best use of the opportunities
+for doing good afforded by his position, and many a prisoner in that jail
+found occasion to bless the sheriff's mother. She visited them all, did
+what she could for their comfort, and talked with them so earnestly, at
+the same time so kindly and with such ready sympathy, that several cases
+of complete reformation could be traced directly to her influence. Now her
+interest was quickly aroused by her son's account of the youthful prisoner
+just delivered into his keeping, and she sighed deeply over the story of
+his wickedness.
+
+"Is it certain that he did all these things, Robert?" she asked at length.
+
+"Oh, I guess there is no doubt of it. He was caught almost in the very
+act," answered the sheriff, carelessly.
+
+"And thee says he is young?"
+
+"Yes, hardly more than a boy."
+
+"Does thee think he has had any breakfast?"
+
+"Probably not; but I'll carry him some after I've been out and fed the
+cattle," answered her son, who was a farmer as well as a sheriff.
+
+"Is thee willing I should take it to him?"
+
+"Certainly, if you want to, only be very careful about locking everything
+securely after you," replied the sheriff, who was accustomed to requests
+of this kind. "I don't know why you should trouble yourself about him
+though, I'll feed him directly."
+
+"Why should we ever trouble ourselves, Robert, about those who are
+strangers, or sick, or in prison? Besides, perhaps the poor lad has no
+mother, while just now he must sorely feel the need of one."
+
+Thus it happened that a few minutes later Rod Blake was startled from his
+unhappy reverie by the appearance of an old lady in a dove-colored dress,
+a snowy cap and kerchief, in front of his door. As she unlocked it and
+stepped inside, he saw that she bore in her hands a tray on which a
+substantial breakfast was neatly arranged. The lad sprang to his feet, but
+faint from hunger and exhaustion as he was, he cast only one glance at
+the tempting tray. Then he gazed earnestly into the face of his visitor.
+
+Setting the tray down on a stool, for there was no table in the cell, the
+old lady said: "I thought thee might be hungry my poor lad, and so have
+brought thee a bit of breakfast."
+
+"Oh, madam! Don't you know me? Don't you remember me?" cried Rod eagerly.
+
+Although startled by the boy's vehemence, the old lady adjusted her
+spectacles and regarded him carefully. "I can't say that I do," she said
+at length, in a troubled tone. "And yet thy face bears a certain look of
+familiarity. Where have I ever seen thee before?"
+
+"Don't you remember one morning a few weeks ago when you were in a
+railroad station, and dropped your purse, and I picked it up, and you gave
+me a quarter for seeing you safely on the train? Don't you? I'm sure you
+must remember."
+
+The old lady was nervously wiping her spectacles. As she again adjusted
+them and gazed keenly at the boy, a flash of recognition lighted her face
+and she exclaimed, "Of course I do! Of course I do! Thee is that same
+honest lad who restored every cent of the money that but for thee I might
+have lost! But what does it all mean? And how came thee here in this
+terrible place?"
+
+Rod was only too thankful to have a listener at once so interested and
+sympathetic as this one. Forgetful of his hunger and the waiting breakfast
+beside him, he at once began the relating of his adventures, from the time
+of first meeting with the dear old lady down to the present moment. It was
+a long story and was so frequently interrupted by questions that its
+telling occupied nearly an hour.
+
+At its conclusion the old lady, who was at once smiling and tearful, bent
+over and kissed the boy on his forehead, saying:
+
+"Bless thee, lad! I believe every word of thy tale, for thee has an honest
+face, and an honest tongue, as well as a brave heart. Thee has certainly
+been cruelly rewarded for doing thy duty. Never mind, thy troubles are now
+ended, for my son shall quickly summons the friends who will not only
+prove thy innocence and release thee from this place, but must reward thy
+honest bravery. First, though, thee must eat thy breakfast and I must go
+to fetch a cup of hot coffee, for this has become cold while we talked."
+
+So saying the old lady bustled away with a reassuring little nod and a
+cheery smile that to poor Rod was like a gleam of sunlight shining into a
+dark place. As she went, the old lady not only left his cell door unlocked
+but wide open for she had privately decided that the young prisoner should
+not be locked in again if she could prevent it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE SHERIFF IS INTERVIEWED.
+
+
+While this pleasant recognition of old acquaintances was taking place
+in the jail, the sheriff was sitting in his office and submitting to be
+interviewed by a young man who had introduced himself as a reporter from
+one of the great New York dailies. He was a pleasant young man, very
+fluent of speech, and he treated the sheriff with a flattering deference.
+He explained that while in the village on other business he had
+incidentally heard of the important arrest made that morning and thought
+that if the sheriff would kindly give him a few particulars he might
+collect material for a good story. Pleased with the idea of having his
+name appear in a New York paper the sheriff readily acceded to this
+request and gave his visitor all the information he possessed. The young
+man was so interested, and took such copious notes of everything the
+sheriff said, that the latter was finally induced to relax somewhat of his
+customary caution, and take from his safe the leather bag that had been
+captured on the person of the alleged horse-thief. The sheriff had opened
+this bag when he first received it, and had glanced at its contents, of
+which he intended to make a careful inventory at his first leisure moment.
+As this had not yet arrived, he was still ignorant of what the bag really
+contained. He knew, however, that its contents must be of great value and
+produced it to prove to the reporter that the young prisoner whom they
+were discussing was something more than a mere horse-thief.
+
+While the sheriff was still fumbling with the spring-catch of the bag,
+and before he had opened it, there came the sounds of a fall just outside
+the door, a crash of breaking china, and a cry in his mother's voice.
+Forgetful of all else, the man dropped the bag, sprang to the door, and
+disappeared in the hall beyond, leaving his visitor alone. In less than
+two minutes he returned, saying that his mother had slipped and fallen on
+the lowest step of the stairway she was descending. She had broken a cup
+and saucer, but was herself unhurt, for which he was deeply grateful. As
+the sheriff made this brief explanation, he cast a relieved glance at the
+leather bag that still lay on the floor where he had dropped it, and at
+some distance from the chair in which the young man was sitting.
+
+Again he took up the bag to open it, and again he was interrupted. This
+time the interruption came in the shape of a messenger from the telegraph
+office, bringing the startling news of the recent train robbery and the
+daring escape of its perpetrator. The sheriff first read this despatch
+through to himself, and then handed it to his visitor, who had watched his
+face with eager interest while he read it. The moment he had glanced
+through the despatch, the young man started to his feet, exclaiming that
+such an important bit of news as that would materially alter his plans.
+Then he begged the sheriff to excuse him while he ran down to the
+telegraph office, and asked his paper for permission to remain there a few
+days longer. He said that he should like nothing better than a chance to
+assist in the capture of this desperate train robber, which he had no
+doubt would be speedily effected by the sheriff. He also promised to call
+again very shortly for further information, provided his paper gave him
+permission to remain.
+
+The sheriff was not at all sorry to have his visitor depart, as the
+despatch just received had given new direction to his thoughts, and he was
+wondering if there could be any connection between the train robber, the
+young horse-thief, and the bag of valuables that lay unopened on his desk.
+He glanced curiously at it, and determined to make a thorough examination
+of its contents as soon as he had written and sent off several despatches
+containing his suspicions, asking for further information and requesting
+the presence at the jail of such persons as would be able to identify the
+train robber.
+
+As he finished these, his mother, who had been preparing a fresh cup of
+coffee for Rod, entered the office full of her discovery in connection
+with the young prisoner and of the startling information he had given her.
+She would have come sooner but for the presence of her son's visitor,
+before whom she did not care to divulge her news.
+
+Although the sheriff listened with interest to all she had to say, he
+expressed a belief that the young prisoner had taken advantage of her
+kindly nature, to work upon her sympathies with a plausible but easily
+concocted story.
+
+"But I tell thee, Robert, I recognize the lad as the same who helped me on
+the train the last time I went to York."
+
+"That may be, and still he may be a bad one."
+
+"Never, with such a face! It is as honest as thine, Robert. Of that I am
+certain, and if thee will only talk with him, I am convinced thee will
+think as I do. Nor will thee relock the door that I left open?"
+
+"What!" exclaimed the sheriff; "you haven't left his cell-door unlocked,
+mother, after the strict charges I gave you concerning that very thing?"
+
+"Yes, I have, Robert," answered the old lady, calmly; "and but for the
+others I would have left the corridor-door unlocked also. I was mindful of
+them, though, and of thy reputation."
+
+"I'm thankful you had that much common-sense," muttered her son; "and now,
+with your permission, I will take that cup of coffee, which I suppose you
+intend for your young _protege_, up to him myself."
+
+"And thee'll speak gently with him?"
+
+"Oh, yes. I'll talk to him like a Dutch uncle."
+
+Thus it happened that when the door at the end of the jail corridor was
+swung heavily back on its massive hinges, and Rod Blake, who had been
+gazing from one of the corridor windows, looked eagerly toward it, he was
+confronted by the stern face of the sheriff instead of the placidly sweet
+one of the old lady, whom he expected to see.
+
+"What are you doing out here, sir? Get back into your cell at once!"
+commanded the sheriff in an angry tone.
+
+"Oh, sir! please don't lock me in there again. It doesn't seem as though I
+could stand it," pleaded Rod.
+
+The sheriff looked searchingly at the lad. His face was certainly a very
+honest one, and to one old lady at least he had been kindly considerate.
+At the thought of the ready help extended by this lad to his own
+dearly-loved mother in the time of her perplexity, the harsh words that
+the sheriff had meditated faded from his mind, and instead of uttering
+them he said:
+
+"Very well; I will leave your cell-door open, if you will give me your
+promise not to attempt an escape."
+
+And Rod promised.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+LIGHT DAWNS UPON THE SITUATION.
+
+
+On leaving Rodman the sheriff was decidedly perplexed. His prisoner's
+honest face had made a decided impression upon him, and he had great
+confidence in his mother's judgment concerning such cases, though he was
+careful never to admit this to her. At the same time all the circumstances
+pointed so strongly to the lad's guilt that, as he reviewed them there
+hardly seemed a doubt of it. It is a peculiarity of sheriffs and jailers
+to regard a prisoner as guilty until he has been proved innocent.
+Nevertheless this sheriff gave his mother permission to visit Rod as
+often as she liked; only charging her to lock the corridor-door both upon
+entering and leaving the jail. So the dear old lady again toiled up the
+steep stairway, this time laden with books and papers. She found the tired
+lad stretched on his hard pallet and fast asleep, so she tiptoed softly
+away again without wakening him.
+
+While the young prisoner was thus forgetting his troubles, and storing up
+new strength with which to meet them, the sheriff was scouring the village
+and its vicinity for traces of any stranger who might be the train robber.
+But strangers were scarce in Center that day and the only one he could
+hear of was the reporter who had interviewed him that morning. He had gone
+directly to the telegraph office where he had sent off the despatch of
+which he had spoken, to the New York paper he claimed to represent. In it
+he had requested an answer to be sent to Millbank, and he had subsequently
+engaged a livery team with which he declared his intention of driving to
+that place.
+
+Center, though not on the New York and Western railway, was on another
+that approached the former more closely at this point than at any other.
+To facilitate an exchange of freight a short connecting link had been
+built by both roads between Center and Millbank. Over this no regular
+trains were run, but all the transfer business was conducted by specials
+controlled by operators at either end of the branch. Consequently the few
+travellers between the two places waited until a train happened along or,
+if they were in a hurry, engaged a team as the reporter had done.
+
+Soon after noon the owner of Juniper, the stolen horse, accompanied by the
+thick-headed young farm hand from whom the animal had been taken, appeared
+at the jail in answer to the sheriff's request for his presence. These
+visitors were at once taken to Rod's cell, where the young prisoner
+greatly refreshed by his nap, sat reading one of the books left by the
+dear old lady. His face lighted with a glad recognition at sight of
+Juniper's owner, and at the same moment that gentleman exclaimed:
+
+"Why, sheriff, this can't be the horse-thief! I know this lad. That is
+I engaged him not long since to bring that very horse up here to my
+brother's place where I am now visiting. You remember me, don't you,
+young man?"
+
+"Of course I do so, sir, and I am ever so glad to see some one who knew me
+before all these horrid happenings. Now if you will only make that fellow
+explain why he said I was the one who threatened to shoot him, and stole
+Juniper from him, when he knows he never set eyes on me before I was
+arrested, I shall be ever so much obliged."
+
+"How is this, sir?" inquired the gentleman, turning sharply upon the young
+farm hand behind him. "Didn't you tell me you were willing to take oath
+that the lad whom you caused to be arrested and the horse-thief were one
+and the same person?"
+
+"Y-e-e-s, s-i-r," hesitated the thick head.
+
+"Are you willing to swear to the same thing now?"
+
+"N-n-o, your honor,--that is, not hexactly. Someway he don't look the same
+now as he did then."
+
+"Then you don't think he is the person who took the horse from you?"
+
+"No, sir, I can't rightly say as I do now, seeing as the man with the
+pistols was bigger every way than this one. If 'e 'adn't been 'e wouldn't
+got the 'orse so heasy, I can tell you, sir. Besides it was so hearly that
+the light was dim an' I didn't see 'is face good anyway. But when we
+caught him 'e 'ad the 'orse an' the bag an' the pistols."
+
+"When you caught who?"
+
+"The 'orse-thief. I mean this young man."
+
+"And you recognized him then?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I knowed 'im by the bag, an' the 'orse."
+
+"But you say he was a much larger man than this one."
+
+"Oh, yes, sir! He was more 'n six foot an' as big across the shoulders as
+two of 'im."
+
+Rod could not help smiling at this, as he recalled the slight figure of
+the train robber who had appropriated Juniper to his own use.
+
+"This is evidently a badly-mixed case of mistaken identity," said the
+gentleman, turning to the sheriff, "and I most certainly shall not prefer
+any charge against this lad. Why, in connection with that same horse he
+recently performed one of the pluckiest actions I ever heard of." Here the
+speaker narrated the story of Rod's struggle with Juniper in utter
+darkness and within the narrow limits of a closed box-car.
+
+At its conclusion, the sheriff who was a great admirer of personal
+bravery, extended his hand to Rod, saying: "I believe you to be the honest
+lad you claim to be, and an almighty plucky one as well. As such I want to
+shake hands with you. I must also state that as this gentleman refuses to
+enter a complaint against you I can no longer hold you prisoner. In fact I
+am somewhat doubtful whether I have done right in detaining you as long as
+I have without a warrant. Still, I want you to remain with us a few hours
+more, or until the arrival of certain parties for whom I have sent to come
+and identify the train robber."
+
+"Meaning me?" asked Rod, with a smile. He could afford to smile now. In
+fact he was inclined to laugh and shout for joy over the favorable turn
+his fortunes appeared to be taking.
+
+"Yes, meaning you," replied the sheriff good-humoredly. "And to show how
+fully persuaded I am that you are the train robber, I hereby invite you to
+accompany us down-stairs in the full exercise of your freedom and become
+the honored guest of my dear mother for whom you recently performed so
+kindly a service. She told me of that at the time, and I am aware now,
+that I have not really doubted that you were what you claimed to be, since
+she recognized you as the one who then befriended her. I tell you, lad,
+it always pays in one way or another, to extend a helping hand to
+grandfathers and grandmothers, and to remember that we shall probably
+be in need of like assistance ourselves some day."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+AN ARRIVAL OF FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
+
+
+Thus it happened that although Rod had eaten his breakfast that morning
+in a prison cell he ate his dinner in the pleasant dining-room of the
+sheriff's house with that gentleman, the dear old lady, and Juniper's
+owner, for company. It was a very happy meal, in spite of the fact that
+the real train robber was still at large, and as its conversation was
+mostly devoted to the recent occurrences in which Rod had been so
+prominent an actor, his cheeks were kept in a steady glow by the praises
+bestowed upon him.
+
+Directly after dinner Juniper's owner took his departure and soon
+afterwards a special train arrived from Millbank. It consisted of a
+locomotive and a single passenger coach in which were a number of New York
+and Western railroad men. They came in answer to the sheriff's request for
+witnesses who might identify the train robber. Among these new arrivals
+were Snyder Appleby who had been sent from New York by Superintendent Hill
+to investigate the affair, Conductor Tobin who, after taking the Express
+Special to the end of his run, had been ordered back to Millbank for this
+purpose, his other brakeman who had hurried ahead at the first opportunity
+from the station at which he had been left, the fireman of the locomotive
+with which Rod had chased the robber, and several others.
+
+As this party was ushered into the sheriff's private office its members
+started with amazement at the sight of Rod Blake sitting there as calmly,
+as though perfectly at home and waiting to receive them.
+
+Upon their entrance he sprang to his feet filled with a surprise equal to
+their own, for the sheriff had not told him of their coming.
+
+"Well, sir! What are you doing here?" demanded Snyder Appleby, who was the
+first to recover from his surprise, and who was filled with a sense of his
+own importance in this affair.
+
+"I am visiting my friend, the sheriff," answered Rod, at once resenting
+the other's tone and air.
+
+"Oh, you are! And may I ask by what right you, a mere brakeman in our
+employ, took it upon yourself to desert your post of duty, run off
+with one of our engines, endanger the traffic of the line and then
+unaccountably disappear as you did last night or rather early this
+morning?"
+
+"You may ask as much as you please," answered Rod, "but I shall refuse to
+answer any of your questions until I know by what authority you ask them."
+The young brakeman spoke quietly, but the nature of his feelings was
+betrayed by the hot flush that sprang to his cheeks.
+
+"You'll find out before I'm through with you," cried Snyder savagely. "Mr.
+Sheriff I order you to place this fellow under arrest."
+
+"Upon what charge?" asked the sheriff. "Is he the train robber?"
+
+"Of course not," was the reply, "but he is a thief all the same. He is one
+of our brakemen and ran off with a locomotive."
+
+"What did he do with it?" asked the sheriff, with an air of interest.
+
+"Left it standing on the track."
+
+"Oh, I didn't know but what he carried it off with him. Did he leave it
+alone and unguarded?"
+
+Snyder was compelled to admit that the engine had been left in charge of
+its regular firemen; but still claimed that the young brakeman had
+committed a crime for which he ought to be arrested.
+
+"I suppose you want me to arrest that fireman too?" suggested the sheriff.
+
+"Oh, no. It was his duty to accompany the engine."
+
+"But why didn't he refuse to allow it to move?"
+
+"He was forced to submit by threats of personal injury made by this
+brakeman fellow. Isn't that so?" asked Snyder, and the fireman nodded an
+assent.
+
+The sheriff smiled as he glanced first at the burly form of the fireman
+and then at Rod's comparatively slight figure. "Can any of these men
+identify this alleged locomotive thief?" he asked.
+
+"Certainly they can. Tobin, tell the sheriff what you know of him."
+
+Blazing with indignation at the injustice and meanness of Snyder's absurd
+charge against his favorite brakeman, Conductor Tobin answered promptly:
+"I know him to be one of the best brakemen on the road, although he is the
+youngest. He is one of the pluckiest too and as honest as he is plucky.
+I'll own he might have made a mistake in going off with that engine; but
+all the same it was a brave thing to do and I am certain he thought he was
+on the right track."
+
+"Do you know him too?" asked the sheriff of the other brakeman.
+
+"Yes, sir. I am proud to say I do and in regard to what I think of him
+Conductor Tobin's words exactly express my sentiments."
+
+"Do you also know him?" was asked of the fireman.
+
+"Yes, I know him to be the young rascal who ran me twice into such a storm
+of bullets from the train robber's pistols that it's a living wonder I'm
+not full of holes at this blessed minute."
+
+"What else did he do?"
+
+"What else? Why, he jumped from the engine while she was running a good
+twenty mile an hour, and started off like the blamed young lunatic he is
+to chase after the train robber afoot. Wanted me to go with him too, but I
+gave him to understand I wasn't such a fool as to go hunting any more
+interviews with them pistols. No, sir; I stuck where I belonged and if
+he'd done the same he wouldn't be in the fix he's in now."
+
+"And yet," said the sheriff, quietly, "this 'blamed young lunatic,' as you
+call him, succeeded in overtaking that train robber after all. He also
+managed to relieve him of his pistols you seem to have dreaded so greatly,
+recover the valuable property that had been stolen from the express car,
+and also a fine horse that the robber had just appropriated to his own
+use. On the whole gentleman, I don't think I'd better arrest him, do
+you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+WHERE ARE THE DIAMONDS?
+
+
+"Yes, sir. I think he ought to be arrested," said Snyder Appleby in reply
+to the sheriff's question, "and if you refuse to perform that duty I shall
+take it upon myself to arrest him in the name of the New York and Western
+Railway Company of which I am the representative here. I shall also take
+him back with me to the city where he will be dealt with according to his
+desserts by the proper authorities." Then turning to the members of his
+own party the self-important young secretary added: "In the meantime I
+order you two men to guard this fellow and see that he does not escape,
+as you value your positions on the road."
+
+"You needn't trouble yourself, Snyder, nor them either," said Rod
+indignantly, "for I sha'n't require watching. I am perfectly willing to go
+to New York with you, and submit my case to the proper authorities. In
+fact I propose to do that at any rate. At the same time I want you to
+understand that I don't do this in obedience to any orders from you, nor
+will I be arrested by you."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," replied Snyder, carelessly. "So long as we get you
+there I don't care how it is done. Now, Mr. Sheriff," he continued, "we
+have already wasted too much time and if you will take us to see the bold
+train robber whom you say this boy captured single-handed and alone, we
+will finish our business here and be off."
+
+"I didn't say that he captured the train robber," replied the sheriff. "I
+stated that he overtook him, relieved him of his pistols, and recovered
+the stolen property; but I am quite certain that I said nothing regarding
+the capture of the robber."
+
+"Where is he now?" asked Snyder.
+
+"I don't know. This lad left him lying senseless in the road, where he had
+been flung by a stolen horse, and went for assistance. Being mistaken for
+the person who had appropriated the horse he was brought here. In the
+meantime the train robber recovered his senses and made good his escape.
+That is, I suppose he did."
+
+"Then why did you telegraph that you had the train robber in custody, and
+bring us here to identify him?" demanded Snyder sharply.
+
+"I didn't," answered the sheriff, with a provoking smile, for he was
+finding great pleasure in quizzing this pompously arbitrary young man. "I
+merely sent for a few persons who could identify the train robber to come
+and prove that this lad was not he. This you have kindly done to my entire
+satisfaction."
+
+"What!" exclaimed Snyder. "Did you suspect Rod, I mean this brakeman, of
+being the train robber?"
+
+"I must confess that I did entertain such a suspicion, and for so doing I
+humbly beg Mr. Blake's pardon," replied the sheriff.
+
+"It wouldn't surprise me if he should prove to be connected with it, after
+all, for I believe him to be fully capable of such things," sneered
+Snyder.
+
+At this cruel remark there arose such a general murmur of indignation, and
+the expression of Rod's face became so ominous that the speaker hastened
+to create a diversion of interest by asking the sheriff what had been done
+with the valuables recovered from the robber.
+
+"They are in my safe."
+
+"You will please hand them over to me."
+
+"I shall do nothing of the kind," retorted the sheriff, as he drew the
+stout leather bag from its place of security. "I shall hand this bag, with
+all its contents, to the brave lad who recovered it, and entrust him with
+its safe delivery to those authorized to receive it."
+
+So saying, the sheriff handed the bag to Rod.
+
+Snyder turned pale with rage, and snatching an unsealed letter from his
+pocket, he flung it on the table, exclaiming angrily: "There is my
+authority for conducting this business and for receiving such of the
+stolen property as may be recovered. If you fail to honor it I will have
+you indicted for conspiracy."
+
+"Indeed!" said the sheriff, contemptuously. "That would certainly be a
+most interesting proceeding--for you." Then to Rod, to whom he had already
+handed the bag, he said: "If you decide to deliver this property to that
+young man, Mr. Blake, I would advise you to examine carefully the contents
+of the bag in presence of these witnesses and demand an itemized receipt
+for them."
+
+"Thank you, I will," replied Rod, emptying the contents of the bag on the
+table as he spoke.
+
+There was a subdued exclamation from the railroad men at the sight of the
+wealth thus displayed in packages of bills and rolls of coin. Rodman
+requested the sheriff to call off the amount contained in each of these
+while he made out the list. At the same time Snyder drew from his pocket
+a similar list of the property reported to be missing from the express
+messenger's safe.
+
+When Rod's list was completed, Snyder, who had carefully checked off its
+items on his own, said: "That's all right so far as it goes, but where are
+the diamonds?"
+
+"What diamonds?" asked Rod and the sheriff together.
+
+"The set of diamond jewelry valued at seven thousand five hundred dollars,
+in a morocco case, that has been missing ever since the robbery of the
+express car," was the answer.
+
+"I know nothing of it," said Rod.
+
+"This is the first I have heard of any diamonds," remarked the sheriff.
+
+[Illustration: THE SHERIFF HANDS ROD THE LEATHER BAG.--(_Page 201._)]
+
+"Has the bag been out of your possession since the arrest of
+this--person?" asked Snyder, hesitating for a word that should express his
+feelings toward the lad who had once beaten him in a race, but who was now
+so completely in his power.
+
+"No, sir, it has not," promptly replied the sheriff.
+
+"You have opened it before this, of course?"
+
+"Yes, I glanced at its contents when it was first placed in my keeping,
+but made no examination of them, as I should have done had not other
+important matters claimed my attention."
+
+"How long was the bag in your possession?" asked Snyder, turning to Rod.
+
+"About half an hour, but----"
+
+"Was any one with you during that half hour?" interrupted the questioner.
+
+"No; but as I was going to say----"
+
+"That is sufficient. I don't care to hear what you were going to say.
+Others may listen to that if they choose when the proper time comes. What
+I have to say regarding this business is, that in view of this new
+development I am more than ever desirous of delivering you into the hands
+of the proper authorities in New York. I would also suggest that your
+short and brilliant career as a railroader has come to a disgraceful end
+more quickly than even I suspected it would."
+
+"Do you mean to say that you think I stole those diamonds?" demanded Rod,
+hotly.
+
+"Oh, no," answered Snyder. "I don't say anything about it. The
+circumstances of the case speak so plainly for themselves that my
+testimony would be superfluous. Now, Mr. Sheriff, as our business here
+seems to be concluded, I think we will bid you good-by and be moving
+along."
+
+"You needn't bid me good-by yet," responded the sheriff, "for I have
+decided to go with you."
+
+"I doubt if I shall be able to find room for you in my special car," said
+Snyder, who for several reasons was not desirous of the sheriff's company.
+
+"Very well. Then you will be obliged to dispense with Mr. Blake's company
+also, for in view of the recent developments in this case I feel that I
+ought not to lose sight of him just yet."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+ONE HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR!
+
+
+The sheriff's concluding argument at once prevailed. Snyder was so eager
+to witness his rival's humiliation and to hear the Superintendent
+pronounce his sentence of dismissal from the company's employ, that he
+would have sacrificed much of his own dignity rather than forego that
+triumph. As matters now stood he could not see how Rod, even though he
+should not be convicted of stealing the missing diamonds, could clear
+himself from the suspicion of having done so.
+
+Neither could poor Rod see how it was to be accomplished. For mile after
+mile of that long ride back toward New York he sat in silence, puzzling
+over the situation. In spite of the attempts of the sheriff and Conductor
+Tobin to cheer him up, he grew more and more despondent at the prospect of
+having to go through life as one who is suspected. It was even worse than
+being locked into a prison cell, for he had known that could not last
+long, while this new trouble seemed interminable.
+
+The lad's sorrowful reflections were interrupted by an ejaculation from
+the sheriff who sat beside him. On that gentleman's knee lay an open
+watch, at which he had been staring intently and in silence for some time.
+He had also done some figuring on a pad of paper. Finally he uttered a
+prolonged "Wh-e-w!"
+
+Both Rod and Conductor Tobin looked at him inquiringly.
+
+"Do you know," he said, "that we have just covered a mile in forty-two
+seconds, and that we are travelling at the rate of eighty-five miles an
+hour?"
+
+"I shouldn't be surprised," replied Conductor Tobin, quietly; "I heard Mr.
+Appleby tell the engineman at the last stop that if better time wasn't
+made pretty soon he'd go into the cab himself and show 'em how to do it.
+The idea of his talking that way to an old driver like Newman. Why, I
+don't believe he knows the difference between a throttle and an injector.
+A pretty figure he'd cut in a cab! Newman didn't answer him a word, only
+gave him a queer kind of a look. Now he's hitting her up for all she's
+worth, though, and, judging from appearances, Mr. Appleby wishes he'd held
+his tongue."
+
+Snyder certainly was very pale, and was clutching the arms of his seat as
+though to keep himself from being flung to the floor during the frightful
+lurchings of the car as it spun around curves.
+
+"But isn't it middling dangerous to run so fast?" asked the sheriff, as
+the terrific speed seemed to increase.
+
+"Not so very," answered the Conductor. "I don't consider that there is any
+more danger at a high rate of speed than there is at forty or fifty miles
+an hour! If we were to strike a man, a cow, a wagon, or even a pile of
+ties while going at this rate we'd fling the obstacle to one side like a
+straw and pay no more attention to it. If we were only doing fifteen or
+twenty miles though, instead of between eighty and ninety, any one of
+these things would be apt to throw us off the track. I tell you,
+gentleman, old man Newman is making things hum though! You see he has got
+number 385, one of the new compound engines. He claims that she can do one
+hundred miles an hour just as well as not, and that he is the man to get
+it out of her. He says he can stand it if she can. He made her do a mile
+in 39-1/4 seconds on her trial trip, and claims that about a month ago
+when he was hauling the grease wagon[1] she did 4-1/10 miles in 2-1/2
+minutes, which is at the rate of 98.4 miles an hour.[2] His fireman backs
+him up, and says he held the stop-watch between stations. The paymaster
+was so nearly scared to death that time that Newman was warned never to
+try for his hundred-mile record again without special orders. Now I
+suppose he considers that he has received them and is making the most of
+his chance."
+
+  [1] Pay-car.
+
+  [2] This time has actually been made by an American locomotive on an
+  American railroad.--K. M.
+
+"It's awful!" gasped Snyder, who had drawn near enough to the group to
+overhear the last of Conductor Tobin's remarks. "The man must be crazy.
+Isn't there some way of making him slow down?"
+
+"Not if he is crazy, as you suggest, sir," replied Conductor Tobin, with a
+sly twinkle in his eyes. "It would only make matters worse to interfere
+with him now, and all we can do is to hope for the best."
+
+"It's glorious!" shouted Rod, forgetting all his troubles in the
+exhilaration of this wild ride. "It's glorious! And I only hope he'll
+make it. Do you really think a hundred miles an hour is within the
+possibilities, Mr. Tobin?"
+
+"Certainly I do," answered the Conductor. "It not only can be done, but
+will be, very soon. I haven't any doubt but what by the time the Columbian
+Exposition opens we shall have regular passenger trains running at that
+rate over some stretches of our best roads, such as the Pennsylvania, the
+Reading, the New York Central and this one. Moreover, when electricity
+comes into general use as a motive power I shall expect to travel at a
+greater speed even than that. Why, they are building an electric road now
+on an air line between Chicago and St. Louis, on which they expect to make
+a hundred miles an hour as a regular thing."
+
+"I hope I shall have a chance to travel on it," said Rod.
+
+"I have heard of another road," continued Conductor Tobin, "now being
+built somewhere in Europe, Austria I believe, over which they propose to
+run trains at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five miles an hour."
+
+Here the conversation was interrupted by Snyder Appleby, who, in a frenzy
+of terror that he could no longer control, shouted "Stop him! Stop him! I
+order you to stop him at once!"
+
+"All right, sir, I'll try," answered Conductor Tobin, with a scornful
+smile on his face. Just as he lifted his hand to the bell-cord there came
+a shriek from the locomotive whistle. It was instantly followed by such a
+powerful application of brakes that the car in which our friends were
+seated quivered in every joint and seemed as though about to be wrenched
+in pieces.
+
+As the special finally came to a halt, and its occupants rushed out to
+discover the cause of its violent stoppage, they found the hissing
+monster, that had drawn them with such fearful velocity, standing
+trembling and panting within a few feet of one of the most complete and
+terrible wrecks any of them had ever seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+SNATCHING VICTORY FROM DEFEAT.
+
+
+The wreck by which the terrific speed of the special had been so suddenly
+checked was one of those that may happen at any time even on the best and
+most carefully-managed of railroads. The through freight, of which
+ex-Brakeman Joe was now conductor, had made its run safely and without
+incident to a point within twenty miles of New York. It was jogging along
+at its usual rate of speed when suddenly and without the slightest warning
+an axle under a "foreign" car, near the rear of the train, snapped in two.
+In an instant the car leaped from the rails and across the west-bound
+tracks, dragging the rear end of the freight, including the caboose, after
+it. Before the dazed train-hands could realize what was happening, the
+heavy locomotive of a west-bound freight that was passing the east-bound
+train at that moment crashed into the wreck. It struck a tank-car filled
+with oil. Like a flash of lightning a vast column of fire shot high in the
+air and billows of flame were roaring in every direction. These leaped
+from one to another of the derailed cars, until a dozen belonging to both
+trains, as well as the west-bound locomotive, were enveloped in their
+cruel embrace.
+
+Conductor Joe escaped somehow, but he was bruised, shaken, and stunned
+by the suddenness and awfulness of the catastrophe. In spite of his
+bewilderment, however, his years of training as a brakeman were not
+forgotten. Casting but a single glance at the blazing wreck, he turned and
+ran back along the east-bound track. He was no coward running away from
+duty and responsibility, though almost any one who saw him just then might
+have deemed him one. No, indeed! He was doing what none but a faithful
+and experienced railroad man would have thought of doing under the
+circumstances; doing his best to avert further calamity by warning
+approaching trains from the west of the danger before them. He ran half a
+mile and then placed the torpedoes, which, with a brakeman's instinct, he
+still carried in his pocket.
+
+_Bang-bang!_ BANG! Engineman Newman, driving locomotive number 385 at
+nearer one hundred miles an hour than it had ever gone before, heard the
+sharp reports above the rattling roar of his train, and realized their
+dread significance. It was a close call, and only cool-headed promptness
+could have checked the tremendous speed of that on-rushing train in the
+few seconds allowed for the purpose. As it was, 385's paint was blistering
+in the intense heat from the oil flames as it came to a halt and then
+slowly backed to a place of safety.
+
+Conductor Joe had already returned to the scene of the wreck and was
+sending out other men with torpedoes and flags in both directions. Then he
+joined the brave fellows who were fighting for the lives of those still
+imprisoned in the wrecked caboose. Among these were Rod Blake, Conductor
+Tobin, and the sheriff. Snyder Appleby had turned sick at the heartrending
+sights and sounds to be seen and heard on all sides, and had gone back to
+his car to escape them. He did not believe a soul could be saved, and he
+had not the nerve to listen to the pitiful cries of those whom he
+considered doomed to a certain destruction.
+
+In thus accepting defeat without a struggle, Snyder exhibited the worst
+form of cowardice, and if the world were made up of such as he, there
+would be no victories to record. But it is not. It not only contains those
+who will fight against overwhelming odds, but others who never know that
+they are beaten, and where indomitable wills often snatch victory from
+what appears to be defeat. General Grant was one of these, and Rod Blake
+was made of the same stuff.
+
+Again and again he and those with him plunged into the stifling smoke to
+battle with the fierce flames in their stronghold. They smothered them
+with clods of earth and buckets of sand. They cut away the blazing
+woodwork with keen-edged wrecking axes torn from their racks in the
+uninjured caboose and in Snyder Appleby's special car. One by one they
+released and dragged out the victims, of whom the fire had been so
+certain, until none was left, and a splendid victory had been snatched
+from what had promised to be a certain defeat.
+
+[Illustration: IN THE RAILROAD WRECK.--(_Page 215._)]
+
+There was a farm-house not far away, to which the victims of the disaster
+were tenderly borne. Here, too, came their rescuers, scorched,
+blackened, and exhausted; but forgetful of their own plight in their
+desire to further relieve the sufferings of those for whom they had done
+such brave battle. In one of the wounded men Rod Blake was especially
+interested, for the young brakeman had fought on with a stubborn
+determination to save him after the others had declared it to be
+impossible. The man had been a passenger in the caboose of the through
+freight, and was so crushed and held by the shattered timbers of the car
+that, though the rescuing party reached his side, they were unable to drag
+him out. A burst of flame drove them back and forced them to rush into the
+open air to save their own lives. Above the roar of the fire they could
+distinguish his piteous cries, and this was more than Rod could stand.
+With a wet cloth over his mouth and axe in hand he dashed back into the
+furnace. He was gone before the others knew what he was about to attempt,
+and now they listened with bated breath to the sound of rapid blows coming
+from behind the impenetrable veil of swirling smoke. As it eddied upward
+and was lifted for an instant they caught sight of him, and rushing to the
+spot, they dragged him out, with his arms tightly clasped about the
+helpless form he had succeeded in releasing from its fiery prison.
+
+At that moment the young brakeman presented a sorry picture, blackened
+beyond recognition by his dearest friends, scorched, and with clothing
+hanging in charred shreds. By some miracle he was so far uninjured that a
+few dashes of cold water gave him strength to walk, supported by Conductor
+Tobin, to the farm-house, whither the others bore the unconscious man
+whom he had saved. The lad wished to help minister to the needs of the
+sufferer, but those who had cheered his act of successful bravery now
+insisted upon his taking absolute rest. So they made him lie down in a
+dimly-lighted room, where the sheriff sat beside him, and, big rough man
+that he was, soothed the exhausted lad with such tender gentleness, that
+after awhile the latter fell asleep. When this happened and the sheriff
+stole quietly out to where the others were assembled, he said
+emphatically:
+
+"Gentlemen, I am prouder to know that young fellow than I would be of the
+friendship of a president."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+A WRECKING TRAIN.
+
+
+While Rod lay in a dreamless sleep, which is the best and safest of
+remedies for every ill, mental or physical, that human flesh is heir to, a
+wrecking train arrived from New York. With it came a doctor, who was at
+once taken to the farm-house. He first looked at the sleeping lad, but
+would not allow him to be wakened, then he turned his attention to the
+victims of the disaster, whose poor maimed bodies were so sadly in need of
+his soothing skill.
+
+During the long hours of the night, while the doctor was busy with his
+human wrecks, the gang of experienced workmen who had come by the same
+train, was rapidly clearing the wreck of cars from the tracks and putting
+them in order for a speedy resumption of traffic. The wrecking train to
+which they belonged was made up of a powerful locomotive and three cars.
+The first of these was an immensely strong and solid flat, supporting a
+small derrick, which was at the same time so powerful as to be capable of
+lifting enormous weights. Besides the derrick and its belongings the flat
+carried only a few spare car trucks.
+
+Next to it came a box-car, filled with timber ends for blocking, hawsers,
+chains, ropes, huge single-, double-, and treble-blocks, iron clamps, rods
+and bolts, frogs, sections of rail, heavy tarpaulins for the protection of
+valuable freight, and a multitude of other like supplies, all so neatly
+arranged as to be instantly available.
+
+Last, and most interesting of all, came the tool-car, which was divided
+by partitions into three rooms. Of these, the main one was used by the
+members of the wrecking gang as a living-room, and was provided with
+bunks, a cooking-stove and utensils, and a pantry, well stocked with
+flour, coffee, tea, and canned provisions. The smaller of the two end
+rooms contained a desk, table, chairs, stationery and electrical supplies.
+It was used by the foreman of the wrecking gang, as an office in which to
+write his reports, and by the telegraph operator, who always accompanies
+a train of this description. This operator's first duty is to connect an
+instrument in his movable office with the railroad wire, which is one of
+the many strung on poles beside the track. From the temporary station thus
+established he is in constant communication with headquarters, to which he
+sends all possible information concerning the wreck, and from which he
+receives orders.
+
+In the tool-room at the other end of this car was kept everything that
+experience could suggest or ingenuity devise for handling and removing
+wrecked cars, freight, or locomotives. Along the sides were ranged a score
+or so of jack-screws, some of them powerful enough to lift a twenty-ton
+weight, though worked by but one man. There were also wrenches, axes,
+saws, hammers of all sizes, crowbars, torches, lanterns, drills, chisels,
+files, and, in fact, every conceivable tool that might be of use in an
+emergency.
+
+In less than three hours after the arrival of the wrecking train at the
+scene of the accident on the New York and Western road, the disabled
+locomotive, which had lain on its side in the ditch, had been picked up
+and replaced on the track. Such of the derailed cars as were not burned
+or crushed beyond hope of repair had also been restored to their original
+positions, scattered freight had been gathered up and reloaded, all
+inflammable _debris_ was being burned in a great heap at one side, the
+tracks were repaired, and so little remained to tell of the disaster, that
+passengers by the next day's trains looked in vain for its traces.
+
+The first train to go through after the accident was Snyder Appleby's
+special. The private secretary had visited the farm-house to insist that
+Rod Blake should accompany him to New York; but he was met at the door by
+the watchful sheriff, who sternly refused to allow his sleeping charge to
+be awakened or in any way disturbed.
+
+"You needn't worry yourself about him," said the sheriff. "He'll come
+to New York fast enough, and I'll come with him. We'll hunt the
+Superintendent's office as quick as we get there, and maybe you won't be
+so glad to see us as you think you will. That's the best I can promise
+you, for that young fellow isn't going to be disturbed before he gets good
+and ready to wake up of his own accord. Not if I can help it, and I rather
+think I can."
+
+"Oh, well," replied Snyder, who in the seclusion of his car had heard
+nothing of Rod's brave fight. "If he is such a tender plant that his sleep
+can't be interrupted, I suppose I shall have to go on without him, for my
+time is too valuable to be wasted in waiting here any longer. But I warn
+you, sir, that if you don't produce the young man in our office at an
+early hour to-morrow morning the company will hold you personally
+responsible for the loss of those diamonds."
+
+So saying, and ordering Conductor Tobin with the other witnesses to
+accompany him, the self-important young secretary took his departure,
+filled with anger against Rod Blake, the sheriff who had constituted
+himself the lad's champion, the wreck by which he had been delayed, and
+pretty nearly everything else that happened to cross his mind at that
+moment.
+
+As for Rod, he slept so peacefully and soundly until long after sunrise,
+that when he awoke and gazed inquiringly about him, he was but little the
+worse for his thrilling experiences of the previous night. His first
+question after collecting his scattered thoughts was concerning the
+welfare of the man for whom he had risked so much a few hours before.
+
+"The poor fellow died soon after midnight," replied the sheriff. "He did
+not suffer, for he was unconscious to the last, but in spite of that he
+left you a legacy, which I believe you will consider an ample reward for
+your brave struggle to save him. At any rate, I know it is one that you
+will value as long as you live."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+ROD ACCEPTS THE LEGACY.
+
+
+"I sha'n't accept it," declared Rod. "I couldn't take a reward for trying
+to save a man's life. You couldn't yourself, sir. You know that all the
+money in the world wouldn't have tempted you into those flames, while you
+were ready enough to go on the simple chance of saving a human being from
+an awful death. I'm sure you must feel that way, and so you know just how
+I feel about it. I only wish he could have known it too, and known how
+willingly we tried to save him. If he only had, he wouldn't have thought
+of offering us a reward. Did you find out who he was?"
+
+"Yes, I found out," answered the sheriff, with a queer little smile. "I
+found out, too, that he was some one whom you knew quite well and were
+deeply interested in."
+
+"Some one I knew!" cried Rod, in surprise, at the same time taking a
+rapid mental note of all his railroad friends who might have been
+connected with the accident. "Who was he? Was he a railroad man?"
+
+"No, he was not a railroad man, and I can't tell you his name, but if you
+feel strong enough, I should like to have you come and take a look at
+him."
+
+"Of course I do," replied Rod whose curiosity was now fully aroused. "I
+feel almost as well as ever I did, excepting a little shaky, and with a
+smart here and there in the burned places."
+
+As the two entered an adjoining room, Rod's attention was instantly
+attracted by the motionless form, covered with a sheet, that lay on a bed.
+Several persons were engaged in a low-voiced conversation at one end of
+the room; but at first the lad did not notice them. He was too anxious to
+discover which of all his friends lay there so silently, to heed aught
+else just then.
+
+As he and the sheriff stepped to the side of the bed, the latter gently
+withdrew the covering and disclosed a peaceful face, from which every
+trace of grime and smoke had been tenderly removed.
+
+Rod instantly recognized it. It was the same that he had last seen only
+the morning before lying by the forest roadside more than a hundred miles
+away. In a tone of awed amazement he exclaimed, "the train robber!"
+
+"I think that settles it, gentlemen," said the sheriff quietly, and
+turning to the other occupants of the room who had gathered close behind
+Rod. "We thought it must be the train robber," he continued, addressing
+the latter "because we found the missing diamonds in a breast pocket of
+his coat; but we wanted your evidence to establish the fact. I have also
+recognized him as the alleged reporter who interviewed me yesterday
+morning, and who was accidentally left alone for a minute with the leather
+bag in my office. The moment I discovered that the diamonds were missing I
+suspected that he must have taken them, but thought it best to keep my
+suspicions to myself until I could trace him. I learned that a man
+answering his description had boarded the east-bound freight somewhere
+this side of Millbank and telegraphed Conductor Joe Miller to keep him in
+sight. By making use of Mr. Appleby's special I hoped to overtake and pass
+him before he reached New York. I thus expected to be on hand to welcome
+and arrest him at his journey's end, and by so doing relieve you of all
+suspicion of being anything but the honest plucky lad you have proved
+yourself. At the same time I looked forward to taking some of the conceit
+out of that young sprig of a secretary. That all my calculations were not
+upset by last night's accident was largely owing to you, for I must
+confess that, but for the shame of being outdone in bravery by a mere slip
+of a boy, I should have given up the fight to save this man long before
+the victory was won. Of course the evidence of his crime would have
+vanished with him, and we should never have known for a certainty what had
+become of the train robber or the diamonds. Some persons might even have
+continued to suspect you of being connected with their disappearance,
+while now your record is one that any man may well envy. Was I not right
+then, in saying that this poor fellow had left you a reward for your
+bravery that you will value so long as you live?"
+
+"Indeed you were," answered Rod, in a low tone, "and it is a legacy that I
+can most gratefully accept, I wish he might have lived, though. It is
+terrible to think that by following him as I did I drove him to his
+death."
+
+"You must not think of it in that way," said one of the other witnesses of
+the scene, taking the lad's hand as he spoke, and at the same time
+disclosing the well-known features of Mr. Hill, the Superintendent, "You
+must only remember that you have done your duty faithfully and splendidly.
+Although I should not have approved the course you took at the outset, the
+results fully justify all that you have done, and I am very proud to
+number you among the employees of our company. You have certainly
+graduated with honors from the ranks of brakemen, and have fairly won your
+promotion to any position that you feel competent to fill. It only rests
+with you to say what it shall be."
+
+"If the young man would accept a position with us," interrupted another
+gentleman, whom Rod knew to be a superintendent of the Express Company,
+"we should be only too happy to offer him one, that carries with it a
+handsome salary and the promise of speedy promotion."
+
+"No, indeed! You can't have him!" exclaimed Mr. Hill. "A railroad company
+is said to be a soulless corporation, but it has at least soul enough to
+appreciate and desire to retain such services as this lad has shown
+himself capable of rendering. He has chosen to be a railroad man, and I
+don't believe he is ready to switch off on any other line just yet. How is
+it, Blake? Have you had enough of railroading?"
+
+"No, sir," replied Rod, earnestly. "I certainly have not. I have only had
+enough of it to make me desirous of continuing in it, and if you think I
+could make a good enough fireman, I should be very glad to take Milt
+Sturgis' place on number 10, and learn to run a locomotive engine under
+Mr. Stump."
+
+"A fireman!" exclaimed Mr. Hill, in surprise. "Is that the height of your
+ambition?"
+
+"I think it is at present, sir," replied Rod, modestly.
+
+"But I thought you knew how to run an engine. It looked that way yesterday
+morning when you started off with the one belonging to the express
+special."
+
+"I thought I did too, sir; but by that very trial I found that I knew just
+nothing at all about it. I do want to learn though, and if you haven't
+anyone else in view----"
+
+"Of course you shall have the place if you want it," interrupted Mr. Hill.
+"Stump has already applied for you, and you should have had it even if all
+the events of yesterday had not happened. I must tell you though, that Joe
+Miller wants to resign his conductorship of the through freight to accept
+a position on a private car belonging to a young millionaire oil prince,
+and I was thinking of offering you his place."
+
+"Thank you ever so much, sir; but if you don't mind, I would rather run on
+number 10."
+
+"Very well," replied the Superintendent, "you have earned the right to do
+as you think best. Now, as the track is again clear, we will all go back
+to the city in the wrecking train, which is ready to start."
+
+When Mr. Hill entered his office an hour later his secretary handed him a
+report of his investigations in the matter of the express robbery. This
+report cast grave suspicions upon Rod Blake as having been connected with
+the affair, and advised his arrest. Snyder had spent some hours in
+preparing this document, and now awaited with entire self complaisance the
+praise which he was certain would reward his efforts. What then was his
+amazement when his superior, after glancing through the report,
+deliberately tore it into fragments, which he dropped into a waste-basket.
+At the same time he said:
+
+"I am pleased to be able to inform you, Mr. Appleby, that the property you
+describe as missing has been recovered through the agency of this very
+Rodman Blake. I must also warn you that the company has no employee of
+whose integrity and faithfulness in the performance of duty they are more
+assured than they are of his. As you have evidently failed to discover
+this in your dealings with Mr. Blake, and as you have blundered through
+this investigation from first to last, I shall hereafter have no use for
+your services outside of routine office work." Thus saying, Mr. Hill
+closed the door of his private office behind him, leaving Snyder
+overwhelmed with bewilderment and indignation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+FIRING ON NUMBER 10.
+
+
+In regard to Rod Blake's new appointment, nothing more was said that day;
+but, sure enough, he received an order the following morning to report to
+the master mechanic for duty as fireman on engine number 10.
+
+Proud enough of his promotion, the lad promptly obeyed the order; and when
+that same evening he climbed into the cab of number 10, as the huge
+machine with a full head of steam on stood ready to start out with Freight
+Number 73, he felt that one of his chief ambitions was in a fair way of
+being realized. He tried to thank Truman Stump for getting him the job;
+but the old engineman only answered "Nonsense, you won the place for
+yourself, and I'm glad enough to have such a chap as you. The only trouble
+is that you'll learn too quick, and be given an engine of your own, just
+as you are getting the hang of my ways. I won't teach you anything
+though, except how to fire properly, so you needn't expect it."
+
+That is what he said. What he did was to take every opportunity for
+showing the young fireman the different parts of the wonderful machine on
+which they rode, and of explaining them to him in the clearest possible
+manner. He encouraged him to ask questions, often allowed him to handle
+the throttle for short distances, and evidently took the greatest pride in
+the rapid progress made by his pupil.
+
+Since first obtaining employment on the railroad, Rod had, according to
+his promise, written several times to his faithful friend Dan the stable
+boy on his uncle's place with requests that he would keep him informed of
+all that took place in the village. Dan sent his answers through the
+station agent at Euston, and Rod had only been a fireman a few days when
+he received a note which read as follows:
+
+     "DEAR MR. ROD:
+
+     "They is a man here, who I don't know, but who is asking all about
+     you. He asked me many questions, and has talk with your uncle. He
+     may mean good or he may mean bad, I don't know which. If I find out
+     ennything more I will let you know.           Yours respectful,
+
+                                                                  "DAN."
+
+Rod puzzled over this note a good deal, and wondered who on earth could be
+making inquiries about him. If he had known that it was Brown the railroad
+detective, he would have wondered still more. He finally decided that, as
+he was not conscious of having done anything wrong, he had no cause for
+worry. So he dismissed the affair, and devoted his whole attention to
+learning to be a fireman.
+
+Most people imagine it to be a very simple matter to shovel coal into a
+locomotive furnace, and so it is; but this is only a small part of a
+fireman's responsibility. He must know when to begin shovelling coal, and
+when to stop; when to open the blower and when to shut it off; when to
+keep the furnace door closed, and when to open it; how to regulate the
+dampers; when and how to admit water to the boiler; when to pour oil into
+the lubricating cups of the cylinder valves and a dozen other places; when
+to ring the bell, and when and how to do a multitude of other things,
+every one of which is important. He must keep a constant watch of the
+steam-gauge, and see that its pointer does not fall below a certain mark.
+The water-gauge also comes in for a share of his attention. Above all, he
+must learn, as quickly as possible, how to start, stop, and reverse the
+engine, and how to apply, or throw off the air brakes, so that he can
+readily do any of these things in an emergency, if his engineman happens
+to be absent.
+
+In acquiring all this information, and at the same time attending to his
+back-breaking work of shovelling coal, Rod found himself so fully and
+happily occupied that he could spare but few thoughts to the stranger who
+was inquiring about him in Euston. After a few days of life in the cab of
+locomotive number 10, he became so accustomed to dashing through tunnels
+amid a blackness so intense that he could not see a foot beyond the cab
+windows, to whirling around sharp curves, to rattling over slender
+trestles a hundred feet or more up in the air, and to rushing with
+undiminished speed through the darkness of storm-swept nights, when the
+head-lights seemed of little more value than a tallow candle, that he
+ceased to think of the innumerable dangers connected with his position as
+completely as though they had not existed.
+
+There came a day, however, when they were recalled to his mind in a
+startling manner. It was late in the fall, and for a week there had been
+a steady down-pour of rain that filled the streams to overflowing, and
+soaked the earth until it seemed like a vast sponge. It made busy work for
+the section gangs, who had their hands more than full with landslides,
+undermined culverts, and overflowing ditches, and it caused enginemen
+to strain their eyes along the lines of wet track, with an unusual
+carefulness. At length the week of rain ended with a storm of terrific
+violence, accompanied by crashing thunder and vivid lightnings. While this
+storm was at its height, locomotive number 10, drawing a heavy freight,
+pulled in on the siding of a station to wait for the passing of a
+passenger special, and a regular express.
+
+Truman Stump sat on his side of the cab, calmly smoking a short, black
+pipe; and his fireman stood at the other side, looking out at the storm as
+the special, consisting of a locomotive and two cars, rushed by without
+stopping. As it was passing, a ball of fire, accompanied by a rending
+crash of thunder, illumined the whole scene with an awful, blinding glare.
+For an instant Rod saw a white face pressed against one of the rear
+windows of the flying train. He was almost certain that it was the face of
+Eltje Vanderveer.
+
+A moment later the telegraph operator of that station came running toward
+them, bareheaded, and coatless, through the pitiless rain. The head-light
+showed his face to be bloodless and horror-stricken.
+
+"Cut loose from the train, Rod!" he cried in a voice husky and choked
+with a terrible dread. "True, word was just coming over the wire that the
+centre pier of Minkskill bridge had gone out from under the track, and for
+me to stop all trains, when that last bolt struck the line, and cut me
+off. If you can't catch that special there's no hope for it. It's the only
+thing left to try."
+
+Without waiting to hear all this Rod had instantly obeyed the first order,
+sprung to the rear of the tender, drawn the coupling-pin, and was back in
+the cab in less time than it takes to write of it. Truman Stump did not
+utter a word; but, before the operator finished speaking, number 10 was in
+motion. He had barely time to leap to the ground as she gathered headway
+and began to spring forward on the wildest race for life or death ever run
+on the New York and Western road.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+THE ONLY CHANCE OF SAVING THE SPECIAL.
+
+
+So well did Truman Stump and his young fireman understand each other,
+that, as locomotive number 10 sprang away on her race after the special,
+there was no necessity for words between them. Only after Rod had done
+everything in his power to ensure a full head of steam and paused for a
+moment's breathing-spell, did he step up behind the engineman and ask,
+"What is it, True?"
+
+"Minkskill bridge gone! We are trying to catch the special," answered
+the driver, briefly, without turning his head. It was enough; and Rod
+instantly comprehended the situation. There was a choking sensation in his
+throat, as he remembered the face disclosed by the lightning a few moments
+before, and realized the awful danger that now threatened the sunny-haired
+girl who had been his playmate, and was still his friend. With a
+desperate energy he flung open the furnace-door, and toiled to feed the
+roaring flames behind it. They almost licked his face in their mad
+leapings, as their scorching breath mingled with his. He was bathed in
+perspiration; and, when the front windows of the cab were forced open by
+the fierce pressure of the gale, he welcomed the cold blast and hissing
+rain that swept through it.
+
+Number 10 had now attained a fearful speed, and rocked so violently from
+side to side that its occupants were obliged to brace themselves and cling
+to the solid framework. It was a miracle that she kept the track. At each
+curve, and there were many of them on this section, Rod held his breath,
+fully expecting the mighty mass of iron to leap from the rails and plunge
+headlong into the yawning blackness. But she clung to them, and the steady
+hand at the throttle opened it wider, and still a little wider, until the
+handle had passed any limit that even the old engineman had ever seen.
+Still the young fireman, with set teeth and nerves like steel, watched the
+dial on the steam-gauge, and flung coal to the raging flames behind the
+glowing furnace-door.
+
+Mile after mile was passed in half the same number of minutes, and outside
+objects were whirled backward in one continuous, undistinguishable blur.
+The limb of a tree, flung to the track by the mighty wind, was caught up
+by the pilot and dashed against the head-light, instantly extinguishing
+it. So they rushed blindly on, through a blackness intensified by gleams
+of electric light, that every now and then ran like fiery serpents along
+the rails, or bathed the flying engine with its pallid flames.
+
+They were not more than two miles from the deadly bridge when they first
+saw the red lights on the rear of the special. The engineman's hand
+clutched the whistle lever; and, high above the shriek of the storm,
+sounded the quick, sharp blasts of the danger signal. A moment later they
+swept past a glare of red fire blazing beside the track. The enginemen of
+the special had not understood their signal, and had thrown out a fusee to
+warn them of his presence immediately in front of them.
+
+"I'll have to set you aboard, Rod," shouted Truman Stump, and the young
+fireman knew what he meant. He did not answer; but crawling through the
+broken window and along the reeling foot-board, using his strength and
+agility as he had never used them before, the boy made his way to the
+pilot of the locomotive. Crouching there, and clinging to its slippery
+braces, he made ready for the desperate spring that should save or lose
+everything.
+
+Foot by foot, in reality very quickly, but seemingly at a laggard pace, he
+was borne closer and closer to the red lights, until they shone full in
+his face. Then, with all his energies concentrated into one mighty effort,
+he launched himself forward, and caught, with outstretched hands, the iron
+railing of the platform on which were the lights. Drawing himself up on
+it, he dashed into the astonished group standing in the glass-surrounded
+observation-room, that occupied the rear of the car, crying:
+
+"Stop the train! Stop it for your lives!"
+
+[Illustration: "HE LAUNCHED HIMSELF FORWARD."--(_Page 240._)]
+
+Prompt obedience to orders, without pausing to question them, comes so
+naturally to a railroad man, that President Vanderveer himself now obeyed
+this grimy-faced young fireman as readily as though their positions had
+been reversed. With a quick movement he touched a button at one side of
+the car, and instantly a clear-voiced electric bell, in the cab of the
+locomotive that was dragging his train toward destruction, rang out an
+imperative call for brakes. The engineman's right hand sought the little
+brass "air" lever as he heard the sound. With his left he shut off steam.
+Ten seconds later the special stood motionless, with its pilot pointing
+out over the Minkskill bridge.
+
+President Vanderveer had not recognized the panting, coal-begrimed,
+oil-stained young fireman who had so mysteriously boarded his car while it
+was running at full speed; but Eltje knew his voice. Now, as her father
+turned from the electric button to demand an explanation, he saw the girl
+seize the stranger's hand. "It's Rod, father! It's Rodman Blake!" she
+cried.
+
+"So it is!" exclaimed the President, grasping the lad's other hand, and
+scanning him closely. "But what is the matter, Rodman? How came you here?
+Why have you stopped us, and what is the meaning of this disguise?"
+
+A few words served to explain the situation.
+
+Then the President, with Rod and the conductor of the special, left the
+car, lanterns in hand, to go ahead and discover how far they were from
+the treacherous bridge. As they reached the ground they were joined by
+Truman Stump, who had slowed the terrific speed of his locomotive at
+the moment of his fireman's leap from its pilot, and brought it to a
+standstill close behind the special. In a voice trembling with emotion
+the old engineman said:
+
+"It was the finest thing I've seen done in thirty years of running, Rod,
+and I thank God for your nerve."
+
+A minute later, when President Vanderveer realized the full extent of the
+threatened danger, and the narrowness of their escape, he again held the
+young fireman's hand, as he said:
+
+"And I thank God, Rodman, not only for your nerve, but that he permitted
+you to be on time. A few seconds later and our run on this line would have
+been ended forever."
+
+After a short consultation it was decided that the special should remain
+where it was, while locomotive number 10 should run back to the station,
+where its train still waited, bearing a message to be telegraphed to the
+nearest gang of bridge carpenters.
+
+How different was that backward ride from the mad, breathless race, with
+all its dreadful uncertainties, that Truman Stump and Rod Blake had just
+made over the same track. How silent they had been then, and how they
+talked now. How cheerily their whistle sounded as they approached the
+station! How lustily Rod pulled at the bell-rope, that the glad tidings
+of number 10's glorious run might the sooner be guessed by the anxious
+watchers, who awaited their coming. What an eager throng gathered round
+the old locomotive as it rolled proudly up to the station. It almost
+seemed conscious of having performed a splendid deed. Long afterwards, in
+cab and caboose, or wherever the men of the N. Y. and W. road gathered,
+all fast time was compared with the great run made by number 10 on that
+memorable night.
+
+The storm had passed and the moon was shining when the station was
+reached. Already men were at work repairing the telegraph line, and an
+hour later a bridge gang, with a train of timber-laden flats, was on its
+way to the Minkskill bridge. Number 10 drew this train, and Rod was
+delighted to have this opportunity to learn something of bridge building.
+He was glad, too, to escape from the praises of the railroad men; for
+Truman Stump insisted on telling the story of his young fireman's brave
+deed to each new crew as it reached the station, and they were equally
+determined to make a hero of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+INDEPENDENCE OR PRIDE
+
+
+Smiler, the railroad dog, appeared on the scene with the bridge gang,
+though no one knew where he came from; and, quickly discovering Rod, he
+followed him into the cab of locomotive number 10. Here he took possession
+of the cushion on the fireman's side of the cab, and sat on it with a wise
+expression on his honest face, that said as plainly as words: "This is an
+important bit of work, and it is clearly my duty to superintend it." Rod
+was delighted to have this opportunity of introducing the dear dog to
+Eltje, and they became friends immediately. As for the President, Smiler
+not only condescended to recognize him, but treated him with quite as much
+cordiality as though he had been a fireman or a brakeman on a through
+freight.
+
+Rod got a few hours' sleep that night after all, and in the morning he and
+Engineman Stump accepted an invitation to take breakfast with President
+Vanderveer, his daughter, and Smiler, in the President's private car. This
+car had just returned from the extended western trip on which it had
+started two months before, when Rod was seeking employment on the road. As
+neither Eltje nor her father had heard a word concerning him in all that
+time, they now plied him with questions. When he finished his story Eltje
+exclaimed:
+
+"I think it is perfectly splendid, Rod, and if I were only a boy I would
+do just as you have done! Wouldn't you, papa?"
+
+"I am not quite sure that I would, my dear," answered her father, with a
+smile. "While I heartily approve of a boy who wishes to become a railroad
+man, beginning at the very bottom of the ladder and working his way up, I
+cannot approve of his leaving his home with the slightest suspicion of a
+stain resting on his honor if he can possibly help it. Don't you think,
+Rodman," he added kindly, turning to the lad, "that the more manly course
+would have been to have stayed in Euston until you had solved the problem
+of who really did disable your cousin's bicycle?"
+
+"I don't know but what it would," replied the young man, thoughtfully;
+"but it would have been an awfully hard thing to do."
+
+"Yes, I know it would. It would have been much harder than going hungry or
+fighting tramps or capturing express robbers; still it seems to me that it
+would have been more honorable."
+
+"But Uncle turned me out of the house."
+
+"Did he order you to leave that very night, or did he ask you to make
+arrangements to do so at some future time, and promise to provide for you
+when you did go?"
+
+"I believe he did say something of that kind," replied Rod, hesitatingly.
+
+"Do you believe he would have said even that the next morning!"
+
+"Perhaps not, sir."
+
+"You know he wouldn't, Rodman. You know, as well as I do, that Major
+Appleby says a great many things on the impulse of the moment that he
+sincerely regrets upon reflection. He told me himself the morning I left
+Euston how badly he felt that you should have taken his hasty words so
+literally. He said that he should do everything in his power to cause you
+to forget them the moment you returned, as he hoped you would in a day or
+two. He gave Snyder instructions to use every effort to discover you in
+the city, where it was supposed you had gone, and provided him liberally
+with money to be expended in searching for you. I am surprised that Snyder
+has not found you out before this, especially as you are both in the
+employ of the same company. Didn't you know that he was private secretary
+to our superintendent?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I did," replied Rod, "and----" He was about to add, "And he
+knows where I am"; but obeying a more generous impulse, he changed it to
+"and I have taken pains to avoid him."
+
+"I am sorry for that," said the President; "for if he had only met you and
+delivered your uncle's message you would have been reconciled to that most
+impetuous but most kindly-hearted of gentlemen long ago. Now, however, you
+will go home with us and have a full explanation with him, will you not?"
+
+"I think not, sir," replied Rod, with a smile. "In the first place, I
+can't leave Mr. Stump, here, to run number 10 without a fireman, and in
+the second I would a great deal rather wait until I hear directly from my
+uncle that he wants me. Besides, I don't want to give up being a railroad
+man; for, after the experience I have gained, I am more determined than
+ever to be one."
+
+"It would be a great pity, sir, to have so promising a young railroader
+lost to the business," said Truman Stump, earnestly, "and I do hope you
+won't think of taking him from us."
+
+"I should think, papa, that you would be glad to have anybody on the road
+who can do such splendid things as Rod can," said Eltje, warmly. "I'm sure
+if I were president, I'd promote him at once, and make him conductor, or
+master of something, instead of trying to get rid of him. Why, it's a
+perfect shame!"
+
+"I've no doubt, dear, that if you were president, the road would be
+managed just as it should be. As you are not, and I am, I beg leave to say
+that I have no intention of letting Rodman leave our employ, now that he
+has got into it, and proved himself such a valuable railroad man. He
+sha'n't go, even if I have to make him 'master of something,' as you
+suggest, in order to retain his services. All that I want him to do is to
+visit Euston and become reconciled to his uncle. I am certain the dear old
+gentleman has forgotten by this time that he ever spoke an unkind word to
+his nephew, and is deeply grieved that he does not return to him. However,
+so long as Rodman's pride will not permit him to make the first advances
+towards a reconciliation, I will do my best to act as mediator between
+them. Then I shall expect our young fireman to appear in Euston as quickly
+as possible after receiving Major Appleby's invitation, even if he has to
+leave his beloved number 10 for a time to do so."
+
+"All right, sir, I will," laughed Rod, "and I thank you ever so much for
+taking such an interest in me and my affairs."
+
+"My dear boy," replied the President, earnestly, "you need never thank me
+for anything I may do for you. I shall not do more than you deserve; and
+no matter what I may do, it can never cancel the obligation under which
+you and Truman Stump placed me last night."
+
+"It looks as though you and I were pretty solid on this road, doesn't it,
+Rod?" remarked the engineman, after the bridge had been repaired, and
+they were once more seated in the cab of locomotive number 10, which was
+again on its way toward the city.
+
+"It does so," replied the young fireman.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+A MORAL VICTORY.
+
+
+The special was the first train to cross the Minkskill bridge after it was
+repaired and pronounced safe, and as it was followed by all the delayed
+passenger trains, the through freight did not pull out for more than an
+hour later. As the special moved at the rate of nearly three miles to the
+freight's one, and as it made but one stop, which was at Euston, where
+Eltje was left, President Vanderveer reached the terminus of the road in
+the evening; while Rod Blake did not get there until the following
+morning.
+
+After devoting some time to the discussion of important business matters
+with Superintendent Hill, the President suddenly asked: "By the way, Hill,
+do you happen to have a personal acquaintance with a young fireman in our
+employ named Rodman Blake?"
+
+"Yes, indeed I have," replied the Superintendent, and he related the
+incidents connected with the first meeting between himself and Rod. He
+also told of the imputation cast upon the lad's character by his private
+secretary. "In regard to this," he said, "I have been awaiting your
+return, before taking any action, because my secretary came to me with
+your recommendation. After Brown finished with the matter of the freight
+thieves, I sent him to Euston to make a thorough investigation of this
+charge against young Blake, and here is his report."
+
+President Vanderveer read the report carefully, and without comment, to
+the end; but a pained expression gradually settled on his face. As he
+handed it back, he said, "So Brown thinks Appleby did it himself?"
+
+"He has not a doubt of it," replied Mr. Hill.
+
+"Well," said the President, "I am deeply grieved and disappointed; but
+justice is justice, and the innocent must not be allowed to suffer for the
+guilty, if it can be helped. I am going to Euston to-night, and I wish
+that, without mentioning this affair to him, you would send Appleby out
+there to see me in the morning."
+
+"Very well, sir," replied the Superintendent, and then they talked of
+other matters.
+
+In the meantime, during the long run in from the Minkskill bridge, Rod
+had plenty of time to think over his recent interview with President
+Vanderveer. He recalled all the kindness shown him by his uncle, and
+realized now, what he had not allowed himself even to suspect before, that
+a selfish pride had been the motive of his whole course of action, ever
+since that unfortunate bicycle race. Pride had driven him from his uncle's
+house. Pride had restrained him from letting that uncle know where he was,
+or what he was doing. Even now, though he knew that his dear mother's only
+brother was willing and anxious to receive him again, pride forbade him to
+go to him. Should he continue to be the slave of pride, and submit to its
+dictates? or should he boldly throw off its yoke and declare himself free
+and independent? "Yes, I will," he said aloud; "I won't give in to it any
+longer."
+
+"Will what, and won't what?" asked the engineman, whose curiosity was
+aroused by these words. Then Rod told him of the struggle that had been
+going on in his mind, and of the decision he had just reached. When he
+finished, the other exclaimed: "Right, you are, lad! and True Stump thinks
+more of you for expressing those sentiments than he did when he saw you
+board the special last night, and that is saying a good deal. To fight
+with one's own pride and whip it, is a blamed sight harder thing to do
+than anything else that I know of in this world."
+
+They had already passed Euston, and Rod could not have left his post of
+duty then, even if they had not; but he determined to return on the very
+first train from the city, and seek a complete reconciliation with his
+uncle.
+
+The day express had already left when the freight got in, and so he was
+obliged to wait for an excursion train that was to go out an hour later.
+It was made up of several coaches and a baggage car; but Rod did not care
+to ride in any of these. He already felt more at home on the locomotive
+than on any other part of the train, and so he swung himself into the cab,
+where he was cordially welcomed by the engineman and his assistant. They
+were glad of the chance to learn from him all the particulars of what had
+happened up the road during the great storm, and plied him with
+questions.
+
+In spite of their friendliness, and of his recent resolution, Rod could
+not help feeling some uneasiness at the sight of Snyder Appleby sauntering
+down the platform and stepping aboard the train just as it started. He
+hoped his adopted cousin was not going to Euston. That is just where
+Snyder was going, though; and, having missed the express which he had been
+ordered to take, by his failure to be on time for it, he was obliged
+to proceed by the "excursion extra." He was feeling particularly
+self-important that morning, in consequence of having been sent for on
+business by the President, and he sauntered through the train with an
+offensive air of proprietorship and authority. Not choosing to remain in
+one of the ordinary coaches, with ordinary excursionists, he walked into
+the empty baggage car, and stood looking through the window in its forward
+door. The moment he spied Rod, comfortably seated in the cab of the
+locomotive, all his old feeling of jealousy was aroused. He had applied
+to the engineman for permission to ride there a few minutes before Rod
+appeared, and it had been refused. Now to see the person whom he had most
+deeply injured, and consequently most thoroughly disliked, riding where he
+could not, was particularly galling to his pride.
+
+During the first stop made by the train, he walked to the locomotive, and,
+in a most disagreeable tone, asked Rod if he had a written order
+permitting him to ride there.
+
+"I have not," answered the young fireman.
+
+"Then I shall consider it my duty to report both you and the engineman,
+for a violation of rule 116, which provides that no person, except those
+employed upon it, shall be permitted to ride on a locomotive without a
+written order from the proper authority," said Snyder, as he turned away.
+
+This unwarranted assumption of authority made Rod furious; and, as he
+looked back and saw Snyder regarding him from the baggage car, he longed
+for an opportunity of giving the young man a piece of his mind. His
+feelings were fully shared by the other occupants of the cab. While they
+were still discussing the incident, the train plunged into a tunnel, just
+east of the Euston grade. Here, before it quite reached the other end, it
+became involved in one of the most curious and startling accidents known
+in the history of railroads.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+SNYDER IS FORGIVEN.
+
+
+As the locomotive was beginning to emerge from the blackness of the
+tunnel, and those in its cab were just able to distinguish one another's
+faces by the rapidly increasing light from the tunnel's mouth, there came
+an awful crash and a shock like that of an earthquake. A shower of loose
+rocks fell on, and into, the cab. The locomotive was jerked backward with
+a sickening violence, and for a moment its driving wheels spun furiously
+above the track. Then it broke loose from the train, and sprang forward.
+In another moment it emerged from the tunnel, and was brought to a
+standstill, like some panting, frightened animal, a few yards beyond its
+mouth.
+
+The occupants of the cab, bruised and shaken, stared at each other with
+blanched, awe-stricken faces. They had seen the train behind them
+swallowed by a vast tumbling mass of rock, and believed themselves the
+only survivors of one of the most hideous of railroad disasters. Only
+Rod thought he had seen the end of the baggage car protruding from the
+crushing mass, just as the locomotive became released and sprang forward.
+
+"The tunnel roof has caved in," said the engineman with a tone of horror;
+"and not a soul can have escaped beside ourselves. All those hundreds of
+people are lying in there, crushed beyond recognition. Oh, it is terrible!
+terrible!" and tears, expressive of the agony of his mind, coursed down
+the strong man's cheeks. Partially recovering himself in a moment, he
+said, "There is nothing left for us to do but go on to Euston, report what
+has happened, and stop all trains."
+
+Rod Blake agreed that this was the engineman's first duty; but declared
+his intention of staying behind, and of going back into the tunnel, to see
+if there was not some one who might yet be saved. In vain they urged him
+not to, and pointed out the danger as well as the hopelessness of the
+attempt. He was certain that the end of the baggage car could be reached,
+and remembered the figure he had seen standing in it, as they entered the
+tunnel. He felt no trace of resentment against Snyder Appleby now; only a
+great overwhelming pity, coupled with the conviction that he was still
+within reach of help.
+
+Finally they left him; and, armed with an axe from the tender, the young
+fireman again entered the dreadful darkness. Loose stones were still
+falling from the roof of the tunnel, and more than one of these struck and
+painfully bruised him. The air was stifling with clouds of dust and smoke.
+Only the lad's dauntless will and splendid courage enabled him to keep on.
+All at once the splintered end of a car assumed shape in the obscurity
+ahead of him. He heard a slow rending of wood, as one after another of its
+stout timbers gave way, and then, above all other sounds, came an agonized
+human cry.
+
+How Rod cut his way into that car, how he found and dragged out Snyder
+Appleby's mangled form, or how he managed to bear its helpless weight to
+the open air and lay it on the ground beside the track, he never knew. He
+only knew, after it had been done, that he had accomplished all this
+somehow, and that he was weak and faint from his exertions. He also knew
+that he had barely escaped from the baggage car with his precious burden,
+when it was wholly crushed, and buried beneath the weight of rock from
+above.
+
+Snyder had been conscious, and had spoken to him when he found him,
+pinned to the side of the car by its shattered timbers; but now he lay
+insensible, and apparently lifeless. Rod dashed water in his face, and in
+a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing a faint color flush the
+pallid cheeks. Then the closed eyes opened once more, and gazed into the
+young fireman's face. The lips moved, and Rod bent his head to catch the
+faint sound.
+
+"The cup is fairly yours, Rod; for I put the emery in my wheel myself. Can
+you forgive--" was what he heard.
+
+Rodman's eyes were filled with tears as he answered, "Of course I forgive
+you, fully and freely, old man. But don't worry about that now. Keep quiet
+and don't try to talk. We'll soon have you at home, where you'll be all
+right, and get over this shake-up in no time."
+
+A bright smile passed over Snyder's face, and glorified it. Then his eyes
+closed wearily, never again to be opened in this world. When help came,
+and the poor, torn body was tenderly lifted, its spirit had fled. His
+faults had found forgiveness, here, from the one whom he had most deeply
+injured. Is there any doubt but what he also found it in the home to which
+he had gone so peacefully, and with so happy a smile lighting his face?
+
+Strange as it may seem, Snyder Appleby was the only victim of this curious
+accident; for the entire mass of falling material in the tunnel descended
+on the baggage car, of which he was the sole occupant. The hundreds of
+excursionists in the coaches were badly shaken up, and greatly frightened
+by the sudden stopping of the train; but not one was seriously injured.
+
+President Vanderveer first heard of the accident at Major Appleby's house,
+where he was engaged in an earnest conversation with that gentleman, about
+his nephew and his adopted son. While they were still talking, a carriage
+drove to the door, bearing Rod Blake and the lifeless form of him whom the
+young fireman had risked his life to save.
+
+After the Major had listened to the story of the lad who brought to him at
+the same time joy and grief, the tears streamed down his furrowed cheeks,
+and he exclaimed, "My boy! my dear boy! the pride and hope of my old age!
+Forgive me as you have forgiven him, and never leave me again."
+
+"I never will, Uncle," was the answer.
+
+At Snyder's funeral the most beautiful floral tribute was an exact copy
+of the Steel Wheel Club's railroad cup, in Parma violets, with the
+inscription, woven of white violets, "Forgive us our Trespasses." Directly
+behind the coffin, the members of the club marched in a body, headed by
+their captain, Rod Blake, whose resignation had never been accepted.
+
+As for the young captain's future, the events on which this story is
+founded, are of too recent occurrence for it to be predicted just yet.
+That he will become a prominent railroad man, in some one of the many
+lines now opening before him, is almost certain. He finished his
+apprenticeship with Truman Stump, on locomotive number 10, and became so
+fully competent to act as engineman himself, that the master mechanic
+offered him the position. At the same time President Vanderveer invited
+him to become his private secretary, which place Rod accepted, as it
+seemed to him the best school in which to study the higher branches of
+railroad management. He is still one of the most popular fellows on the
+road, and his popularity extends to every branch of the company's service.
+Even Smiler, the railroad dog, will leave his beloved trains for days at a
+time, to sit in the President's office, and mount guard over the desk of
+the private secretary.
+
+Not long ago, when the chief officer of the road was asked to explain the
+secret of Rod Blake's universal popularity, he replied: "I'm sure I don't
+know, unless it is that he never allows his pride to get the better of his
+judgment, and always performs his duties on time."
+
+
+
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