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+Project Gutenberg's Ralph on the Overland Express, by Allen Chapman
+
+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: Ralph on the Overland Express
+       The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer
+
+Author: Allen Chapman
+
+Release Date: May 1, 2009 [EBook #28655]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "An Avalanche!" declared Fogg. "Dodge--something's coming!"
+Page 254. Ralph on the Overland Express.]
+
+
+
+
+RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS
+
+OR
+
+THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF A YOUNG ENGINEER
+
+BY
+
+ALLEN CHAPMAN
+
+AUTHOR OF "RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE,"
+"RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER,"
+"RALPH ON THE ENGINE,"
+"DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES," ETC.
+
+ILLUSTRATED
+
+NEW YORK
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+PUBLISHERS
+
+Made in the United States of America
+
+
+
+
+THE RAILROAD SERIES
+
+By Allen Chapman
+
+12mo. Illustrated. Cloth
+
+RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE
+  Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man
+
+RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER
+  Or, Clearing the Track
+
+RALPH ON THE ENGINE
+  Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail
+
+RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS
+  Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer
+
+(Other Volumes in Preparation.)
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, New York
+
+Copyright, 1910, by
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP
+
+Ralph on the Overland Express
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+ CHAPTER                                                          PAGE
+      I. No. 999                                                     1
+     II. A Special Passenger                                        12
+    III. One of the Rules                                           22
+     IV. A Warning                                                  35
+      V. At Bay                                                     43
+     VI. Four Medals                                                51
+    VII. Dave Bissell, Train Boy                                    60
+   VIII. An Astonishing Discovery                                   68
+     IX. The Light of Home                                          76
+      X. Fire!                                                      88
+     XI. The Master Mechanic                                        95
+    XII. A Good Friend                                             104
+   XIII. The "Black Hand"                                          114
+    XIV. A Serious Plot                                            123
+     XV. "The Silvandos"                                           129
+    XVI. Zeph Dallas and His "Mystery"                             138
+   XVII. In Widener's Gap                                          145
+  XVIII. At the Semaphore                                          153
+    XIX. The Boy Who Was Hazed                                     160
+     XX. "Lord Lionel Montague"                                    171
+    XXI. Archie Graham's Invention                                 179
+   XXII. Ike Slump Again                                           188
+  XXIII. A Critical Moment                                         195
+   XXIV. The New Run                                               203
+    XXV. The Mountain Division                                     209
+   XXVI. Mystery                                                   217
+  XXVII. The Railroad President                                    225
+ XXVIII. A Race Against Time                                       233
+   XXIX. Zeph Dallas Again                                         244
+    XXX. Snowbound                                                 254
+   XXXI. Conclusion                                                264
+
+
+
+
+RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+NO. 999
+
+
+"All aboard."
+
+Ralph Fairbanks swung into the cab of No. 999 with the lever hooked up
+for forward motion, and placed a firm hand on the throttle.
+
+It looked as though half the working force of the railroad, and every
+juvenile friend he had ever known in Stanley Junction, had come down
+to the little old depot that beautiful summer afternoon to especially
+celebrate the greatest event in his active railroad career.
+
+Ralph was the youngest engineer in the service of the Great Northern,
+and there was full reason why he should center attention and interest
+on this the proudest moment of his life. No. 999 was the crack
+locomotive of the system, brand new and resplendent. Its headlight was
+a great glow of crystal, its metal bands and trimmings shone like
+burnished gold, and its cab was as spick and span and neat as the
+private office of the division superintendent himself.
+
+No. 999 was out for a trial run--a record run, Ralph hoped to make it.
+One particular car attached to the rear of the long train was the main
+object of interest. It was a new car to the road, and its blazoned
+name suggested an importance out of the ordinary--"China & Japan
+Mail."
+
+This car had just come in over a branch section by a short cut from
+the north. If No. 999 could beat timetable routine half an hour and
+deliver the mail to the Overland Express at Bridgeport, two hundred
+miles distant, on time, it would create a new schedule, and meant a
+good contract for the Great Northern, besides a saving of three hours'
+time over the former roundabout trip of the China & Japan Mail.
+
+Ralph had exchanged jolly greetings with his friends up to now. In an
+instant, however, the sonorous, echoing "All aboard" from the
+conductor way down the train was a signal for duty, prompt and
+imperative. The pleasant depot scene faded from the sight and mind of
+the ambitious young railroader. He turned his strict attention now to
+the cab interior, as though the locomotive was a thing of life and
+intelligence.
+
+"Let 'er go, Ralph!"
+
+John Griscom, the oldest engineer on the road, off duty, but a
+privileged character on all occasions, stepped from the gossiping
+crowd of loungers at a little distance. He swung up into the cab with
+the expert airiness of long usage. His bluff, hearty face expressed
+admiration and satisfaction, as his rapid eye took in the cab layout.
+
+"I'll hold up the tender rail till we get to crossing," announced
+Griscom. "Lad, this is front rank service all right, and I'm happy to
+say that you deserve it."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Griscom," answered Ralph, his face beaming at the
+handsome compliment. "I don't forget, though, that you helped some."
+
+"Oh, so, so," declared Griscom. "I say, Fogg, you're named right."
+
+It was to Lemuel Fogg that Griscom spoke. Fogg was Ralph's fireman on
+the present trip. He presented a decided contrast to the brisk, bright
+engineer of No. 999. He shoveled in the coal with a grim mutter, and
+slammed the fire door shut with a vicious and unnecessary bang.
+
+"What you getting at?" he growled, with a surly eye on Griscom.
+
+"Fogg--fog, see? foggy, that's you--and groggy, eh? Sun's shining--why
+don't you take it in? No slouch privilege firing this magnificent
+king of the road, I'm thinking, and you ought to think so, too."
+
+"Huh!" snapped Fogg, "it'll be kid luck, if we get through."
+
+"Oho! there's where the shoe pinches, is it?" bantered the old
+railroad veteran. "Come, be fair, Fogg. You was glad to win your own
+spurs when you were young."
+
+"All right, mind the try-out, you hear me!" snorted Fogg ungraciously.
+"You mind your own business."
+
+"Say," shot out Griscom quickly, as he caught a whiff from Fogg's
+lips, "you be sure you mind yours--and the rules," he added, quite
+sternly, "I advise you not to get too near the furnace."
+
+"Eh, why not?"
+
+"Your breath might catch fire, that's why," announced Griscom bluntly,
+and turned his back on the disgruntled fireman.
+
+Ralph had not caught this sharp cross-fire of repartee. His mind had
+been intently fixed on his task. He had started up the locomotive
+slowly, but now, clearing the depot switches, he pulled the lever a
+notch or two, watching carefully ahead. As the train rounded a curve
+to an air line, a series of brave hurrahs along the side of the track
+sent a thrill of pleasure through Ralph's frame.
+
+The young engineer had only a fleeting second or two to bestow on a
+little group, standing at the rear fence of a yard backing down to the
+tracks. His mother was there, gaily waving a handkerchief. A neighbor
+joined in the welcome, and half-a-dozen boys and small children with
+whom Ralph was a rare favorite made the air ring with enthusiastic
+cheers.
+
+"Friends everywhere, lad," spoke Griscom in a kindly tone, and then,
+edging nearer to his prime young favorite, he half-whispered: "Keep
+your eye on this grouch of a Fogg."
+
+"Why, you don't mean anything serious, Mr. Griscom?" inquired Ralph,
+with a quick glance at the fireman.
+
+"Yes, I do," proclaimed the old railroader plainly. "He's got it in
+for you--it's the talk of the yards, and he's in just the right frame
+of mind to bite off his own nose to spite his face. So long."
+
+The locomotive had slowed up for crossing signals, and Griscom got to
+the ground with a careless sail through the air, waved his hand, and
+Ralph buckled down to real work on No. 999.
+
+He glanced at the schedule sheet and the clock. The gauges were in
+fine working order. There was not a full head of steam on as yet and
+the fire box was somewhat over full, but there was a strong draft and
+a twenty-mile straight run before them, and Ralph felt they could make
+it easily.
+
+"Don't choke her too full, Mr. Fogg," he remarked to the fireman.
+
+"Teach me!" snorted Fogg, and threw another shovelful into the box
+already crowded, and backed against the tender bar with a surly,
+defiant face.
+
+Ralph made no retort. Fogg did, indeed, know his business, if he was
+only minded to attend to it. He was somewhat set and old-fashioned in
+his ways, and he had grown up in the service from wiper.
+
+Ralph recalled Griscom's warning. It was not pleasant to run two
+hundred miles with a grumpy cab comrade. Ralph wished they had given
+him some other helper. However, he reasoned that even a crack fireman
+might be proud of a regular run on No. 999, and he did not believe
+that Fogg would hurt his own chances by any tactics that might delay
+them.
+
+The landscape drifted by swiftly and more swiftly, as Ralph gave the
+locomotive full head. A rare enthusiasm and buoyancy came into the
+situation. There was something fascinating in the breathless rush, the
+superb power and steadiness of the crack machine, so easy of control
+that she was a marvel of mechanical genius and perfection.
+
+Like a panorama the scenery flashed by, and in rapid mental panorama
+Ralph reviewed the glowing and stirring events of his young life,
+which in a few brief months had carried him from his menial task as an
+engine wiper up to the present position which he cherished so
+proudly.
+
+Ralph was a railroader by inheritance as well as predilection. His
+father had been a pioneer in the beginning of the Great Northern.
+After he died, through the manipulations of an unworthy village
+magnate named Gasper Farrington, his widow and son found themselves at
+the mercy of that heartless schemer, who held a mortgage on their
+little home.
+
+In the first volume of the present series, entitled "Ralph of the
+Roundhouse," it was told how Ralph left school to earn a living and
+help his self-sacrificing mother in her poverty.
+
+Ralph got a job in the roundhouse, and held it, too, despite the
+malicious efforts of Ike Slump, a ne'er-do-well who tried to undermine
+him. Ralph became a favorite with the master mechanic of the road
+through some remarkable railroad service in which he saved the
+railroad shops from destruction by fire.
+
+Step by step Ralph advanced, and the second volume of this series,
+called "Ralph in the Switch Tower," showed how manly resolve, and
+being right and doing right, enabled him to overcome his enemies and
+compel old Farrington to release the fraudulent mortgage.
+Incidentally, Ralph made many friends. He assisted a poor waif named
+Van Sherwin to reach a position of comfort and honor, and was
+instrumental in aiding a former business partner of his father, one
+Farwell Gibson, to complete a short line railroad through the woods
+near Dover.
+
+In the third volume of the present series, entitled "Ralph on the
+Engine," was related how our young railroad friend became an active
+employee of the Great Northern as a fireman. He made some record runs
+with old John Griscom, the veteran of the road. In that volume was
+also depicted the ambitious but blundering efforts of Zeph Dallas, a
+farmer boy who was determined to break into railroading, and there was
+told as well the grand success of little Limpy Joe, a railroad
+cripple, who ran a restaurant in an old, dismantled box car.
+
+These and other staunch, loyal friends had rallied around Ralph with
+all the influence they could exert, when after a creditable
+examination Ralph was placed on the extra list as an engineer.
+
+Van and Zeph had been among the first to congratulate the friend to
+whom they owed so much, when, after a few months' service on
+accomodation runs, it was made known that Ralph had been appointed as
+engineer of No. 999.
+
+It was Limpy Joe, spending a happy vacation week with motherly,
+kind-hearted Mrs. Fairbanks, who led the cheering coterie whom Ralph
+had passed near his home as he left the Junction on his present run.
+
+Of his old-time enemies, Ike Slump and Mort Bemis were in jail, the
+last Ralph had heard of them. There was a gang in his home town,
+however, whom Ralph had reason to fear. It was made up of men who had
+tried to cripple the Great Northern through an unjust strike. A man
+named Jim Evans had been one of the leaders. Fogg had sympathized with
+the strikers. Griscom and Ralph had routed the malcontents in a fair,
+open-handed battle of arguments and blows. Fogg had been reinstated by
+the road, but he had to go back on the promotion list, and his rancor
+was intense when he learned that Ralph had been chosen to a position
+superior to his own.
+
+"They want young blood, the railroad nobs tell it," the disgruntled
+fireman had been heard to remark in his favorite tippling place on
+Railroad Street. "Humph! They'll have blood, and lots of it, if they
+trust the lives of passengers and crew to a lot of kindergarten
+graduates."
+
+Of all this Ralph was thinking as they covered a clear dash of twenty
+miles over the best stretch of grading on the road, and with
+satisfaction he noted that they had gained three minutes on the
+schedule time. He whistled for a station at which they did not stop,
+set full speed again as they left the little village behind them, and
+glanced sharply at Fogg.
+
+The latter had not spoken a word for over half-an-hour. He had gone
+about his duties in a dogged, sullen fashion that showed the
+permanency of the grouch with which old John Griscom had charged him.
+Ralph had made up his mind to leave his cab companion severely alone
+until he became more reasonable. However, there were some things about
+Fogg of which the young engineer was bound to take notice, and a new
+enlightenment came to Ralph's mind as he now glanced at his helper.
+
+Fogg had slipped clumsily on the tender plate in using the coal rake,
+and Ralph had marveled at this unusual lack of steadiness of footing.
+Then, twice he had gone out on the running board on some useless
+errand, fumbling about in an inexplicable way. His hot, fetid breath
+crossed Ralph's face, and the latter arrived at a definite
+conclusion, and he was sorry for it. Fogg had been "firing up" from a
+secret bottle ever since they had left the Junction, and his condition
+was momentarily becoming more serious and alarming.
+
+They were slowing down to a stop at a water tank as Ralph saw Fogg
+draw back, and under cover of the tender lift a flask to his lips.
+Then Fogg slipped it under the cushion of his seat as he turned to get
+some coal.
+
+He dropped the shovel, coal and all, with a wild snort of rage, as
+turning towards the fire box door he saw Ralph reach over swiftly,
+grab the half empty bottle from under the cushion, and give it a fling
+to the road bed, where it was dashed into a thousand pieces.
+
+Blood in his eye, uncontrollable fury in his heart, the irrational
+fireman, both fists uplifted, made a wild onslaught upon the young
+engineer.
+
+"You impudent meddler!" he raved. "I'll smash you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A SPECIAL PASSENGER
+
+
+"Behave yourself," said Ralph Fairbanks quietly.
+
+The young engineer simply gave his furious antagonist a push with his
+free hand. The other hand was on duty, and Ralph's eyes as well. He
+succeeded in bringing the locomotive to a stop before Fogg needed any
+further attention.
+
+The fireman had toppled off his balance and went flat among the coal
+of the tender. Ralph did not feel at all important over so easily
+repelling his assailant. Fogg was in practically a helpless condition,
+and a child could have disturbed his unsteady footing.
+
+With maudlin energy, however, he began to scramble to his feet. All
+the time he glowered at Ralph, and made dreadful threats of what he
+was going to do to the youth for "knocking him down." Fogg managed to
+pull himself erect, but swayed about a good deal, and then observing
+that Ralph had the free use of both hands now and was posed on guard
+to meet any attack he might meditate, the irate fireman stooped and
+seized a big lump of coal. Ralph could hardly hope to dodge the
+missile, hemmed in as he was. It was poised for a vicious fling. Just
+as Fogg's hand went backwards to aim the projectile, it was seized,
+the missile was wrested from his grasp, and a strange voice drawled
+out the words:
+
+"I wouldn't waste the company's coal that way, if I were you."
+
+Ralph with some surprise and considerable interest noted the intruder,
+who had mounted the tender step just in time to thwart the quarrelsome
+designs of Lemuel Fogg. As to the fireman, he wheeled about, looked
+ugly, and then as the newcomer laughed squarely in his face, mumbled
+some incoherent remark about "two against one," and "fixing both of
+them." Then he climbed up on the tender to direct the water tank spout
+into place.
+
+"What's the row here, anyhow?" inquired the intruder, with a pleasant
+glance at Ralph, and leaning bodily against the fireman's seat.
+
+Ralph looked him over as a cool specimen, although there was nothing
+"cheeky" about the intruder. He showed neither the sneakiness nor the
+effrontery of the professional railroad beat or ride stealer,
+nothwithstanding the easy, natural way in which he made himself at
+home in the cab as though he belonged there.
+
+"Glad you happened along," chirped the newcomer airily. "I'll keep you
+company as far as Bridgeport, I guess."
+
+"Will you, now?" questioned Ralph, with a dubious smile.
+
+The lad he addressed was an open-faced, smart-looking boy. He was well
+dressed and intelligent, and suggested to Ralph the average college or
+home boy. Certainly there was nothing about him that indicated that he
+had to work for a living.
+
+"My name is Clark--Marvin Clark," continued the intruder.
+
+Ralph nodded and awaited further disclosures.
+
+"My father is President of the Middletown & Western Railroad,"
+proceeded the stranger.
+
+Ralph did not speak. He smiled slightly, and the keen-eyed intruder
+noticed this and gave him a sharp look.
+
+"Old racket, eh? Too flimsy?" he propounded with a quizzical but
+perfectly good-natured grin. "I suppose they play all kinds of
+official relationships and all that on you fellows, eh?"
+
+"Yes," said Ralph, "we do hear some pretty extravagant stories."
+
+"I suppose so," assented the youth calling himself Marvin Clark.
+"Well, I don't want to intrude, but if there's room for myself and my
+credentials, I'd rather keep you company than free pass it in the
+parlor coach. There you are."
+
+As the boy spoke of "credentials," he drew an unsealed envelope from
+his pocket and handed it to Ralph. The latter received it, noting that
+it bore in one corner the monogram of the Great Northern, with
+"President's office--official business" printed under it. He withdrew
+the enclosure and perused it.
+
+The sheet was a letter head of the Middletown & Western Railroad. It
+bore on one line in one handwriting the name "Marvin Clark," and
+beneath it the words: "For identification," in another handwriting,
+and the flourishing signature below "Nathaniel Clark, President."
+
+In typewriting beneath all this were the words: "Pass on all trains,
+Marvin Clark," and below that a date and the name in writing of Mr.
+Robert Grant, the President of the Great Northern, unmistakably
+genuine. There were few employees on the road who were not familiar
+with that signature.
+
+"All right," said Ralph, refolding the sheet, re-inclosing it in the
+envelope, and handing it back to the stranger. "I guess that passes
+you anywhere on the line."
+
+"You see, I've got a sort of roaming commission," explained young
+Clark buoyantly, as he got comfortably seated on the fireman's
+cushion. "No particular use at school, and father wants me to learn
+railroading. The first step was to run down all the lines and pick up
+all the information I could. I've just got to put in two months at
+that, and then report to family headquarters my store of practical
+knowledge. See here."
+
+Marvin Clark drew a blank from his pocket. Some thirty of its pages he
+showed to Ralph were filled with memoranda. Thus: "Aug. 22, cattle
+freight, Upton to Dover. O. K. Simpson, Conductor." There followed
+like items, all signed, forming a link of evidence that the boy had
+been a passenger on all kinds of rolling stock, had visited railroad
+shops, switch towers, water stations, in fact had inspected about
+every active department of several railroad lines that connected with
+the Middletown & Western Railroad.
+
+"That is a pretty pleasant layout, I should say," remarked Ralph.
+
+"Oh, so, so," replied Clark indifferently. "Athletics is my
+stronghold. If I ever get money enough--I mean if I had my own
+way--I'd train for expert on everything from golf to football."
+
+"I'm pretty strong in that direction myself," said Ralph, "but a
+fellow has to hustle for something to eat."
+
+"I know what that means," declared Clark. "Had to help the family by
+peddling papers--."
+
+Clark paused and flushed. Ralph wondered at the singular break his
+visitor had made. A diversion covered the embarassment of the young
+stranger and caused Ralph to momentarily forget the incident. Fogg had
+swung back the water spout, set the tender cover, and climbed down
+into the cab. Then he took the side light signals and went around to
+the pilot. No. 999 carried two flags there, now to be replaced by
+lanterns. Fogg came back to the cab rolling up the flags.
+
+"All right," he announced ungraciously, and hustled Clark to one side
+without ceremony as the latter abandoned his seat. Ralph gave the
+starting signal and Clark edged back in the tender out of the way.
+
+The young engineer took a good look at his fireman. The latter was
+muddled, it was plain to see that, but he went about his duties with a
+mechanical routine born from long experience. Only once did he lurch
+towards Ralph and speak to him, or rather hiss out the words.
+
+"You'll settle with me for your impudence yet, young fellow. You're a
+high and mighty, you are, breaking the rules giving your friends a
+free ride."
+
+Ralph did not reply. One anxiety kept him devoted to his work--to lose
+no time. A glance at the clock and schedule showed a ten minutes'
+loss, but defective or experimental firing on a new locomotive had
+been responsible for that, and he counted on making a spurt, once
+beyond Plympton.
+
+Marvin Clark knew his place, and Ralph liked him for keeping it. The
+young fellow watched everything going on in the cab in a shrewd,
+interested fashion, but he neither got in the way of the cross-grained
+Fogg, nor pestered Ralph with questions.
+
+Plympton was less than five miles ahead just as dusk began to fall.
+Ralph noticed that his fireman rustled about with a good deal of
+unnecessary activity. He would fire up to the limit, as if working off
+some of his vengefulness and malice. Then he went out on the running
+board, for no earthly reason that Ralph could see, and he made himself
+generally so conspicuous that young Clark leaned over and said to
+Ralph.
+
+"What's the matter with your fireman, anyhow--that is, besides that
+load he's got aboard?"
+
+"Oh, he has his cross moods, like all of us, I suppose," explained
+Ralph, with affected indifference.
+
+"I wouldn't take him for a very pleasant comrade at any time,"
+observed Clark. "It's a wonder he don't take a tumble. There he is,
+hitching around to the pilot. What for, I wonder?"
+
+Ralph was not paying much attention to what the cab passenger was
+saying. He had made up five minutes, and his quick mind was now
+planning how he would gain five more, and then double that, to
+Plympton and beyond it.
+
+He gave the whistle for Plympton, as, shooting a curve, No. 999 drove
+a clattering pace down the grade with the lights of the station not a
+quarter-of-a-mile away. They were set for clear tracks, as they should
+be. Ralph gave the lever a hitch for a rattling dash on ten miles of
+clear running. Then fairly up to the first station semaphore, he broke
+out with a cry so sharp and dismayed that young Clark echoed it in
+questioning excitement.
+
+"The siding!" cried Ralph, with a jerk of the lever--"what's the
+meaning of this?"
+
+"Say!" echoed Clark, in a startled tone, "that's quick and queer!"
+
+What had happened was this: No. 999 going at full speed on clear
+signals had been sent to a siding and the signals cancelled without a
+moment's warning. Under ordinary circumstances, a train thus
+sidetracked would be under notified control and run down the siding
+only a short distance. Going at high speed, however, and with a full
+head of steam on, Ralph realized that, long as the siding was, he
+would have to work quick and hard to check down the big locomotive
+before she slid the limit, and stuck her nose deep into the sand hill
+that blocked the terminus of the rails.
+
+It was quite dark now. The lights of the station flashed by. Both
+hands in use to check the locomotive and set the air brakes, Ralph
+leaned slightly from the cab window and peered ahead.
+
+"Shoot the sand!" he cried, almost mechanically.
+
+It was a good thing that the cab passenger was aboard and knew
+something about the cab equipment. Young Clark reached the side of the
+engineer's seat in a nimble spring. His hand located the sand valve
+without hesitancy.
+
+Ralph uttered a short, sharp gasp. That look ahead had scared him. He
+was doing all he could to slow down, and was doing magnificently, for
+the reverse action moved to a charm. Still, he saw that after dashing
+fully two hundred yards down the siding, the natural momentum would
+carry the train fully one-third that distance further.
+
+"Any obstruction?" shot out his agile companion, springing to the
+fireman's seat, sticking his head out of the window and staring ahead.
+"Whew! we're going to hit."
+
+The speaker saw what Ralph also beheld. Dimly outlined directly in
+their path was a flat car, and above it, skeletonized against the
+fading sunset sky, was the framework of a derrick. A repair or
+construction gondola car was straight ahead of No. 999.
+
+They seemed to be approaching it swiftly and irresistibly. The wheels
+slid now, fairly locked, there was a marked ease-down, but Ralph saw
+plainly that, great or small, a collision was inevitable.
+
+"Say, that fireman of yours!" shouted young Clark--"there he goes."
+
+The locomotive was fairly upon the obstruction now. Ralph stuck to the
+lever, setting his lips firmly, a little pale, his muscles twitching
+slightly under the stress of excitement and suspense.
+
+"Zing!" remarked the cool comrade of the young engineer--"we're
+there!"
+
+At that moment a flying form shot from the running board of the
+locomotive. Lemuel Fogg had jumped.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+ONE OF THE RULES
+
+
+Locomotive No. 999 landed against the bumper of the gondola car with a
+sharp shock. However, there was no crash of consequence. The headlight
+radiance now flooded fully the obstruction. Young Clark suddenly
+shouted:
+
+"Look out!"
+
+The quick-witted, keen-eyed special passenger was certainly getting
+railroad training so coveted by his magnate father. He saw the fireman
+shoot through the air in his frightened jump for safety. Lemuel Fogg
+landed in a muddy ditch at the side of the tracks, up to his knees in
+water.
+
+The sharp, warning cry of Marvin Clark was not needed to appraise
+Ralph of the danger that threatened. The jar of the collision had
+displaced and upset the derrick. Ralph saw it falling slantingly
+towards them. He pulled the reverse lever, but could not get action
+quick enough to entirely evade the falling derrick. It grazed the
+headlight, chopping off one of its metal wings, and striking the
+pilot crushed in one side of the front fender rails.
+
+The young engineer gave the signal for backing the train, and kept in
+motion. His purpose was to allay any panic on the part of the
+passengers, whom he knew must be alarmed by the erratic tactics of the
+past few moments. Then after thus traversing about half the distance
+back to the main line, he shut off steam and whistled for
+instructions.
+
+"Another notch in my education," observed young Clark with a
+chuckle--"been waiting to pass examination on a smash up."
+
+"Oh, this isn't one," replied Ralph. His tone was tense, and he showed
+that he was disturbed. He was too quick a thinker not to at once
+comprehend the vital issue of the present incident. With Fogg headed
+down the track towards him from the ditch, trying to overtake the
+train, and the conductor, lantern in hand, running to learn what had
+happened, Ralph sized up the situation with decided annoyance.
+
+The action of the station man in giving the free track signal and then
+at a critical moment shooting the special onto the siding, had
+something mysterious about it that Ralph could not readily solve. The
+slight mishap to the locomotive and the smashing of the derrick was
+not particularly serious, but there would be a report, an
+investigation, and somebody would be blamed and punished. Ralph wanted
+to keep a clear slate, and here was a bad break, right at the
+threshold of his new railroad career.
+
+All he thought of, however, were the delays, all he cared for at this
+particular moment was to get back to the main tracks on his way for
+Bridgeport, with a chance to make up lost time. A sudden vague
+suspicion flashing through his mind added to his mental disquietude:
+was there a plot to purposely cripple or delay his train, so that he
+would be defeated in his efforts to make a record run?
+
+"What's this tangle, Fairbanks?" shouted out the conductor sharply, as
+he arrived breathless and excited at the side of the cab.
+
+His name was Danforth, and he was a model employee of long experience,
+always very neat and dressy in appearance and exact and systematic in
+his work. Any break in routine nettled him, and he spoke quite
+censuringly to the young engineer, whom, however, he liked greatly.
+
+"I'm all at sea, Mr. Danforth," confessed Ralph bluntly.
+
+"Any damage?--I see," muttered the conductor, going forward a few
+steps and surveying the scratched, bruised face of the locomotive.
+
+"There's a gondola derailed and a derrick smashed where we struck,"
+reported Ralph. "I acted on my duplicate orders, Mr. Danforth," he
+added earnestly, "and had the clear signal almost until I passed it
+and shot the siding."
+
+"I don't understand it at all," remarked the conductor in a troubled
+and irritated way. "You had the clear signal, you say?"
+
+"Positively," answered Ralph.
+
+"Any serious damage ahead?"
+
+"Nothing of consequence."
+
+"Back slowly, we'll see the station man about this."
+
+The conductor mounted to the cab step, and No. 999 backed slowly. As
+they neared the end of the siding the train was again halted. All down
+its length heads were thrust from coach windows. There was some
+excitement and alarm, but the discipline of the train hands and the
+young engineer's provision had prevented any semblance of panic.
+
+The conductor, lantern in hand, ran across the tracks to the station.
+Ralph saw him engaged in vigorous conversation with the man on duty
+there. The conductor had taken out a memorandum book and was jotting
+down something. The station man with excited gestures ran inside the
+depot, and the signal turned to clear tracks. Ralph switched to the
+main. Then the conductor gave the go ahead signal.
+
+"That's cool," observed young Clark. "I should think the conductor
+would give us an inkling of how all this came about."
+
+"Oh, we'll learn soon enough," said Ralph. "There will have to be an
+official report on this."
+
+"I'm curious. Guess I'll go back and worm out an explanation," spoke
+Clark. "I'll see you with news later."
+
+As Clark left the cab on one side Fogg came up on the other. He had
+been looking over the front of the locomotive. Ralph noticed that he
+did not seem to have suffered any damage from his wild jump beyond a
+slight shaking up. He was wet and spattered to the waist, however, and
+had lost his cap.
+
+Lemuel Fogg's eyes wore a frightened, shifty expression as he stepped
+to the tender. His face was wretchedly pale, his hands trembled as he
+proceeded to pile in the coal. Every vestige of unsteadiness and
+maudlin bravado was gone. He resembled a man who had gazed upon some
+unexpected danger, and there was a half guiltiness in his manner as if
+he was responsible for the impending mishap.
+
+The fireman did not speak a word, and Ralph considered that it was no
+time for discussion or explanations. The injury to the locomotive was
+comparatively slight, and with a somewhat worried glance at the clock
+and schedule card the young railroader focussed all his ability and
+attention upon making up for lost time.
+
+Soon Ralph was so engrossed in his work that he forgot the fireman,
+young Clark, the accident, everything except that he was driving a
+mighty steel steed in a race against time, with either the winning
+post or defeat in view. There was a rare pride in the thought that
+upon him depended a new railway record. There was a fascinating
+exhilaration in observing the new king of the road gain steadily half
+a mile, one mile, two miles, overlapping lost time.
+
+A smile of joy crossed the face of the young engineer, a great
+aspiration of relief and triumph escaped his lips as No. 999 pulled
+into Derby two hours later. They were twenty-one minutes ahead of
+time.
+
+"Mr. Fogg," shouted Ralph across to the fireman's seat, "you're a
+brick!"
+
+It was the first word that had passed between them since the mishap at
+the siding, but many a grateful glance had the young engineer cast at
+his helper. It seemed as if the shake-up at Plympton had shaken all
+the nonsense out of Lemuel Fogg. Before that it had been evident to
+Ralph that the fireman was doing all he could to queer the run. He
+had been slow in firing and then had choked the furnace. His movements
+had been suspicious and then alarming to Ralph, but since leaving
+Plympton he had acted like a different person. Ralph knew from
+practical experience what good firing was, and he had to admit that
+Fogg had outdone himself in the splendid run of the last one hundred
+miles. He was therefore fully in earnest when he enthusiastically
+designated his erratic helper as a "brick."
+
+It was hard for Fogg to come out from his grumpiness and cross-grained
+malice quickly. Half resentful, half shamed, he cast a furtive, sullen
+look at Ralph.
+
+"Humph!" he muttered, "it isn't any brick that did it--it was the
+briquettes."
+
+"The what, Mr. Fogg?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Them," and with contemptuous indifference Fogg pointed to a coarse
+sack lying among the coal. "New-fangled fuel. Master mechanic wanted
+to make a test."
+
+"Why, yes, I heard about that," said Ralph quickly. "Look like
+baseballs. Full of pitch, oil and sulphur, I understand. They say they
+urge up the fire."
+
+"They do, they burn like powder. They are great steam makers, and no
+question," observed Fogg. "Won't do for a regular thing, though."
+
+"No?" insinuated Ralph attentively, glad to rouse his grouchy helper
+from his morose mood.
+
+"Not a bit of it."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Used right along, they'd burn out any crown sheet. What's more, wait
+till you come to clean up--the whole furnace will be choked with
+cinders."
+
+"I see," nodded Ralph, and just then they rounded near Macon for a
+fifteen minutes wait.
+
+As Fogg went outside with oil can and waste roll, Mervin Clark came
+into the cab.
+
+"Glad to get back where it's home like," he sang out in his chirp,
+brisk way. "Say, Engineer Fairbanks, that monument of brass buttons
+and gold cap braid is the limit. Discipline? why, he works on springs
+and you have to touch a button to make him act. I had to chum with the
+brakeman to find out what's up."
+
+"Something is up, then?" inquired Ralph a trifle uneasily.
+
+"Oh, quite. The conductor has been writing a ten-page report on the
+collision. It's funny, but the station man at Plympton----"
+
+"New man, isn't he?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Just transferred to Plympton yesterday mornin'," explained Clark.
+"Well, he swears that your front signals were special at the curves
+and flashed green just as you neared the semaphore."
+
+"Absurd!" exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"That's what the conductor says, too," said Clark. "He told the
+station agent so. They nearly had a fight. 'Color blind!' he told the
+station agent and challenged him to find green lights on No. 999 if he
+could. The station man was awfully rattled and worried. He says he
+knew a special was on the list, but being new to this part of the road
+he acted on Rule 23 when he saw the green lights. He sticks to that,
+says that he will positively swear to it. He says he knows some one
+will be slated, but it won't be him."
+
+"What does the conductor say?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"He says Rule 23 doesn't apply, as the white lights prove. If there
+was any trickery or any mistake, then it's up to the fireman, not to
+the engineer."
+
+At that moment, happening to glance past Clark, the young engineer
+caught sight of Lemuel Fogg. The latter, half crouching near a drive
+wheel, was listening intently. The torch he carried illuminated a
+pale, twitching face. His eyes were filled with a craven fear, and
+Ralph tried to imagine what was passing through his mind.
+
+There was something mysterious about Fogg's actions, yet Ralph
+accepted the theory of the conductor that the station man had made a
+careless blunder or was color blind.
+
+"You see, it isn't that the smash up amounts to much," explained
+Clark, "but it might have, see?"
+
+"Yes, I see," replied Ralph thoughtfully.
+
+"Then again," continued Clark, "the conductor says that it delayed a
+test run, and there's a scratched locomotive and a busted construction
+car."
+
+"I'm thankful that no one was hurt," said Ralph earnestly.
+
+When the next start was made, Fogg was taciturn and gloomy-looking,
+but attended strictly to his duty. Ralph voted him to be a capital
+fireman when he wanted to be. As an hour after midnight they spurted
+past Hopeville forty minutes to the good, he could not help shouting
+over a delighted word of commendation to Fogg.
+
+"I said you were a brick, Mr. Fogg," he observed. "You're more than
+that--you're a wonder."
+
+Fogg's face momentarily lighted up. It looked as if he was half minded
+to come out of his shell and give some gracious response, but
+instantly the old sullenness settled down over his face, accompanied
+by a gloomy manner that Ralph could not analyze. He half believed,
+however, that Fogg was a pretty good fellow at heart, had started out
+to queer the run, and was now sorry and ashamed that he had betrayed
+his weakness for drink.
+
+"Maybe he is genuinely sorry for his tantrums," reflected Ralph, "and
+maybe our narrow escape at the siding has sobered him into common
+sense."
+
+What the glum and gruff fireman lacked of comradeship, the young
+passenger made up in jolly good cheer. He was interested in everything
+going on. He found opportunity to tell Ralph several rattling good
+stories, full of incident and humor, of his amateur railroad
+experiences, and the time was whiled away pleasantly for these two
+acquaintances.
+
+Ralph could not repress a grand, satisfied expression of exultation as
+No. 999 glided gracefully into the depot at Bridgeport, over
+forty-seven minutes ahead of time.
+
+The station master and the assistant superintendent of the division
+came up to the cab instantly, the latter with his watch in his hand.
+
+"Worth waiting for, this, Fairbanks," he called out cheerily--he was
+well acquainted with the young railroader, for Ralph had fired
+freights to this point over the Great Northern once regularly for
+several weeks. "I'll send in a bouncing good report with lots of
+pleasure."
+
+"Thank you," said Ralph. "We've demonstrated, anyhow."
+
+"You have, Fairbanks," returned the official commendingly.
+
+"Only, don't lay any stress on my part of it," said Ralph. "Any
+engineer could run such a superb monarch of the rail as No. 999. If
+you don't tell them how much the experiment depended on our good
+friend, Fogg, here, I will have to, that's all."
+
+The fireman flushed. His eyes had a momentary pleased expression, and
+he glanced at Ralph, really grateful. He almost made a move as if to
+heartily shake the hand of his unselfish champion.
+
+"You're too modest, Fairbanks," laughed the assistant superintendent,
+"but we'll boost Fogg, just as he deserves. It's been a hard, anxious
+run, I'll warrant. We've got a relief crew coming, so you can get to
+bed just as soon as you like."
+
+The passenger coaches were soon emptied of the through passengers. A
+local engineer, fireman and brakeman took charge of the train to
+switch the China & Japan Mail car over to another track, ready to
+hitch on to the Overland express, soon to arrive, sidetrack the other
+coaches, and take No. 999 to the roundhouse.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A WARNING
+
+
+Ralph doffed his working clothes, washed up at the tender spigot, and
+joined Clark, who stood waiting for him on the platform. Fogg, without
+tidying up, in a sort of tired, indifferent way was already some
+distance down the platform. Ralph hurried after him.
+
+"Six-fifteen to-night, Mr. Fogg, isn't it?" spoke Ralph, more to say
+something than anything else.
+
+"That's right," returned Fogg curtly.
+
+"Griscom directed me to a neat, quiet lodging house," added Ralph.
+"Won't you join me?"
+
+"Can't--got some friends waiting for me," responded the fireman.
+
+Ralph followed him seriously and sadly with his eyes. Fogg was making
+for Railroad Row, with its red saloon signs, and Ralph felt sorry for
+him.
+
+"See here," spoke Clark, as they walked along together, "headed for a
+bunk, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes," answered Ralph. "John Griscom, that's our veteran engineer,
+and a rare good friend of mine, told me about a cheap, comfortable
+lodging house to put up at. It's some distance from the depot, but I
+believe I shall go there."
+
+"Good idea," approved Clark. "I've been in some of those railroad
+men's hotels yonder, and they're not very high toned--nor clean."
+
+"What's your program?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Got to sleep, I suppose, so, if I'm not too much of a bore and it's
+pleasing to you, I'll try the place your friend recommends."
+
+"I shall be delighted," answered Ralph.
+
+Within half-an-hour both tired lads tumbled into their beds in rooms
+adjoining in a private house about half a mile from the depot. Ralph
+stretched himself luxuriously, as he rested after the turmoil and
+labor of what he considered the most arduous day in his railroad
+career.
+
+The young engineer awoke with the bright sun shining in his face and
+was out of bed in a jiffy. These lay-over days had always been prized
+by the young railroader, and he planned to put the present one to good
+use. He went to the closed door communicating with the next room and
+tapped on it.
+
+"Hey, there!" he hailed briskly, "time to get up," then, no response
+coming, he opened the door to find the apartment deserted.
+
+"An early bird, it seems," observed Ralph. "Probably gone for
+breakfast."
+
+John Griscom had told Ralph all about the house he was in, and the
+young engineer soon located the bathroom and took a vigorous cold
+plunge that made him feel equal to the task of running a double-header
+special. Ralph had just dressed when Marvin Clark came bustling into
+the room.
+
+"Twenty minutes for breakfast!" hailed the volatile lad. "I've been up
+an hour."
+
+"You didn't take a two hundred mile run, or you wouldn't be up for
+four," challenged Ralph.
+
+"Guess that's so," admitted Clark. "Well, here we are. I've been out
+prospecting."
+
+"What for?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"A good restaurant."
+
+"Found one?"
+
+"A dandy--wheat cakes with honey, prime country sausages and Mocha,
+all for twenty cents."
+
+"Good," commended Ralph. "We'll take air line for that right away."
+
+Clark chattered like a magpie as they proceeded to the street. It was
+evident that he had taken a great fancy to Ralph. The latter liked him
+in return. For the son of a wealthy railroad magnate, Clark was
+decidedly democratic. The one subject he seemed glad to avoid was any
+reference to his direct family and friends.
+
+He was full of life, and Ralph found him very entertaining. Some bad
+breaks in grammar showed, indeed, that he had not amounted to much at
+school. Some of his adventures also suggested that the presence and
+power of money had not always been at his command. Ralph noticed some
+inconsistencies in his stories here and there, but Clark rattled on so
+fast and jumped so briskly from one subject to another, that it was
+hard work to check him up.
+
+As they reached the porch of the house Clark gave Ralph a deterring
+touch with his hand.
+
+"Just wait a minute, will you?" he spoke.
+
+"Why what for?" inquired Ralph in some surprise.
+
+"I want to find out something before we go out into the street," and
+the speaker glided down the walk to the gate, peered down the street,
+and then beckoned to his companion.
+
+"Come on," he hailed. "They're still there, though," he added, his
+tones quite impressive.
+
+"Who is there?" asked Ralph.
+
+"Just dally at the gate here and take a look past the next street
+corner--near where there's an alley, see?"
+
+"That crowd of boys?" questioned Ralph, following his companion's
+direction.
+
+"Yes, that gang of hoodlums," responded Clark bluntly, "for that is
+what they are."
+
+"And how are we interested in them?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"We're not, but they may become interested in us."
+
+"Indeed?"
+
+"Mightily, if I don't mistake my cue," asserted Clark.
+
+"You are pretty mysterious," hinted Ralph, half-smiling.
+
+"Well, I'll explain. Those fellows are laying for you."
+
+"Laying for me?" repeated Ralph vaguely.
+
+"That's it."
+
+"Why? They don't know me, and I don't know them."
+
+"Not much acquainted at Bridgeport, eh?"
+
+"Only casually. I've laid over here several times when I was firing on
+the fast freight. I know a few railroad men, that's all."
+
+"Ever hear of Billy Bouncer?"
+
+"I never did."
+
+"Then I'm the first one to enlighten you. When I went out to find a
+restaurant I passed that crowd you see. I noticed that they drew
+together and scanned me pretty closely. Then I heard one of them say,
+'That's not Fairbanks.' 'Yes, it is, didn't he come out of the place
+we're watching?' said another. 'Aw, let up,' spoke a third voice.
+'Billy Bouncer will know, and we don't want to spoil his game. He'll
+be here soon.'"
+
+"That's strange," said Ralph musingly.
+
+"What are you going to do about it?" inquired Clark.
+
+"Oh, I'm not at all alarmed," replied Ralph, "barely interested,
+that's all. We'll walk by the crowd and see if they won't throw some
+further light on the subject."
+
+"Tell you, Fairbanks," said Clark quite seriously, "I'm putting two
+and two together."
+
+"Well," laughed Ralph, "that makes four--go ahead."
+
+"More than four--a regular mob. That crowd, as I said, for some reason
+is laying for you. What's the answer? They have been put up to it by
+some one. You know, you told me incidentally that you had some enemies
+on account of the big boost you've got in the service. You said, too,
+that your friend, Engineer Griscom, warned you on just that point. I
+haven't said much so far, but the actions of that grouch fireman of
+yours, Fogg, looked decidedly queer and suspicious to me."
+
+Ralph made no comment on this. He had his own ideas on the subject,
+but did not feel warranted in fully expressing them.
+
+"I believe that Fogg started out on your run yesterday to queer it.
+Why he changed tactics later, I can't tell. Maybe he was scared by the
+smash-up on the siding. Anyhow, I never saw such mortal malice in the
+face of any man as that I saw in his when I came aboard No. 999. This
+crowd down the street is evidently after you. Some one has put them up
+to it."
+
+"Oh, you can't mean Fogg!" exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"I don't know," replied Clark.
+
+"I can't believe that he would plot against me that far," declared
+Ralph.
+
+"A malicious enemy will do anything to reach his ends," said Clark.
+"Doesn't he want you knocked out? Doesn't he want your place? What
+would suit his plans better than to have you so mauled and battered,
+that you couldn't show up for the return trip to Stanley Junction this
+afternoon? Are you going past that crowd?"
+
+"I certainly shall not show the white feather by going out of my way,"
+replied Ralph.
+
+"Well, if that's your disposition, I'm at your call if they tackle
+us," announced Clark.
+
+They proceeded down the street, and Ralph as they advanced had a good
+view of the crowd, which, according to the views of his companion,
+was laying in wait for him. There were about fifteen of them, ranging
+from selfish-faced lads of ten or so up to big, hulking fellows of
+twenty. They represented the average city gang of idlers and hoodlums.
+They were hanging around the entrance to the alley as if waiting for
+some mischief to turn up. Ralph noticed a rustling among them as he
+was observed. They grouped together. He fancied one or two of them
+pointed at him, but there was no further indication of belligerent
+attention as he and Clark approached nearer to the crowd.
+
+"I fancy Billy Bouncer, whoever he is, hasn't arrived yet," observed
+Clark.
+
+Just then one of the mob set up a shout.
+
+"Hi there, Wheels!" he hailed, and some additional jeers went up from
+his fellows. Their attention seemed directed across the street, and
+Ralph and Clark glanced thither.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+AT BAY
+
+
+A queer-looking boy about eighteen years of age was proceeding slowly
+down the pavement. He was stockily built, and had an unusually massive
+head and great broad shoulders. He was a boy who would be remarked
+about almost anywhere. His hair was long, and this gave him a somewhat
+leonine aspect.
+
+The hat of this boy was pushed far back on his head, and his eyes were
+fixed and his attention apparently deeply absorbed upon an object he
+held in his hand. This was a thin wooden rod with two cardboard wheels
+attached to it. These he would blow, causing them to revolve rapidly.
+Then he would study their gyrations critically, wait till they had run
+down, and then repeat the maneuver.
+
+His side coat pockets were bulging, one with a lot of papers. From the
+other protruded what seemed to be a part of a toy, or some real
+mechanical device having also wheels in its construction.
+
+"Well, there's a queer make-up!" observed Clark in profound surprise.
+
+"He is certainly eccentric in his appearance," said Ralph. "I wonder
+who he can be."
+
+"No, what he can be," corrected Clark, "for he's an odd genius of some
+kind, I'll wager."
+
+The object of their interest and curiosity had heard the derisive hail
+from across the street. He halted dead short, stared around him like a
+person abruptly aroused from a dream, traced the call to its source,
+thrust the device with which he had been experimenting into his
+pocket, and fixing his eyes on his mockers, started across the street.
+The hoodlum crowd nudged one another, blinked, winked, and looked as
+if expecting developments of some fun. The object of their derision
+looked them over in a calculating fashion.
+
+"Did any one here speak to me?" he asked.
+
+"No, Wheels--it was the birdies calling you!" hooted a jocose voice.
+
+"You sort of suggest something, somehow," drawled the lad in an
+abstracted, groping way. "Yes, certainly, let me see. What is it? Ah,
+perhaps I've made a memorandum of it."
+
+The lad poked into several vest pockets. Finally he unearthed a card
+which seemed to be all written over, and he ran his eye down this. The
+crowd chuckled at the profound solemnity of his manner.
+
+"H'm," observed the boy designated as "Wheels." "Let me see. 'Get
+shoes mended.' No, that isn't it. I have such a bad memory. 'Order
+some insulated wire.' No, that's for an uptown call. 'Buy Drummond on
+Superheated Steam.' That's for the bookstore. Ah, here we have it.
+'Kick Jim Scroggins.' Who's Jim? Aha! you young villain, I remember
+you well enough now," and with an activity which could scarcely be
+anticipated from so easy-going an individual, Wheels made a dive for a
+big hulking fellow on the edge of the crowd. He chased him a few feet,
+and planted a kick that lifted the yelling hoodlum a foot from the
+ground. Then, calmly taking out a pencil, he crossed off the
+memorandum--"Kick Jim Scroggins"--gave the crowd a warning glance, and
+proceeded coolly down the sidewalk, resuming his occupation with the
+contrivance he had placed in his pocket.
+
+The gang of loafers had drawn back. A sight of the massive arms and
+sledge hammer fists of the young giant they had derided, and his
+prompt measures with one of their cronies, dissuaded them from any
+warlike move.
+
+"Whoop!" commented Clark in an exultant undertone, and he fairly
+leaned against his companion in a paroxysm of uncontrollable laughter.
+"Quick, nifty and entertaining, that! Say Engineer Fairbanks, I don't
+know who that fellow Wheels is, but I'd be interested and proud to
+make his acquaintance. Now steam up and air brake ready, while we pass
+the crossing!"
+
+"Passing the crossing," as Clark designated it, proved, however, to be
+no difficult proceeding. The crowd of hoodlums had got a set-back from
+the boy with the piston-rod arm, it seemed. They scanned Ralph and
+Clark keenly as they passed by, but made no attempt to either hail or
+halt them.
+
+"We've run the gauntlet this time," remarked Clark. "Hello--four
+times!"
+
+The vigilant companion of the young engineer was glancing over his
+shoulder as he made this sudden and forcible remark.
+
+"Four times what?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"That fireman of yours."
+
+"Mr. Fogg?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What about him?"
+
+"Say," replied Clark, edging close to Ralph, "just take a careless
+backward look, will you? About half the square down on the opposite
+side of the street you'll see Fogg."
+
+"Why such caution and mystery?" propounded Ralph.
+
+"I'll tell you later. See him?" inquired Clark, as Ralph followed out
+the suggestion he had made.
+
+Ralph nodded assentingly. He had made out Fogg as Clark had described.
+The fireman was walking along in the direction they were proceeding.
+There was something stealthy and sinister in the way in which he kept
+close to the buildings lining the sidewalk.
+
+"That's four times I've noticed Fogg in this vicinity this morning,"
+reported Clark. "I discovered him opposite the lodging house when I
+first came out this morning. When I came back he was skulking in an
+open entry, next door. When we left the house together I saw him a
+block away, standing behind a tree. Now he bobs up again."
+
+"I can't understand his motive," said Ralph thoughtfully.
+
+"I can," declared Clark with emphasis.
+
+"What's your theory?"
+
+"It's no theory at all, it's a dead certainty," insisted Clark. "Your
+fireman and that gang of hoodlums hitch together in some way, you mark
+my words. Well, let it slide for a bit. I'm hungry as a bear, and
+here's the restaurant."
+
+It was a neat and inviting place, and with appetizing zeal the two
+boys entered and seated themselves at a table and gave their order for
+wheat cakes with honey and prime country sausages. Just as the waiter
+brought in the steaming meal, Clark, whose face was toward the street,
+said:
+
+"Fogg just passed by, and there goes the crowd of boys. I'm thinking
+they'll give us a chance to settle our meal, Engineer Fairbanks!"
+
+"All right," responded Ralph quietly, "if that's the first task of the
+day, we'll be in trim to tackle it with this fine meal as a
+foundation."
+
+Their youthful, healthy appetites made a feast of the repast. Clark
+doubled his order, and Ralph did full credit to all the things set
+before him.
+
+"I was thinking," he remarked, as they paid their checks at the
+cashier's counter, "that we might put in the day looking around the
+town."
+
+"Why, yes," assented his companion approvingly, "that is, if you're
+going to let me keep with you."
+
+"Why not?" smiled Ralph. "You seem to think I may need a guardian."
+
+"I've got nothing to do but put in the time, and get a signed voucher
+from you that I did so in actual railroad service and in good
+company," explained Clark. "I think I will go back to Stanley Junction
+on your return run, if it can be arranged."
+
+"It is arranged already, if you say so," said Ralph. "We seem to get
+on together pretty well, and I'm glad to have you with me."
+
+"Now, that's handsome, Engineer Fairbanks!" replied Clark. "There's
+some moving picture shows in town here, open after ten o'clock, and
+there's a mechanics' library with quite a museum of railroad
+contrivances. We've got time to take it all in. Come on. Unless that
+crowd stops us, we'll start the merry program rolling. No one in
+sight," the youth continued, as they stepped into the street and he
+glanced its length in both directions. "Have the enemy deserted the
+field, or are they lying in ambush for us?"
+
+They linked arms and sauntered down the pavement. They had proceeded
+nearly two squares, when, passing an alley, both halted summarily.
+
+"Hello! here's business, I guess," said Clark, and he and Ralph
+scanned closely the group they had passed just before the breakfast
+meal.
+
+The hoodlum gang had suddenly appeared from the alleyway, and forming
+a circle, surrounded them. There was an addition to their ranks. Ralph
+noted this instantly. He was a rowdy-looking chunk of a fellow, and
+the swing of his body, the look on his face and the expression in his
+eyes showed that he delighted in thinking himself a "tough customer."
+Backed by his comrades, who looked vicious and expectant, he marched
+straight up to Ralph, who did not flinch a particle.
+
+"You look like Fairbanks to me--Fairbanks, the engineer," he observed,
+fixing a glance upon Ralph meant to dismay.
+
+"Yes, that is my name," said Ralph quietly.
+
+"Well," asserted the big fellow, "I've been looking for you, and I'm
+going to whip the life out of you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+FOUR MEDALS
+
+
+Marvin Clark stepped promptly forward at the announcement of the
+overgrown lout, who had signified his intention of whipping the young
+engineer of No. 999. Clark had told Ralph that athletics was his
+strong forte. He looked it as he squared firmly before the bully.
+
+"Going to wallop somebody, are you?" spoke Clark cooly. "Watch the
+system-cylinder"--and the speaker gave to his arms a rotary motion so
+rapid that it was fairly dizzying, "or piston rods," and one fist met
+the bulging breast of the fellow with a force that sent him reeling
+backwards several feet.
+
+"Hey, there! you keep out of this, if you don't want to be
+massacreed!" spoke a voice at Clark's elbow, and he was seized by
+several of the rowdy crowd and forced back from the side of Ralph.
+
+"Hands off!" shouted Clark, and he cleared a circle about him with a
+vigorous sweep of his arms.
+
+"Don't you mix in a fair fight, then," warned a big fellow in the
+crowd, threateningly.
+
+"Ah, it's going to be a fair fight, is it?" demanded Clark.
+
+"Yes, it is."
+
+"I'll see to it that it is," remarked Clark briefly.
+
+The fellow he had dazed with his rapid-fire display of muscle had
+regained his poise, and was now again facing the young engineer.
+
+"Understand?" he demanded, hunching up his shoulders and staring
+viciously at Ralph. "I'm Billy Bouncer."
+
+"Are you?" said Ralph simply.
+
+"I am, and don't you forget it. I happen to have got a tip from my
+uncle, John Evans, of Stanley Junction. I guess you know him."
+
+"I do," announced Ralph bluntly, "and if you are as mean a specimen of
+a boy as he is of a man, I'm sorry for you."
+
+"What?" roared the young ruffian, raising his fists. "Do you see
+that?" and he put one out, doubled up.
+
+"I do, and it's mighty dirty, I can tell you."
+
+"Insult me, do you? I guess you don't know who I am. Champion,
+see?--light-weight champion of this burg, and I wear four medals, and
+here they are," and Bouncer threw back his coat and vauntingly
+displayed four gleaming silver discs pinned to his vest.
+
+"If you had four more, big as cartwheels, I don't see how I would be
+interested," observed Ralph.
+
+"You don't?" yelled Bouncer, hopping mad at failing to dazzle this new
+opponent with an acquisition that had awed his juvenile cohorts and
+admirers. "Why, I'll grind you to powder! Strip."
+
+With this Bouncer threw off his coat, and there was a scuffle among
+his minions to secure the honor of holding it.
+
+"I don't intend to strip," remarked Ralph, "and I don't want to strike
+you, but you've got to open a way for myself and my friend to go about
+our business, or I'll knock you down."
+
+"You'll----Fellows, hear him!" shrieked Bouncer, dancing from foot to
+foot. "Oh, you mincemeat! up with your fists! It's business now."
+
+The young engineer saw that it was impossible to evade a fight. The
+allusion of Bouncer to Jim Evans was enlightening. It explained the
+animus of the present attack.
+
+If Lemuel Fogg had been bent on queering the special record run to
+Bridgeport out of jealousy, Evans, a former boon companion of the
+fireman, had it in for Ralph on a more malicious basis. The young
+railroader knew that Evans was capable of any meanness or cruelty to
+pay him back for causing his arrest as an incendiary during the recent
+railroad strike on the Great Northern.
+
+There was no doubt but what Evans had advised his graceless nephew of
+the intended visit of Ralph to Bridgeport. During the strike Evans had
+maimed railroad men and had been guilty of many other cruel acts of
+vandalism. Ralph doubted not that the plan was to have his precious
+nephew "do" him in a way that he would not be able to make the return
+trip with No. 999.
+
+The young engineer was no pugilist, but he knew how to defend himself,
+and he very quickly estimated the real fighting caliber of his
+antagonist. He saw at a glance that Billy Bouncer was made up of bluff
+and bluster and show. The hoodlum made a great ado of posing and
+exercising his fists in a scientific way. He was so stuck up over some
+medal awards at amateur boxing shows, that he was wasting time in
+displaying his "style."
+
+"Are you ready?" demanded Bouncer, doing a quickstep and making a
+picturesque feint at his opponent.
+
+"Let me pass," said Ralph.
+
+"Wow, when I've eaten you up, maybe!"
+
+"Since you will have it, then," observed Ralph quietly, "take that for
+a starter."
+
+The young engineer struck out once--only once, but he had calculated
+the delivery and effect of the blow to a nicety. There was a thud as
+his fist landed under the jaw of the bully, so quickly and so
+unexpectedly that the latter did not have time to put up so much as a
+pretense of a protection.
+
+Back went Billy Bouncer, his teeth rattling, and down went Billy
+Bouncer on a backward slide. His head struck a loose paving brick. He
+moaned and closed his eyes.
+
+"Four--medals!" he voiced faintly.
+
+"Come on, Clark," said Ralph.
+
+He snatched the arm of his new acquaintance and tried to force his way
+to the alley opening. Thus they proceeded a few feet, but only a few.
+A hush had fallen over Bouncer's friends, at the amazing sight of
+their redoubtable champion gone down in inglorious defeat, but only
+for a moment. One of the largest boys in the group rallied the
+disorganized mob.
+
+"Out with your smashers!" he shouted. "Don't let them get away!"
+
+Ralph pulled, or rather forced his companion back against two steps
+with an iron railing, leading to the little platform of the alley
+door of a building fronting on the street.
+
+"No show making a break," he continued in rapid tones. "Look at the
+cowards!"
+
+At the call of their new leader, the crowd to its last member whipped
+out their weapons. They were made of some hard substance like lead,
+and incased in leather. They were attached to the wrist by a long
+loop, which enabled their possessors to strike a person at long range,
+the object of the attack having no chance to resist or defend
+himself.
+
+"Grab the railing," ordered Clark, whom Ralph was beginning to
+recognize as a quick-witted fellow in an emergency. "Now then, keep
+side by side--any tactics to hold them at bay or drive them off."
+
+The two friends had secured quite a tactical position, and they
+proceeded to make the most of it. The mob with angry yells made for
+them direct. They jostled one another in their eager malice to strike
+a blow. They crowded close to the steps, and their ugly weapons shot
+out from all directions.
+
+One of the weapons landed on Ralph's hand grasping the iron railing,
+and quite numbed and almost crippled it. A fellow used his weapon as a
+missile, on purpose or by mistake. At all events, it whirled from his
+hand through the air, and striking Clark's cheek, laid it open with
+quite a ghastly wound. Clark reached over and snatched a slungshot
+from the grasp of another of the assaulting party. He handed it
+quickly to his companion.
+
+"Use it for all it's worth," he suggested rapidly. "Don't let them
+down us, or we're goners."
+
+As he spoke, Clark, nettled with pain, balanced himself on the railing
+and sent both feet flying into the faces of the onpressing mob. These
+tactics were wholly unexpected by the enemy. One of their number went
+reeling back, his nose nearly flattened to his face.
+
+"Rush 'em!" shouted the fellow frantically.
+
+Half-a-dozen of his cohorts sprang up the steps. They managed to grab
+Ralph's feet. Now it was a pull and a clutch. Ralph realized that if
+he ever got down into the midst of that surging mob, or under their
+feet, it would be all over with him.
+
+"It's all up with us!" gasped Clark with a startled stare down the
+alley. "Fogg, Lemuel Fogg!"
+
+The heart of the young engineer sank somewhat as he followed the
+direction of his companion's glance. Sure enough, the fireman of
+No. 999 had put in an appearance on the scene.
+
+"He's coming like a cyclone!" said Clark.
+
+Fogg was a rushing whirlwind of motion. He was bareheaded, and he
+looked wild and uncanny. Somewhere he had picked up a long round
+clothes pole or the handle to some street worker's outfit. With this
+he was making direct for the crowd surrounding Ralph and Clark. Just
+then a slungshot blow drove the latter to his knees. Two of the crowd
+tried to kick at his face. Ralph was nerved up to desperate action
+now. He caught the uplifted foot of one of the vandals and sent him
+toppling. The other he knocked flat with his fist, but overpowering
+numbers massed for a headlong rush on the beleaguered refugees.
+
+"Swish--thud! swish!" Half blinded by a blow dealt between the eyes by
+a hurling slungshot, the young engineer could discern a break in the
+program, the appearance of a new element that startled and astonished
+him. He had expected to see the furious Fogg join the mob and aid them
+in finishing up their dastardly work. Instead, like some madman, Fogg
+had waded into the ranks of the group, swinging his formidable weapon
+like a flail. It rose, it fell, it swayed from side to side, and its
+execution was terrific.
+
+The fireman mowed down the amazed and scattering forces of Billy
+Bouncer as if they were rows of tenpins. He knocked them flat, and
+then he kicked them. It was a marvel that he did not cripple some of
+them, for, his eyes glaring, his muscles bulging to the work, he acted
+like some fairly irresponsible being.
+
+Within two minutes' time the last one of the mob had vanished into the
+street. Flinging the pole away from him, Fogg began looking for his
+cap, which had blown off his head as he came rushing down the alley at
+cyclone speed.
+
+Clark stared at the fireman in petrified wonder. Ralph stood
+overwhelmed with uncertainty and amazement.
+
+"Mr. Fogg, I say, Mr. Fogg!" he cried, running after the fireman and
+catching at his sleeve, "How--why----"
+
+"Boy," choked out Lemuel Fogg, turning a pale, twitching face upon
+Ralph, "don't say a word to me!"
+
+And then with a queer, clicking sob in his throat, the fireman of
+No. 999 hastened down the alley looking for his cap.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+DAVE BISSELL, TRAIN BOY
+
+
+"I don't understand it at all," exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"Mad--decidedly mad," declared young Clark. "Whew! that was a lively
+tussle. All the buttons are gone off my vest and one sleeve is torn
+open clear to the shoulder, and I guess there were only basting
+threads in that coat of yours, for it's ripped clear up the back."
+
+Clark began to pick up some scattered buttons from the ground. His
+companion, however, was looking down the alley, and he followed Fogg
+with his eyes until the fireman had disappeared into the street.
+
+"You're wondering about things," spoke Clark. "So am I."
+
+"I'm trying to figure out the puzzle, yes," admitted the young
+engineer. "You see, we were both of us wrong, and we have misjudged
+Mr. Fogg."
+
+"I don't know about that," dissented Ralph's companion.
+
+"Why, he has helped us, instead of hurt us."
+
+"Yes," said Clark, "but why? It's nonsense to say that he didn't start
+out on your trip fixed up to put you out of business if he could do
+it. It is folly, too, to think that he didn't know that this Billy
+Bouncer, relative of that old-time enemy of yours back at Stanley
+Junction, Jim Evans, had put this gang up to beat you. If that wasn't
+so, why has he been hanging around here all the morning in a
+suspicious, mysterious way, and how does he come to swoop down on the
+mob just in the nick of time."
+
+"Perhaps he was planning to head off the crowd all the time,"
+suggested Ralph.
+
+"Not from the very start," declared Clark positively. "No, sir--I
+think he has had a fit of remorse, and thought better of having you
+banged up or crippled."
+
+"At all events, Fogg has proven a good friend in need, and I shall not
+forget it soon," observed Ralph.
+
+When they came out into the street the hoodlum crowd had dispersed.
+They entered the first tailor shop they came to and soon had their
+clothing mended up.
+
+"There's a moving picture show open," said Clark, after they had again
+proceeded on their way. "Let's put in a half-hour or so watching the
+slides."
+
+This they did. Then they strolled down to the shops, took in the
+roundhouse, got an early dinner, and went to visit the museum at the
+Mechanics' Exchange. This was quite an institution of Bridgeport, and
+generally interested railroad men. Clark was very agreeable to the
+proposition made by his companion to look over the place. They found a
+fine library and a variety of drawings and models, all along railroad
+lines.
+
+"This suits me exactly," declared Clark. "I am not and never will be a
+practical railroader, but I like its variety just the same. Another
+thing, a fellow learns something. Say, look there."
+
+The speaker halted his companion by catching his arm abruptly, as they
+turned into a small reading room after admiring a miniature
+reproduction in brass of a standard European locomotive.
+
+"Yes, I see," nodded Ralph, with a slight smile on his face, "our
+friend, Wheels."
+
+Both boys studied the eccentric youth they had seen for the first time
+a few hours previous. He occupied a seat at a desk in a remote corner
+of the room. Propped up before him was a big volume full of cuts of
+machinery, and he was taking notes from it. A dozen or more smaller
+books were piled up on a chair beside him.
+
+Young as he was, there was a profound solemnity and preoccupation in
+his methods that suggested that he had a very old head on a juvenile
+pair of shoulders. As Ralph and his companion stood regarding the
+queer genius, an attendant came up to Wheels. He touched him politely
+on the shoulder, and as the lad looked up in a dazed, absorbed way,
+pointed to the clock in the room.
+
+"You told me to inform you when it was two o'clock," spoke the
+attendant.
+
+"Did I, now?" said Wheels in a lost, distressed sort of a way. "Dear
+me, what for, I wonder?" and he passed his hand abstractedly over his
+forehead. "Ah, I'll find out."
+
+He proceeded to draw from his pocket the selfsame memorandum he had
+consulted in the case of Jim Scroggins. He mumbled over a number of
+items, and evidently struck the right one at last, for he murmured
+something about "catch the noon mail with a letter to the patent
+office," arose, put on his cap, and hurriedly left the place,
+blissfully wool-gathering as the fact that noon had come and gone
+several hours since.
+
+"I'm curious," observed Clark, and as Wheels left the place he
+followed the attendant to the library office, and left Ralph to stroll
+about alone, while he engaged the former in conversation. In about
+five minutes Clark came back to Ralph with a curious but satisfied
+smile on his face.
+
+"Well, I've got his biography," he announced.
+
+"Whose--Wheels?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who is he, anyway?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"He thinks he is a young inventor."
+
+"And is he?"
+
+"That's an open question. They call him Young Edison around here, and
+his right name is Archie Graham. His father was an aeronaut who was an
+expert on airships, got killed in an accident to an aeroplane last
+year, and left his son some little money. Young Graham has been
+dabbling in inventions since he was quite young."
+
+"Did he really ever invent anything of consequence?" asked Ralph.
+
+"The attendant here says that he did. About two years ago he got up a
+car window catch that made quite a flurry at the shops. It was used
+with good results, and the Great Northern was about to pay Graham
+something for the device, when it was learned that while he was
+bringing it to perfection some one else had run across pretty nearly
+the same idea."
+
+"And patented it first?"
+
+"Both abroad and in this country. That of course shut Graham out. All
+the same, the attendant declares that Graham must have got the idea
+fully a year before the foreign fellow did."
+
+The boys left the place in a little while and proceeded towards the
+railroad depot. Ralph had conceived quite a liking for his volatile
+new acquaintance. Clark had shown himself to be a loyal, resourceful
+friend, and the young engineer felt that he would miss his genial
+company if the other did not take the return trip to Stanley Junction.
+He told Clark this as they reached the depot.
+
+"That so?" smiled the latter. "Well, I'll go sure if you're agreeable.
+I've got no particular program to follow out, and I'd like to take in
+the Junction. Another thing, I'm curious to see how you come out with
+your friends. There's that smash-up on the siding at Plympton, too.
+Something may come up on that where I may be of service to you."
+
+They found the locomotive, steam up, on one of the depot switches in
+charge of a special engineer. It lacked over half an hour of leaving
+time. While Clark hustled about the tender, Ralph donned his working
+clothes and chattered with the relief engineer. The latter was to run
+the locomotive to the train, and Ralph walked down the platform to put
+on the time.
+
+"I've stowed my vest in a bunker in the cab," said Clark, by his
+side.
+
+"That's all right," nodded Ralph.
+
+"And I'm going to get some sandwiches and a few bottles of pop for a
+little midnight lunch."
+
+"All right," agreed the young engineer, as his companion started over
+towards Railroad Row.
+
+Lemuel Fogg had not put in an appearance up to this time, but a few
+minutes later Ralph saw him in the cab of No. 999, which he had gained
+by a short cut from the street. As Ralph was looking in the direction
+of the locomotive, some one came briskly up behind him and gave him a
+sharp, friendly slap on the shoulder.
+
+"Hello, Ralph Fairbanks!" he hailed.
+
+"Why, Dave Bissell!" said the young railroader, turning to face and
+shake hands with an old acquaintance. Dave had been a train boy on an
+accommodation run at Stanley Junction about a year previous, and had
+graduated into the same line of service on the Overland Limited.
+
+"I'm very glad to see you," said Ralph; "I hear you've got a great
+run."
+
+"Famous, Fairbanks!" declared Dave. "I'm hearing some big things about
+you."
+
+"You call them big because you remember the Junction and exaggerate
+home news," insisted Ralph.
+
+"Maybe so, but I always said you'd be president of the road some
+time," began Dave, and then with a start stared hard at young Clark,
+who appeared at that moment crossing the platform of a stationary
+coach from the direction of Railroad Row. "Why!" exclaimed Dave, "hey!
+hi! this way."
+
+Clark had halted abruptly. His expressive features were a study. As he
+evidently recognized Dave, his face fell, his eyes betokened a certain
+consternation, and dropping a package he carried he turned swiftly
+about, jumped from the platform and disappeared.
+
+"Why" spoke Ralph, considerably surprised, "do you know Marvin
+Clark?"
+
+"Who?" bolted out Dave bluntly.
+
+"That boy--Marvin Clark."
+
+"Marvin Clark nothing!" shouted the train boy volubly. "That's my
+cousin, Fred Porter, of Earlville."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERY
+
+
+The young engineer of No. 999 faced a new mystery, a sharp suspicion
+darted through his mind. He recalled instantly several queer breaks
+that the special passenger had made in his conversation.
+
+"Your cousin, is he?" observed Ralph thoughtfully.
+
+"That's what he is," affirmed Dave Bissell.
+
+"And his name is Fred Porter?"
+
+"Always has been," declared Dave. "Why, something up? Humph! I can
+guess. Bet he's been up to some of his old tricks. He always was a
+joker and full of mischief."
+
+"Tell me more about him," suggested Ralph.
+
+"Why, there isn't much to tell," said Dave. "He and I were raised at
+Earlville. His parents both died several years ago, and he wandered
+around a good deal. This is the first I've seen of him for over two
+years."
+
+"Might you not be mistaken--facial resemblance?"
+
+"Not much," observed Dave staunchly. "Think I don't recognize my own
+relatives? Why, didn't you notice how he acted?"
+
+"Yes, surprised."
+
+"No, scared," corrected Dave, "and ran away."
+
+"Why?" demanded Ralph.
+
+"Well, from your seeming to know him under another name, I should say
+because he is found out. What game has he been playing on you,
+Fairbanks?"
+
+"He has done me more good than harm," evaded Ralph. "I've only known
+him since yesterday."
+
+"Well, he has run away, that's certain. That bothers me. Fred Porter
+was never a sneak or a coward. He was full of jolly mischief and fun,
+but a better friend no fellow ever had."
+
+"He struck me that way," said Ralph. "I hope he'll come back. There's
+my engine coming, and I'll have to go on duty. Try and find him, Dave,
+will you?"
+
+"If I can."
+
+"And if you find him, tell him I must see him before we leave
+Bridgeport."
+
+"All right."
+
+Ralph picked up the lunch package that his odd acquaintance had
+dropped and moved along the platform to where No. 999 had run. The
+locomotive was backed to the coaches and the relief engineer stepped
+to the platform.
+
+"I say," he projected in an undertone to Ralph, "what's up with
+Fogg?"
+
+"Is there anything?" questioned Ralph evasively.
+
+"Dizzy in the headlight and wobbly in the drivers, that's all," came
+the response, with a wink.
+
+Ralph's heart sank as he entered the cab. Its atmosphere was freighted
+with the fumes of liquor, and a single glance at the fireman convinced
+him that Fogg was very far over the line of sobriety. Ralph hardly
+knew how to take Fogg. The latter nodded briefly and turned away,
+pretending to occupy himself looking from the cab window. Ralph could
+not resist the impulse to try and break down the wall of reserve
+between them. He stepped over to the fireman's side and placed a
+gentle hand on his shoulder.
+
+"See here, Fogg," he said in a friendly tone, "I've got to say
+something or do something to square accounts for your help in routing
+that crowd this morning."
+
+"Don't you speak of it!" shot out the fireman fiercely. "It's over and
+done, isn't it? Let it drop."
+
+"All right," laughed Ralph genially. "Say, I saw a dispatch in the
+Bridgeport paper to-day from Stanley Junction that ought to make you
+feel pretty good."
+
+"Did?" snapped Fogg, determinedly antagonistic and stubbornly keeping
+his face turned away.
+
+"Yes. It gave the list of names of those in our district who passed an
+examination as school teachers."
+
+Ralph observed that a tremor ran through the fireman's frame at this
+intelligence.
+
+"Who--who was in it?" he questioned, his voice hoarse and tense.
+
+"Two from the Junction."
+
+"Two?"
+
+"Yes, and the one who led with the highest average was your daughter,
+Nellie."
+
+"I--I don't deserve it!" fairly sobbed the fireman, getting up
+suddenly and striving to hide his emotion. "Boy!" and he trembled all
+over as he now faced Ralph, "I'm steamed up again, as you can plainly
+see. I won't deny it, but I had to, I couldn't fire a mile unless I
+steamed up, but I'll say one thing with truth--I've got no bottle in
+the cab."
+
+"That's good, Mr. Fogg," said Ralph.
+
+"And never will have again, and you've seen the last signs of the
+dirty stuff on me. I'm going home to make a new start."
+
+"Heaven bless you in your new resolution, Mr. Fogg!" cried Ralph, his
+own tones none too steady.
+
+"I'll--I'll have something to say to you after we get home," continued
+Fogg. "Just leave me alone till then."
+
+Something was working on the mind of the fireman, this was very
+plain--something for good, Ralph fervently hoped. The young engineer
+took his cue promptly. During all the trip to Stanley Junction he
+avoided all conversation except commonplace routine remarks. Up to the
+time of leaving Bridgeport Ralph had waited expectantly for some sign
+of the youth he had known as Marvin Clark. Clark or Porter, his new
+acquaintance did not put in an appearance, nor did Dave Bissell
+return.
+
+"Dave did not succeed in finding him," decided Ralph, as No. 999
+started up. "I'm sorry." Dave had been pretty positive as to the
+identity of his cousin, and the elusive actions of his relative seemed
+to verify his recognition.
+
+"Traveling under false colors, I fear," reflected the young engineer.
+"A pretty bold and difficult imposture, I should think. Are his
+credentials false or stolen? But how to explain his motive? He
+doesn't like railroading, and the system and the vouchers he is at so
+much trouble to get and preserve make this business decidedly
+mysterious. If it wasn't for those features, I would feel it my duty
+to report the affair and notify the real Marvin Clark, if there is
+one."
+
+Ralph had both mind and hands full during the trip. As to Fogg, he
+went straight about his duties, grimly silent and mechanically. As the
+fire and vim of stimulation died down, Ralph could see that it was
+with the most exhaustive effort that his fireman kept up his nerve and
+strength. Fogg was weak and panting the last shovel full of coal he
+threw into the furnace, as they sighted Stanley Junction. He was as
+limp as a rag, and looked wretched as the train rolled into the
+depot.
+
+They ran the locomotive to the roundhouse. Ralph went at once to the
+foreman's office, while Fogg attended to the stalling of No. 999. He
+found the night watchman asleep there and no orders on the blackboard
+for Fogg or himself. This meant that they need not report before
+noon.
+
+Ralph looked around for the fireman when he came out of the office,
+but the latter had disappeared, probably headed for home. Ralph,
+half-across the turntable, halted and went over to No. 999.
+
+"The vest of that mysterious new acquaintance of mine, Clark--Porter,"
+said Ralph--"he said he left it in the locomotive."
+
+Ralph did not find the article in question in his own bunker. He threw
+back the cover of Fogg's box, to discover the vest neatly folded up at
+the bottom of that receptacle. With some curiosity he looked over its
+pockets.
+
+"Whew!" whistled Ralph, as he removed and opened the only article it
+contained--a check book. The checks were upon a bank at Newton. About
+half of what the book had originally contained had been removed.
+Examining the stubs, Ralph calculated that over $1,000 had been
+deposited at the bank in the name of Marvin Clark, and that fully half
+that amount had been checked out.
+
+"This is pretty serious," commented the young engineer. "It looks as
+if the impostor has not only stolen Clark's name, but his passes and
+his check book as well. I don't like the looks of this. There's
+something here I can't figure out."
+
+Ralph placed the check book in his own pocket and returned the vest to
+the box. As he did this, he disturbed a piece of cloth used by Fogg to
+wipe grease from the cab valves. Something unfamiliar to the touch was
+outlined wrapped up in the rag, and Ralph explored.
+
+Two objects came into view as he opened the piece of cloth. With a
+great gasp the young engineer stared at these. Then he rolled up the
+rag and placed it and its contents in his pocket.
+
+His face grew grave, and Ralph uttered a deep sigh, startled and
+sorrowful.
+
+The young engineer of No. 999 had made a discovery so strange, so
+unexpected, that it fairly took his breath away.
+
+The mystery of the collision on the siding at Plympton was disclosed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE LIGHT OF HOME
+
+
+Ralph walked home in the quiet night in a serious and thoughtful mood.
+His usually bright face was clouded and his head bent, as though his
+mind was greatly upset. As the light of home came into view, however,
+with a effort he cast aside all railroad and personal cares.
+
+"Always the same dear, faithful mother," he murmured gratefully, as he
+approached the cheerful looking cottage all alight down stairs, and
+hurried his steps to greet her waiting for him on the porch.
+
+"Ralph," she spoke anxiously, "you are not hurt?"
+
+"Hurt!" cried Ralph, "not a bit of it. Why," as he noticed his mother
+trembling all over, "what put that into your head?"
+
+"The fear that what Zeph heard downtown at the roundhouse might be
+true," replied Mrs. Fairbanks. "There was a rumor that there had been
+a collision. Besides, I knew that some of your enemies were watching
+your movements."
+
+"You must stop worrying over these foolish notions," said Ralph
+reassuringly. "We made a successful run, and as to the enemies, they
+generally get the worst of it. Men in the wrong always do."
+
+Ralph was glad to get back to his comfortable home. As he passed
+through the hallway he noticed Zeph Dallas, asleep on the couch. Ralph
+did not hail or disturb him. Young Dallas had been at work for the
+friends of Ralph who operated the Short Line Railroad up near Wilmer,
+but about two weeks previous to the present time had got tired of the
+dull route through the woods and had come to Stanley Junction. The
+young engineer had gotten him a job "subbing" as a helper on a yards
+switch engine. Zeph had been made welcome at the Fairbanks home, as
+were all friends of Ralph, by his devoted mother.
+
+"You are the best mother and the best cook in the world," declared
+Ralph, as he sat down at the table in the cozy little dining room,
+before a warm meal quickly brought from the kitchen. "Really, mother,
+you are simply spoiling me, and as to your sitting up for me this way
+and missing your sleep, it is a positive imposition on you."
+
+His mother only smiled sweetly and proudly upon him. Then she asked:
+
+"Was it a hard trip, Ralph?"
+
+"In a way," responded Ralph. "But what made it harder was some
+unpleasant developments entirely outside of railroad routine."
+
+"That so? It never rains but it pours!" proclaimed an intruder
+abruptly, and, awakened from his sleep by the sound of voices, Zeph
+Dallas came into the dining room yawning and stretching himself.
+
+"Why!" exclaimed Ralph, giving the intruder a quick stare, "what have
+you ever been doing to yourself?"
+
+"Me?" grinned Zeph--"you mean that black eye and that battered
+cheek?"
+
+"Yes--accident?"
+
+"No--incident," corrected Zeph, with a chuckle. "A lively one, too, I
+can tell you."
+
+"Fell off the engine?"
+
+"No, fell against a couple of good hard human fists. We had been
+sorting stray freights all the afternoon on old dinky 97, and had
+sided to let a passenger go by, when I noticed a man with a bag and a
+stick picking up coal along the tracks. Just then, a poor, ragged
+little fellow with a basket came around the end of the freight doing
+the same. The man thought he had a monopoly in his line, because he
+was big. He jumped on the little fellow, kicked him, hit him with his
+stick, and--I was in the mix-up in just two seconds."
+
+"You should keep out of trouble, Zeph," advised Mrs. Fairbanks,
+gently.
+
+"How could I, ma'am, when that little midget was getting the worst of
+it?" demurred Zeph. "Well, I pitched into the big, overgrown bully,
+tooth and nail. I'm a sight, maybe. You ought to see him! He cut for
+it after a good sound drubbing, leaving his bag of coal behind him. I
+gave the little fellow all the loose change I had, filled his basket
+from the bag, and sent him home happy. When I got back to the engine,
+Griggs, the assistant master mechanic, was in the cab. He said a few
+sharp words about discipline and the rules of the road, and told me to
+get off the engine."
+
+"Discharged, eh?"
+
+"And to stay off. I'm slated, sure. Don't worry about it, Fairbanks;
+I'd got sick to death of the job, anyway."
+
+"But what are you going to do?" inquired Ralph gravely.
+
+"Get another one, of course. I'm going to try to get Bob Adair, the
+road detective, to give me a show. That's the line of work I like. If
+he won't, I'll try some other town. I'm sorry, Fairbanks, for my
+wages will only settle what board I owe you, and there's that last
+suit of clothes you got for me, not paid for yet----"
+
+"Don't trouble yourself about that, Zeph," interrupted Ralph kindly.
+"You're honest, and you'll pay when you can. You may keep what money
+you have for a new start until you get to work again."
+
+Zeph looked grateful. Then Ralph gave some details of the record run
+to Bridgeport, there was some general conversation, and he went to
+bed.
+
+Ralph had asked his mother to call him at nine o'clock in the morning,
+but an hour before that time there was a tap at the door of the
+bedroom.
+
+"Ralph, dear," spoke up his mother, "I dislike to disturb you, but a
+messenger boy has just brought a telegram, and I thought that maybe it
+was something of importance and might need immediate attention."
+
+"That's right, mother. I will be down stairs in a minute," answered
+the young railroader, and he dressed rapidly and hurried down to the
+sitting room, where his mother stood holding out to him a sealed
+yellow envelope. Ralph tore it open. He looked for a signature, but
+there was none. It was a night message dated at Bridgeport, the
+evening previous, and it ran:
+
+  "Clark--Porter--whatever you know don't speak of it, or great
+  trouble may result. Will see you within two days."
+
+"I wonder what the next development will be?" murmured Ralph. "'Great
+trouble may result.' I don't understand it at all. 'Will see you in
+two days'--then there is some explanation coming. Clark, or whatever
+his real name is, must suspect or know that his cousin, Dave Bissell,
+has told me something. Well, I certainly won't make any move about
+this strange affair until Clark has had an opportunity to straighten
+things out. In the meantime, I've got a good deal of personal business
+on my hands."
+
+Ralph was a good deal in doubt and anxious as to his railroad career,
+immediate and prospective. As has been told, his trip to Bridgeport
+had been a record run. The fact that the China & Japan Mail could be
+delivered on time, indicated a possibility that the Great Northern
+might make a feature of new train service. It would not, however, be
+done in a day. No. 999 might be put on the Dover branch of the Great
+Northern, or accomodation service to other points, and the Overland
+Express connection canceled.
+
+There had been all kinds of speculation and gossip at the dog house as
+to the new system of business expansion adopted by the Great
+Northern. That road had acquired new branches during the past year,
+and was becoming a big system of itself. There was talk about a
+consolidation with another line, which might enable the road to
+arrange for traffic clear to the Pacific. New splendid train service
+was talked of everywhere, among the workmen, and every ambitious
+railroader was looking for a handsome and substantial promotion.
+
+Ralph could not tell until he reported at the roundhouse after twelve
+o'clock when and how he would start out again. On the Bridgeport run
+he was not due until the next morning. All he was sure of was that he
+and Fogg were regulars for No. 999 wherever that locomotive was
+assigned, until further orders interfered. Despite the successful
+record run to Bridgeport, somebody was listed for at least a
+"call-down" on account of the accident on the siding at Plympton.
+Every time Ralph thought of that, he recollected his "find" in Lemuel
+Fogg's bunker, and his face became grave and distressed.
+
+"It's bound to come out," he reflected, as he strolled into the neat,
+attractive garden after breakfast. "Why, Mr. Griscom--I'm glad to see
+you."
+
+His old railroad friend was passing the house on his way to the
+roundhouse to report for duty. His brisk step showed that he was
+limited as to time, but he paused for a moment.
+
+"You got there, Fairbanks, didn't you?" he commented heartily. "Good.
+I knew you would, but say, what about this mix-up on the signals at
+Plympton?"
+
+"Oh, that wasn't much," declared Ralph.
+
+"Enough to put the master mechanic on his mettle," objected the
+veteran engineer. "He's going to call all hands on the carpet. Had me
+in yesterday afternoon. He showed me your conductor's report wired
+from Bridgeport. It throws all the blame on Adams, the new station man
+at Plympton. The conductor declares it was all his fault--'color
+blind,' see? Master mechanic had Adams down there yesterday."
+
+"Surely no action is taken yet?" inquired Ralph anxiously.
+
+"No, but I fancy Adams will go. It's a plain case, I think. Your
+signals were special and clear right of way, that's sure. Danforth is
+ready to swear to that. Adams quite as positively swears that the
+green signals on the locomotive were set on a call for the siding. He
+broke down and cried like a child when it was hinted that a discharge
+from the service was likely."
+
+"Poor fellow, I must see the master mechanic at once," said Ralph.
+
+"You'll have to, for your explanation goes with him and will settle
+the affair. You see, it seems that Adams had broken up his old home
+and gone to the trouble and expense of moving his family to Plympton.
+Now, to be let out would be a pretty hard blow to him. Of course,
+though, if he is color blind----"
+
+"He is not color blind!" cried Ralph, with so much earnestness that
+Griscom stared at him strangely.
+
+"Aha! so you say that, do you?" observed the old engineer, squinting
+his eyes suspiciously. "Then--Fogg. Tricks, I'll bet!"
+
+"I'll talk to you later, Mr. Griscom," said Ralph.
+
+"Good, I want to know, and I see you have something to tell."
+
+The young engineer had, indeed, considerable to tell when the time
+came to justify the disclosures. He was worried as to how he should
+tell it, and to whom. Ralph sat down in the little vine-embowered
+summer-house in the garden, and had a good hard spell of thought.
+Then, as his hand went into his pocket and rested on the piece of
+cloth with its enclosure which he had found in Fogg's bunker on
+No. 999, he started from his seat, a certain firm, purposeful
+expression on his face.
+
+"I've got to do it," he said to himself, as he went along in the
+direction of the home of Lemuel Fogg. "Somebody has got to take the
+responsibility of the collision. Adams, the new station man at
+Plympton, is innocent of any blame. It would be a terrible misfortune
+for him to lose his job. Fogg has sickness in his family. The truth
+coming out, might spoil all the future of that bright daughter of his.
+As to myself--why, if worse comes to worse, I can find a place with my
+good friends on the Short Line Railway down near Dover. I'm young, I'm
+doing right in making the sacrifice, and I'm not afraid of the future.
+Yes, it is a hard way for a fellow with all the bright dreams I've
+had, but--I'm going to do it!"
+
+The young engineer had made a grand, a mighty resolve. It was a severe
+struggle, a hard, bitter sacrifice of self interest, but Ralph felt
+that a great duty presented, and he faced its exactions manfully.
+
+The home of Lemuel Fogg the fireman was about four blocks distant. As
+Ralph reached it, he found a great roaring fire of brush and rubbish
+burning in the side yard.
+
+"A good sign, if that is a spurt of home industry with Fogg," decided
+the young railroader. "He's tidying up the place. It needs it bad
+enough," and Ralph glanced critically at the disordered yard.
+
+Nobody was astir about the place. Ralph knew that Mrs. Fogg had been
+very ill of late, and that there was an infant in the house. He
+decided to wait until Fogg appeared, when he noticed the fireman way
+down the rear alley. His back was to Ralph and he was carrying a rake.
+Fogg turned into a yard, and Ralph started after him calculating that
+the fireman was returning the implement to a neighbor. Just as Ralph
+came to the yard, the fireman came out of it.
+
+At a glance the young engineer noted a change in the face of Fogg that
+both surprised and pleased him. The fireman looked fresh, bright and
+happy. He was humming a little tune, and he swung along as if on
+cheerful business bent, and as if all things were coming swimmingly
+with him.
+
+"How are you, Mr. Fogg?" hailed Ralph.
+
+The fireman changed color, a half-shamed, half-defiant look came into
+his face, but he clasped the extended hand of the young railroader and
+responded heartily to its friendly pressure.
+
+"I've got something to tell you, Fairbanks," he said, straightening
+up as if under some striving sense of manliness.
+
+"That's all right," nodded Ralph with a smile. "I'm going back to the
+house with you, and will be glad to have a chat with you. First,
+though, I want to say something to you, so we'll pause here for a
+moment."
+
+"I've--I've made a new start," stammered Fogg. "I've buried the
+past."
+
+"Good!" cried Ralph, giving his companion a hearty slap on the
+shoulder, "that's just what I was going to say to you. Bury the
+past--yes, deep, fathoms deep, without another word, never to be
+resurrected. To prove it, let's first bury this. Kick it under that
+ash heap yonder, Mr. Fogg, and forget all about it. Here's something
+that belongs to you. Put it out of sight, and never speak of it or
+think of it again."
+
+And Ralph handed to the fireman the package done up in the oiling
+cloth that he had unearthed from Fogg's bunker in the cab of No. 999.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+FIRE!
+
+
+Lemuel Fogg gave a violent start as he received the parcel from
+Ralph's hand. His face fell and the color deserted it. The package
+unrolled in his grasp, and he let it drop to the ground. Two square
+sheets of green colored mica rolled out from the bundle.
+
+"Fairbanks!" spoke the fireman hoarsely, his lips quivering--"you
+know?"
+
+"I surmise a great deal," replied Ralph promptly, "and I want to say
+nothing more about it."
+
+"But--"
+
+"I have figured it all out. Adams, the station man at Plympton, has a
+family. You are going to turn over a leaf, I have decided to take all
+the blame for the collision on the siding. I shall see the master
+mechanic within an hour and settle everything. I am going to resign my
+position with the Great Northern road."
+
+The fireman's jaws dropped at this amazing declaration of the young
+railroader. It seemed as if for a moment he was fairly petrified at
+the unexpected disclosure of the noble self-sacrifice involved. He did
+not have to explain what those two sheets of green mica
+signified--Ralph knew too well. Inspired by jealousy, Lemuel Fogg had
+slipped them over the white signal lights of No. 999 as the locomotive
+approached Plympton, getting the siding semaphore, and removing them
+before the smash-up had come about.
+
+"Never!" shouted Fogg suddenly. "Let me tell you, Fairbanks--"
+
+Before the speaker could finish the sentence Ralph seized his arm with
+the startling words:
+
+"Mr. Fogg, look--fire!"
+
+Facing about, Lemuel Fogg uttered a frightful cry as he discerned what
+had just attracted the notice of the young engineer. The Fogg house
+was in flames.
+
+When Ralph had first noticed the fiercely-burning heap of rubbish on
+the Fogg premises, he had observed that it was dangerously near to the
+house. It had ignited the dry light timber of the dwelling, the whole
+rear part of which was now a mass of smoke and flames.
+
+"My wife--my helpless wife and the little child!" burst from the lips
+of the frantic fireman in a shrill, ringing scream.
+
+Ralph joined him as he ran down the alley on a mad run. The great
+sweat stood out on the bloodless face of the agonized husband and
+father in knobs, his eyes wore a frenzied expression of suspense and
+alarm.
+
+"Save them! save them!" he shouted, as Ralph kept pace with him.
+
+"Don't get excited, Mr. Fogg," spoke Ralph reassuringly. "We shall be
+in time."
+
+"But she cannot move--she is in the bedroom directly over the kitchen.
+Oh, this is a judgment for all my wickedness!"
+
+"Be a man," encouraged Ralph. "Here we are--let me help you."
+
+"Up the back stairs!" cried Fogg. "They are nearest to her."
+
+"No, no--you can never get up them," declared Ralph.
+
+The side door of the house was open, showing a pair of stairs, but
+they were all ablaze. Smoke and sparks poured up this natural funnel
+fiercely. Ralph caught at the arm of his companion and tried to detain
+him, but Fogg broke away from his grasp.
+
+Ralph saw him disappear beyond the blazing barrier. He was about to
+run around to the front of the house, when he heard a hoarse cry.
+Driven back by the overpowering smoke, Fogg had stumbled. He fell
+headlong down a half a dozen steps, his head struck the lower
+platform, and he rolled out upon the gravel walk, stunned.
+
+Ralph quickly dragged the man out of the range of the fire and upon
+the grass. He tried to arouse Fogg, but was unsuccessful. There was no
+time to lose. Seizing a half-filled bucket standing by the well near
+by, Ralph deluged the head of the insensible fireman with its
+contents. It did not revive him. Ralph sped to the front of the house,
+ran up on the stoop and jerked at the knob of the front screen door.
+
+It was locked, but Ralph tore it open in an instant. A woman's frantic
+screams echoed as the young railroader dashed into the house. He was
+quickly up the front stairs. At the top landing he paused momentarily,
+unable to look about him clearly because of the dense smoke that
+permeated the place.
+
+Those frenzied screams again ringing out guided him down a narrow
+hallway to the rear upper bedroom. The furniture in it was just
+commencing to take fire. On the floor was the fireman's wife, a tiny
+babe held in one arm, while with the other she was trying
+unsuccessfully to pull herself out of range of the fire.
+
+"Save me! save me!" she shrieked, as Ralph's form was vaguely outlined
+to her vision.
+
+"Do not be alarmed, Mrs. Fogg," spoke Ralph quickly--"there's no
+danger."
+
+He ran to the bed, speedily pulled off a blanket lying there, and
+wrapped it about the woman.
+
+"Hold the child closely," he directed, and bodily lifted mother and
+babe in his strong, sinewy arms. The young railroader staggered under
+his great burden as he made for the hallway, but never was he so glad
+of his early athletic training as at this critical moment in his
+life.
+
+It was a strenuous and perilous task getting down the front stairs
+with his load, but Ralph managed it. He carried mother and child clear
+out into the garden, placed them carefully on a rustic bench there,
+and then ran towards the well.
+
+By this time people had come to the scene of the fire. There were two
+buckets at the well. A neighbor and the young railroader soon formed a
+limited bucket brigade, but it was slow work hauling up the water, and
+the flames had soon gained a headway that made their efforts to quench
+them useless.
+
+Ralph organized the excited onlookers to some system in removing what
+could be saved from the burning house. In the meantime he had directed
+a boy to hasten to the nearest telephone and call out the fire
+department. Soon the clanging bell of the hose cart echoed in the near
+distance. The rear part of the house had been pretty well burned down
+by this time, and the front of the building began to blaze.
+
+Ralph got a light wagon from the barn of a neighbor. A comfortable
+couch was made of pillows and blankets, and Mrs. Fogg and her child
+were placed on this. Ralph found no difficulty in enlisting volunteers
+to haul the wagon to his home, where his mother soon had the poor lady
+and her babe in a condition of safety and comfort. As Ralph returned
+to the dismantled and still smoking Fogg home he met a neighbor.
+
+"Oh, Fairbanks," spoke this person, "you're in great demand up at the
+Foggs."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"Fogg has come to. They told him about your saving his wife and child.
+He cried like a baby at first. Then he insisted on finding you. He's
+blessing you for your noble heroism, I tell you."
+
+"I don't know about the noble heroism," returned Ralph with a smile.
+"Go back, will you, and tell him I'll see him in about an hour. Tell
+him to come down to our house at once. It's all arranged there to make
+him feel at home until he can make other arrangements."
+
+"You're a mighty good fellow, Fairbanks" declared the man
+enthusiastically, "and everybody knows it!"
+
+"Thank you," returned Ralph, and proceeded on his way. As he casually
+looked at his watch the young railroader quickened his steps with the
+half-murmured words:
+
+"And now for a tussle with the master mechanic."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE MASTER MECHANIC
+
+
+"Want to resign, do you?"
+
+"That is what I came here for, sir," said the young engineer of
+No. 999.
+
+"Well, you're too late," and the master mechanic of the Great Northern
+seemed to turn his back on Ralph, busying himself with some papers on
+his desk. He was a great, gruff fellow with the heart of a child, but
+he showed it rarely. A diamond in the rough, most of the employees of
+the road were afraid of him. Not so Ralph. The young railroader had
+won the respect and admiration of the official by his loyalty and
+close attention to duty. In fact, Ralph felt that the influence of the
+master mechanic had been considerable of an element in his promotion
+to No. 999. He stepped nearer to the desk, managing to face the
+would-be tyro.
+
+"Too late, sir?" he repeated vaguely.
+
+"Didn't I say so? Get out!"
+
+The master mechanic waved his hand, and Ralph was a trifle surprised
+at what seemed a peremptory dismissal. The moving arm of the old
+railroader described a swoop, grasped the hand of Ralph in a fervent
+grip, and pulling the young engineer to almost an embrace, he said:
+
+"Fairbanks, we had in our family a little boy who died. It's a pretty
+tender memory with us, but every time I look at you I think of the
+dear little fellow. He'd have been a railroader, too, if he had lived,
+and the fondest wish of my heart is that he might have been like
+you."
+
+"Why----" murmured the astonished Ralph.
+
+The master mechanic cleared his throat and his great hand swept the
+moisture from his eyes. Then in a more practical tone he resumed:
+
+"I said you was too late."
+
+"Too late for what?"
+
+"Resigning. You are too late," observed the official, "because Lemuel
+Fogg has already been here."
+
+"Then----"
+
+"To tender his resignation, to tell the whole truthful story of the
+collision on the siding at Plympton. Fairbanks," continued the master
+mechanic very seriously, "you are a noble young fellow. I know your
+design to bear the whole brunt of the smash-up, in order that you
+might save your fireman and the station man down at Plympton. As I
+said, Fogg was here. I never saw a man so broken. He told me
+everything. He told me of your patience, of your kindness, your
+manliness. Lad, your treatment of Fogg under those circumstances shows
+the mettle in you that will make you a great man, and, what is better
+still, a good man."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Ralph in a subdued tone, deeply affected
+despite himself.
+
+"For the first time in twenty years' service," continued the official,
+"I am going to take a serious responsibility on myself which should be
+rightly shouldered by the company. The Plympton incident is dead and
+buried. The three of us must hold always the secret close. The black
+mark is rubbed off the slate."
+
+"You have done right--oh, believe me, sir!" declared Ralph earnestly.
+"I feel sure that Mr. Fogg has learned a lesson that he will never
+forget, and the blessings of his sick wife, of his ambitious young
+daughter, will be yours."
+
+"In my desk yonder," continued the master mechanic, "I have his
+written pledge that drink is a thing of the past with him. I told Fogg
+that if ever he disappointed me in my belief that he was a changed
+man, a reformed man, I would leave the service feeling that my
+mistaken judgment did not do justice to my position with the Great
+Northern. As to you, ready to sacrifice yourself for the sake of
+others--you are a young man among thousands. Drop it now--get out!"
+ordered the master mechanic, with a vast show of authority. "It's all
+under seal of silence, and I expect to see you and Fogg make a great
+team."
+
+"Mr. Fogg's house has just burned down," said Ralph. "It would have
+broken him down completely, if his discharge had been added to that
+misfortune."
+
+"Burned down?" repeated the master mechanic, in surprise and with
+interest. "How was that?" and Ralph had to recite the story of the
+fire. He added that he had heard Fogg had but little insurance.
+
+"Wait a minute," directed the official, and he went into the next
+office. Ralph heard him dictating something to his stenographer. Then
+the typewriter clicked, and shortly afterwards the master mechanic
+came into the office with a sheet of foolscap, which he handed to
+Ralph. A pleased flush came into the face of the young railroader as
+he read the typewritten heading of the sheet--it was a subscription
+list in behalf of Lemuel Fogg, and headed by the signature of the
+master mechanic, with "$20" after it.
+
+"You are a noble man!" cried Ralph irresistibly. "No wonder it's a joy
+to work for you."
+
+"Down brakes there!" laughed the big-hearted fellow. "Don't draw it
+too strong, Fairbanks. Don't be more liberal than you can afford now,"
+he directed, as Ralph placed the paper on the desk, and added to it
+his subscription for $10. "You can tell Fogg we're rising a few
+pennies for him. I'll circulate the subscription among the officials,
+and if any plan to have the roundhouse crowd chip in a trifle comes to
+your mind, why, start it down the rails. Get out."
+
+"All right," cried Ralph. "You've said that twice, so I guess it's
+time to go now."
+
+"One minute, though," added the master mechanic. "You and Fogg will
+run No. 999 on the Tipton accommodation to-morrow. It's a shift berth,
+though. I don't want you to go dreaming quite yet, Fairbanks, that
+you're president of the Great Northern, and all that, but, under the
+hat, I will say that you can expect a boost. We are figuring on some
+big things, and I shouldn't wonder if a new train is soon to be
+announced that will wake up some of our rivals. Get out now for good,
+for I'm swamped with work here."
+
+The young engineer left the office of the master mechanic with a very
+happy heart. Affairs had turned out to his entire satisfaction, and,
+too, for the benefit of those whose welfare he had considered beyond
+his own. Ralph was full of the good news he had to impart to Lemuel
+Fogg. As he left the vicinity of the depot, he began to formulate a
+plan in his mind for securing a subscription from his fellow workers
+to aid Fogg.
+
+"I say," suddenly remarked Ralph to himself with a queer smile, and
+halting in his progress, "talk about coincidences, here is one for
+certain. 'The Overland Limited,' why, I've got an idea!"
+
+The "Overland Limited" had been in Ralph's mind ever since leaving the
+office of the master mechanic. There could be only one solution to the
+hint that official had given of "new trains that would wake up some of
+the rivals of the Great Northern." That road had recently bought up
+two connecting lines of railroad. The China & Japan Mail
+experiment--could it be a test as to the possibility of establishing
+an "Overland Special?" At all events, there was a pertinent suggestion
+in the words that met the gaze of the young engineer and caused him to
+halt calculatingly.
+
+A newly-painted store front with clouded windows had a placard outside
+bearing the announcement: "Olympia Theatre, 10-cent show. Will open
+next Saturday evening with the following special scenes: 1--The Poor
+Artist. 2--London by Gaslight. 3--A Day on the Overland Limited." At
+the door of the store just being renovated for a picture show stood a
+man, tying some printed bills to an awning rod for passers by to take.
+Ralph approached this individual.
+
+"Going to open a moving picture show?" he inquired in a friendly way.
+
+"I am," responded the show man. "Interested?"
+
+"Yes," answered Ralph.
+
+"I hope the public will be. It's a sort of experiment, with two other
+shows in town. There's none in this locality, and they tell me I'll do
+well."
+
+"I should think so," answered Ralph. "Bright, clean pictures will draw
+a good crowd."
+
+"I'd like to get the railroad men in touch with me. They and their
+families could give me lots of business. There's that prime 'Overland'
+scene. It's a new and fine film."
+
+"And it has suggested something to me that you may be glad to follow
+out," spoke Ralph.
+
+"And what's that, neighbor?" inquired the showman curiously.
+
+"I'll tell you," responded Ralph. "There was a fire in town
+to-day--one of the best-known firemen on the road was burned out. It's
+a big blow to him, for he's lost about all he had. There isn't a
+railroad man in Stanley Junction who would not be glad to help him
+get on his feet again. The big fellows of the road will subscribe in a
+good way, but the workers can't spare a great deal."
+
+"I see," nodded the man. "What are you getting at, though?"
+
+"Just this," explained Ralph. "You get out some special dodgers and
+announce your opening night as a benefit for Lemuel Fogg, fireman.
+Offer to donate fifty per cent. of the proceeds to Fogg, and I'll
+guarantee to crowd your house to the doors."
+
+"Say!" enthused the man, slapping Ralph boisterously on the shoulder,
+"you're a natural showman. Write me the dodger, will you, and I'll
+have it over the streets inside of twenty-four hours."
+
+"I'm better at filling in time schedules than composing show bills,"
+said Ralph, "but I'll have a try at this one for my friend's sake."
+
+Ralph went inside and was soon busy with blank paper and pencil, which
+the showman provided. His composition was a very creditable piece of
+literary work, and the showman chuckled immensely, and told Ralph that
+he could consider himself on the free list--"with all his family."
+
+Ralph made a start for home again, but his fixed plans were scheduled
+for frequent changes, it seemed. An engineer friend, on his way to the
+roundhouse, met him, and Ralph turned and walked that way with him.
+He broached the subject nearest to his heart, and soon had his
+companion interested in the subscription for Lemuel Fogg. When he
+parted with the man at the end of the depot platform the latter had
+promised to be responsible for great results among his
+fellow-workmen.
+
+The young engineer now proceeded in the direction of home. The whistle
+of the western accommodation, however, just arriving, held him
+stationary for a few moments, and he stood watching the train roll
+into the depot with the interest ever present with a railroader.
+
+The last coach was a chair car. As the coaches jolted to a halt, there
+crawled or rather rolled from under the chair car a forlorn figure,
+weakened, tattered, a stowaway delivered from a perilous stolen ride
+on the trucks.
+
+It was a boy; Ralph saw that at a glance. As the depot watchman ran
+forward to nab this juvenile offender against the law, the boy sat up
+on the board plankway where he had landed, and Ralph caught a sight of
+his face.
+
+In an instant the young railroader recognized this new arrival. It was
+"Wheels," otherwise Archie Graham, the boy inventor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A GOOD FRIEND
+
+
+RALPH could not repress a smile at a sight of the erratic youth. The
+young inventor, it seemed, was always coming to light in some original
+way. His last sensational appearance fitted in naturally to his usual
+eccentric methods.
+
+"Hey, there! trying to beat the railroad, eh?" shouted the depot
+official officer, rushing forward to nab the culprit.
+
+"Don't arrest him, Mr. Brooks," spoke Ralph quickly. "I know him; I'm
+interested in him. He is no professional ride-stealer, and I am
+perfectly satisfied that he never went to all that risk and discomfort
+because he didn't have the money to pay his fare."
+
+The watchman was an old-time friend of Ralph. He looked puzzled, but
+he halted in his original intention of arresting the stowaway. Young
+Graham paid no attention to anything going on about him. He seemed
+occupied as usual with his own thoughts solely. First he dug cinders
+out of his blinking eyes. Then he rubbed the coating of grime and soot
+from his face, and began groping in his pockets. Very ruefully he
+turned out one particular inside coat pocket. He shook his head in a
+doleful way.
+
+"Gone!" he remarked. "Lost my pocket book. Friend--a pencil, quick."
+
+These words he spoke to Ralph, beckoning him earnestly to approach
+nearer.
+
+"And a card, a piece of paper, anything I can write on. Don't
+delay--hurry, before I forget it."
+
+Ralph found a stub of a pencil and some railroad blanks in his pocket,
+and gave them to the young inventor. Then the latter set at work,
+becoming utterly oblivious of his surroundings. For nearly two minutes
+he was occupied in making memoranda and drawing small sections of
+curves and lines.
+
+"All right, got it, good!" he voiced exultantly, as he returned the
+pencil to Ralph and carefully stowed the slips of paper in his pocket.
+Then he arose to his feet. He smiled queerly as he gazed down at his
+tattered garments and grimed and blistered hands.
+
+"Pretty looking sight, ain't I?" he propounded to the young engineer.
+"Had to do it, though. Glad I did it. Got the actual details, see?"
+
+"What of, may I ask?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"New idea. Save fuel, make the engine go faster. Been figuring on it
+for months," explained the strange boy. "I live at Bridgeport."
+
+"Yes, I know," nodded Ralph. "I saw you there."
+
+"Did? Glad of that, too. If you feel friendly enough, maybe you'll
+advise me what to do in my distressing plight. Stranger here, and lost
+my pocketbook. It fell out of my pocket while I was hanging on to the
+trucks. Not a cent."
+
+"That can be fixed all right, I think," said Ralph.
+
+"Clothes all riddled--need a bath."
+
+"You had better come with me to the hotel, Mr. Graham," spoke Ralph.
+"I know enough about you to be interested in you. I will vouch for you
+to the hotel keeper, who will take care of you until you hear from
+home."
+
+"Yes. Got money in the bank at Bridgeport," said Archie Graham. "As I
+was telling you, I've struck a new idea. You know I've been trying to
+invent something for a number of years."
+
+"Yes, I've heard about that, and sincerely hope you will figure out a
+success."
+
+"Stick at it, anyway," declared Archie. "Well, at Bridgeport they take
+me as a joke, see? That's all right; I'll show them, some day. They
+voted me a nuisance at the shops and shut me out. Wouldn't let me
+come near their engines. I had to find out some things necessary to my
+inventions, so I came on to Stanley Junction. Rode in a coach like any
+other civilized being until I got about ten miles from here--last
+stop."
+
+"Yes," nodded Ralph.
+
+"Well, there I stepped out of the coach and under it. Whew! but it was
+an experience I'll never try again. All the same, I got what I was
+after. I wanted to learn how many revolutions an axle made in so many
+minutes. I wanted to know, too, how a belt could be attached under a
+coach. I've got the outlines of the facts, how to work out my
+invention: 'Graham's Automatic Bellows Gearing.'"
+
+Ralph did not ask for further details as to the device his companion
+had in mind. He led a pleasant conversation the way from the depot,
+and when they reached the hotel introduced Archie to its proprietor.
+
+"This friend of mine will be all right for what he orders, Mr. Lane,"
+said Ralph.
+
+"Yes, I'm going to stay here some days, perhaps a week or two,"
+explained the young inventor, "so, if you'll give me a blank check
+I'll fill it for what cash I may need. You put it through your bank
+and the funds will be here to-morrow."
+
+Everything was arranged in a satisfactory way, even to Archie ordering
+a new suit of clothes. The youth came out temporarily from his usual
+profundity, and had a real, natural boyish talk with Ralph. The latter
+recited the incident of the adventure with Billy Bouncer's crowd at
+Bridgeport.
+
+"Oh, that Jim Scroggins fellow," said Archie, with a smile. "Yes, I
+remember--'kick him Scroggins.' You see, he had broken into my
+workshop, destroyed some devices I was working on and stole a lot of
+my tools. So you're Mr. Fairbanks? I've heard of you."
+
+"Ralph, you mean, Mr. Graham," observed the young railroader
+pleasantly.
+
+"Then Archie, you mean," added his eccentric companion. "I'd like to
+be friends with you, for I can see you are the right sort. You've done
+a good deal for me."
+
+"Oh, don't notice that."
+
+"And you can do a good deal more."
+
+"Indeed? How?"
+
+"By getting me free range of your roundhouse here. Can you?"
+
+"I will be glad to do it," answered Ralph.
+
+"I hope you will," said Archie gratefully. "They don't know me here,
+and they won't poke fun at me or hinder me. I'm not going to steal
+any of their locomotives. I just want to study them."
+
+"That's all right," said Ralph, "I'll see you to-morrow and fix things
+for you, so you will be welcome among my railroad friends."
+
+"You're a royal good fellow, Mr. Ralph," declared the young inventor
+with enthusiasm, "and I don't know how to thank you enough."
+
+"Well, I've tried to do something for humanity to-day," reflected the
+young engineer brightly, as he wended his way homewards. "It comes
+easy and natural, too, when a fellow's trying to do his level best."
+
+Ralph found his mother bustling about at a great rate when he reached
+home. The excitement over the fire had died down. Fogg was up at the
+ruins getting his rescued household belongings to a neighborly
+shelter. The string of excited friends to condole with Mrs. Fogg had
+dwindled away, and the poor lady lay in comfort and peace in the best
+bedroom of the house.
+
+"She seems so grateful to you for having saved her life," Mrs.
+Fairbanks told Ralph, "and so glad, she told me, that her husband had
+signed the pledge, that she takes the fire quite reasonably."
+
+"Yes," remarked Ralph, "I heard about the pledge, and it is a blessed
+thing. I have other grand news, too. There's a lot of good fellows in
+Stanley Junction, and the Foggs won't be long without a shelter over
+their heads," and Ralph told his mother all about the subscription
+list and the moving picture show benefit.
+
+"You are a grand manager, Ralph," said the fond mother. "I am only too
+glad to do my share in making these people welcome and comfortable."
+
+"You know how to do it, mother," declared Ralph, "that's sure."
+
+"It seems as if things came about just right to take in the Foggs,"
+spoke Mrs. Fairbanks. "Limpy Joe went back to his restaurant on the
+Short Line yesterday, and Zeph Dallas has left, looking for a new job,
+he says, so we have plenty of spare rooms for our guests."
+
+Ralph started for the ruined Fogg homestead to see if he could be of
+any use there. He came upon Fogg moving some furniture to the barn of
+a neighbor on a hand-cart. The fireman dropped the handles as he saw
+Ralph. His face worked with vivid emotion as he grasped the hand of
+the young railroader.
+
+"Fairbanks," he said, "what can I say to you except that you have been
+the best friend I have ever known!"
+
+"Nothing, except to make up your mind that the friendship will last if
+you want to suit me."
+
+"Honest--honest?" urged Fogg, the tears in his eyes, earnestly
+regarding Ralph's face. "You don't despise me?"
+
+"Oh, yes, we all dislike you, Mr. Fogg!" railed Ralph, with a hearty
+laugh. "The master mechanic has such bitter animosity for you, that
+he's taking his revenge by circulating a subscription list to help
+build you a new home."
+
+"Never!" gasped Fogg, overcome.
+
+"What's more," proceeded Ralph, in the same ironical tone, "the men
+down at the roundhouse have such a deep grudge against you, that they
+are following his example."
+
+"I don't deserve it--I don't deserve it!" murmured the fireman.
+
+"Why, even the new moving picture showman is so anxious to throw you
+down, that he's going to give you a benefit Saturday evening."
+
+"I guess I'm the wickedest and happiest man in the world," said Fogg,
+in a subdued tone.
+
+"You ought to be the happiest, after that little memoranda you gave to
+the master mechanic," suggested Ralph.
+
+"The pledge? Yes!" cried the fireman, "and I mean to keep it, too. He
+told you about it?"
+
+"And everything else necessary to tell," replied Ralph. "It's all
+settled. He says you and I ought to make a strong team. Let's try,
+hard, Mr. Fogg."
+
+"Lad, I'll show you!" declared Fogg solemnly.
+
+"All right, then say no more about it, and let us get these traps
+under cover, and get home to enjoy a famous meal my mother is
+preparing for all hands."
+
+Activity and excitement around the Fairbanks home did not die down
+until long after dark. All the afternoon and evening people came to
+the house to see Fogg, to offer sympathy and practical assistance. If
+the fireman needed encouragement, he got plenty of it. He seemed to
+have grown into a new man under the chastening, and yet hopeful
+influences of that eventful day in his life. Before his very eyes
+Ralph fancied he saw his fireman grow in new manliness, courage and
+earnestness of purpose.
+
+All hands were tired enough to sleep soundly that night. When Ralph
+came down stairs in the morning, his mother told him that Fogg was up
+and about already. She believed he had gone up to the ruins to look
+over things in a general way. Ralph went out to hunt up the stroller
+for breakfast.
+
+Scarcely started from the house, he halted abruptly, for the object of
+his quest was in view. Ralph saw the fireman about half a block away.
+He was facing two men whom Ralph recognized as Hall and Wilson, two
+blacklisters who had been prominent in the railroad strike.
+
+One of them was gesticulating vigorously and telling something to
+Fogg, while his companion chipped in a word now and then. Suddenly
+something appeared to be said that roused up the fireman. His hand
+went up in the air with an angry menacing motion. He shouted out some
+words that Ralph could not hear at the distance he was from the
+scene.
+
+The two men seemed to remonstrate. One of them raised his own fist
+menacingly. The other crowded towards Fogg in a stealthy, suspicious
+way.
+
+In a flash the climax came. Swinging out his giant hand, the fireman
+of No. 999 seized his nearest opponent and gave him a fling into the
+ditch. He then sprang at the other, and sent him whirling head over
+heels to join his companion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE "BLACK HAND"
+
+
+Lemuel Fogg's opponents scrambled to their feet and sneaked off
+immediately. The fireman turned his back upon them, and strode down
+the sidewalk in the direction of the Fairbanks' home with a stormy and
+disturbed expression on his face.
+
+"Trouble, Mr. Fogg?" intimated the young railroader, as the fireman
+approached him.
+
+"No," dissented Fogg vigorously, "the end of trouble. I'm sorry to
+lose my temper, lad, but those ruffians were the limit. They know my
+sentiments now."
+
+"They were Hall and Wilson, I noticed," suggested Ralph.
+
+"Yes," returned the fireman, "and two worse unhung rascals never
+walked. They came about you. Say, Mr. Fairbanks," continued Fogg
+excitedly, "It wasn't so bad tackling me as a sort of comrade,
+considering that I had been foolish enough to train with them once,
+but when they mentioned you--I went wild. You--after what you've done
+for me and mine! Say----"
+
+"Hold on--close the brakes," ordered Ralph, as his companion seemed
+inclined to run after his recent adversaries and seek them out for a
+further castigation. "You've made the brake with them--forget them."
+
+"They had a new plot to get a black mark against you," went on the
+fireman. "I heard them half through their plans. Then I sailed into
+them."
+
+"Well, breakfast is ready," said Ralph, "and after that, work, so we'd
+better get down to schedule."
+
+The run to which No. 999 had been apportioned covered the Muddy Creek
+branch of the Great Northern to Riverton. The train was an
+accommodation and ran sixty miles. It was to leave Stanley Junction at
+9:15 A. M., arrive at terminus at about noon, and start back for the
+Junction at two o'clock.
+
+Ralph left the house about eight o'clock, after arranging to meet his
+fireman at the roundhouse. He went to the hotel to see Archie Graham,
+and found that youthful genius in his room figuring out some
+mathematical problem at a table.
+
+"Well, how are you this morning?" inquired Ralph cheerily.
+
+"First-rate, except that I'm a trifle sleepy," replied the young
+inventor. "Say, I was riding under the coaches all night long. It was
+dream after dream. I believe it tired me out more than the real
+thing."
+
+"You haven't got your new clothes yet, I see," observed Ralph, with a
+glance at the tattered attire of his new acquaintance.
+
+"They are ordered," explained Archie, "but they won't be here until
+late this afternoon."
+
+"When they do," said Ralph, taking a card from his pocket and writing
+a few lines on it, "if you don't want to wait till I have some
+leisure, take this to Mr. Forgan, down at the roundhouse."
+
+"Thank you," said Archie.
+
+"He'll extend all the civilities to you. I hope you may discover
+something of advantage."
+
+"I'll try," promised Archie.
+
+Seeing the young inventor, reminded Ralph of Bridgeport, and naturally
+he thought of the boy he had known as Marvin Clark.
+
+"He telegraphed that he would see me," ruminated Ralph. "I shall miss
+him if he comes to Stanley Junction to-day, but he will probably wait
+around for me--that is, if he comes at all. If he doesn't, in a day or
+two I shall start some kind of an investigation as to this strange
+case of double identity."
+
+When Ralph got to the roundhouse he found Fogg in the doghouse
+chatting with his friends. He had to tell the story of the fire over
+and over again, it seemed, at each new arrival of an interested
+comrade, and Ralph's heroic share in the incident was fully exploited.
+The young railroader was overwhelmed by his loyal admirers with
+congratulations. Ralph felt glad to compare the anticipated trip with
+the starting out on the first record run of No. 999, when he had a
+half-mad sullen fireman for a helper.
+
+As the wiper finished his work on the locomotive, engineer and fireman
+got into the cab.
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed Fogg sharply.
+
+"Hello!" echoed his cabmate.
+
+A little square strip of paper was revealed to both, as they opened
+their bunkers. It was patent that some one had sneaked into the
+roundhouse and had pasted the papers there. Each slip bore a crude
+outline of a human hand, drawn in pencil.
+
+"Bah!" spoke Fogg, with a brush of a chisel scraping the portraiture
+on his own box out of all semblance, and then doing the same with the
+picture on the reverse cover of Ralph's bunker.
+
+"What is it, Fogg?" inquired the young railroader, to whom the ominous
+sketches were a new wrinkle.
+
+"Black Hand," explained Fogg.
+
+"Whose--why?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"The outcast gang. It's one of their scare tricks. Humph! I'd like to
+get sight of the fellow who thought he was doing a smart trick. The
+Black Hands are supposed to warn us that we're doomed by the gang,
+see? It's a notification that the trouncing I gave those fellows Hall
+and Wilson is a declaration of war to the knife."
+
+"Well, let it come. Aren't we equal to it, Mr. Fogg?"
+
+"You are, for they can't hit you hard. You've made your mark," said
+the fireman, somewhat gloomily. "I'm not in the same class. I've had
+my weak spots. Besides, it's me they'll be after. Dunno, Fairbanks,
+maybe I'd better not be the cause of getting you into any more
+trouble. Perhaps I'd better slide for a bit into some switchyard
+job."
+
+"What--scared?" cried Ralph.
+
+"No, not scared," responded Fogg soberly, "only worried about you."
+
+"Well," said Ralph, "the master mechanic said we were a strong team?"
+
+"Ye-es."
+
+"Let's prove to him that we are. Good-by to the Black Hands, Mr. Fogg,
+they aren't worth thinking about."
+
+So the young railroader rallied and cheered his comrade, and they had
+got beyond the turn table and had quite forgotten the incident of the
+pasters, when John Griscom mounted the cab step. He nodded genially to
+both Ralph and the fireman. Griscom knew pretty much what was going on
+most of the time, and the master mechanic was a close friend of his.
+
+"Just a word, Fairbanks," he began in a confidential tone, and the
+young engineer bent over towards him. "I don't want to be croaking all
+the time, but railroading isn't all fun and frolic."
+
+"What's the matter now, Mr. Griscom?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"The old strike gang is the trouble, and will be until they're laid
+out, ragtail and bobtail, dead cold. I have a friend in a certain
+department of the service here. He isn't giving away official business
+any, but he isn't in sympathy with Hall or Wilson. One of them sent a
+wire to Riverton an hour since. It was to some one the operator never
+heard of before, evidently a friend of theirs. It mentioned 999, your
+name, and Fogg. The rest of it was in cipher."
+
+"We've just had a Black Hand warning, here in the cab," said Ralph.
+
+"Oh, you have?" muttered Griscom. "Then there's new mischief afoot.
+Look out for snags at Riverton."
+
+Ralph realized that it wasn't very pleasant working under the
+continual menace of enemies plotting in the dark and in a mean,
+desperate way. There was nothing for it, however, but to exercise
+patience, vigilance and courage.
+
+"They shall never drive me from my post of duty," firmly decided the
+young railroader. "I shall neither tire out nor scare out."
+
+Riverton was made on time and with no unpleasant incident to mar a
+schedule trip. No. 999 was run to a siding, and Ralph and Fogg had
+over two hours on their hands to spend as they chose. They had brought
+their lunch, and they dispatched the best part of it in the cab. Mrs.
+Fairbanks had put it up in a basket, and a two-quart fruit jar held
+the cold coffee. After the repast Fogg fixed the fire and they
+strolled down to the depot.
+
+The station agent was an old acquaintance of Ralph. He knew Van
+Sherwin, Limpy Joe and the people up at the Short Line railroad, kept
+posted on their progress pretty closely, and he had a good deal of
+interesting railroad gossip to retail to Ralph.
+
+"Oh, by the way," he observed incidentally, after they had conversed
+for some time, "there was a spruce young fellow here this morning
+asking very particularly about 999 and her movements. He mentioned
+your name too."
+
+"Who was he?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"I never saw him before. He was curious all about your run, hung
+around a while and then disappeared. I haven't seen him since."
+
+"Describe him, won't you?" and the station agent did so. Ralph was
+sure that the stranger was the youth he had known as Marvin Clark.
+From that time on until the train got ready for the return trip, the
+young railroader kept his eyes open for a glimpse of his acquaintance
+with the double identity. The latter, however, up to the time No. 999
+steamed out from Riverton, did not put in an appearance.
+
+"Well, nobody tackled us at Riverton," observed Ralph, as he and Fogg
+settled down comfortably to their respective tasks.
+
+"Better not," retorted the fireman keenly. "I just made a little
+purchase this morning, and I'm going to stand no fooling," and he
+touched his hip pocket meaningly. "Have a swig?" he inquired
+additionally, as he reached for the jar of coffee and took a drink.
+
+"Oh, I could feast on my mother's coffee all day," observed Ralph as
+the jar was passed to him. "Now, then, you finish it up and hand me
+one of those doughnuts."
+
+The little refection seemed to add to the satisfaction of the moment.
+Their run was a slow one, and there was little to do besides keeping
+the machinery in motion. The day was warm, but the air was balmy. The
+landscape was interesting, and they seemed gliding along as in a
+pleasing dream.
+
+Later, when he analyzed his sensations, the young railroader,
+recalling just these impressions, knew that they were caused by
+artificial conditions. Ralph relapsed into a dream--indeed, he was
+amazed, he was startled to find himself opening his eyes with
+difficulty, and of discovering his fireman doubled up in his seat,
+fast asleep. He tried to shout to Fogg, realizing that something was
+wrong. He could not utter a word, his tongue seemed glued to the roof
+of his mouth. Ralph barely managed to slip to his feet in an effort to
+arouse his cab mate.
+
+"Something wrong!" ran through his mind. A vague thrill crossed his
+frame as, whirling by a landmark, a white-painted cattle guard, he
+realized that he must have gone five miles without noting distance.
+
+The bridge was his next thought. Muddy Creek was less than a mile
+ahead. If the draw should be open! Wildly reaching towards the lever,
+the young engineer sank to the floor a senseless heap, while No. 999,
+without a guide, dashed down the shining rails!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+A SERIOUS PLOT
+
+
+"Who stopped this train--and why?"
+
+Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that
+reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness. They were spoken by
+the conductor of the accommodation train sharply. The locomotive was
+at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the
+side of the tender.
+
+"I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the
+lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark
+drifted before his vision.
+
+"Hello!" exclaimed the conductor, "I've seen you before. You're the
+fellow who caught the train at Riverton just as she left--had a free
+pass."
+
+"Never mind me, Mr. Conductor," responded the other rapidly. "I'm
+thinking they need some attention," and he pointed to the fireman,
+lying doubled up in his seat, and then to Ralph, lying prone on the
+floor of the cab.
+
+"Fairbanks--Fogg!" fairly shouted the conductor. "Why, what can this
+mean?"
+
+"Foul play, if I'm a judge," spoke Clark definitely. "Fairbanks!
+Fairbanks!" he shouted, stooping over and lifting Ralph in his strong
+arms. "Here, brace him in his seat."
+
+"Water!" gasped the young engineer in a choking tone. "My throat is on
+fire! What has happened?"
+
+"Nothing alarming," answered Clark reassuringly, "only--I'm glad I
+happened to be here."
+
+Ralph's mouth and throat seemed burning up. The water he drank only
+partially allayed his frantic thirst. It was with great difficulty
+that he could arouse himself from a lethargy that seemed to completely
+paralyze both body and mind. As the moments passed, however, he
+succeeded in rallying into something like normal. But as yet he was
+unable to fully understand just what had happened.
+
+"He needs something to stimulate him," declared the conductor, and
+stepping into the cab he hastily ransacked the fireman's bunker.
+"Aha!"
+
+His tones announced a discovery--likewise a suspicion. He had
+unearthed two flasks of liquor, one only partly filled.
+
+"Not for me," said Ralph, waving back the conductor, who evidently was
+intent on administering a stimulant. "Liquor!" he cried, suddenly
+bracing up now. "Fogg never brought it aboard. It's some plot! Why!"
+he exclaimed, in sudden enlightenment, "I see it all, clear as day."
+
+What Ralph saw, all hands in the cab soon realized within the ensuing
+ten minutes. When they had aroused Fogg, there followed animated
+theory, discovery and conviction. Not one of them doubted but that
+some enemy had sneaked aboard of the locomotive while it was
+sidetracked at noon at Riverton and had put some drug in the jar of
+coffee. They found a suspicious dark sediment at the bottom of the
+jar.
+
+"Black Hands--mark it down," observed Fogg. "Whoever did it, also
+placed those flasks of liquor in my bunker. See the label on them?
+They come from a place in Riverton I never was in. The scoundrels
+aimed to have us found in the cab, just as we have been, and a report
+go in that the heat and too much liquor had crippled us from making
+the run."
+
+"You've struck it, Fogg," assented the conductor. "Just stow that jar
+and those two flasks in a safe place. I'll have our special agent
+Adair, the road detective, find out who bought that liquor. No need
+of any blabbing to the general public. Are you able to complete the
+run, Fairbanks?"
+
+"Certainly," reported Ralph, exercising arms and feet vigorously to
+restore their circulation. Fogg was still dazed and weak. He had drunk
+more of the coffee than Ralph. Besides, being the older of the two, he
+did not shake off the effects of the narcotic so readily as the young
+engineer.
+
+"I'll help fire--I know how to," declared Clark.
+
+"You know how to stop an engine, too!" commented the conductor. "All
+right, Fairbanks, when you're ready," and he returned to the coaches.
+Ralph extended his hand to Clark. The latter met his glance frankly.
+
+"I've been trying to get track of your movements by telegraph," said
+Clark. "Located your run, and was waiting at Riverton for your train.
+Got there ahead of time, and came back to the depot just as 999 was
+pulling out, and caught the last car. First, I thought I'd not show
+myself until you got through with your trip. Things got dull in those
+humdrum coaches, though, and I sailed ahead to the tender, saw what
+was wrong, and checked up the locomotive just beyond the bridge. Say,
+if the draw had been open, we'd all have had a bath, eh?"
+
+"The miscreants who played this diabolical trick ought to be severely
+punished," said Ralph.
+
+There was no evidence of strained relations between the two boys.
+Ralph recognized that Clark had sought him out to make an explanation.
+He wondered what it would be. The present was not, however, the time
+to broach the subject. There was something very manly and reassuring
+in Clark's manner, and the young railroader believed that when he got
+ready to disclose his secret, the revelation would be an unusual and
+interesting one.
+
+The train was started up, soon made up the lost time, and at 5:15
+rolled into the depot at Stanley Junction. Ralph did not feel quite as
+well as usual and his fireman was pale and loggy, but the main effects
+of the drug had passed off.
+
+"You go straight home, Mr. Fogg," directed Ralph. "I will see that 999
+is put to bed all right."
+
+"I think I'll take advantage of your kind offer, Fairbanks," responded
+Fogg. "I'm weak as a cat, and my head is going around like an electric
+turntable."
+
+Fogg started for home. Clark rode with Ralph on the locomotive to the
+roundhouse. The big engine was put into her stall. Then the boys left
+the place.
+
+"I have something to say to you, Fairbanks," began Clark.
+
+"I suppose so," replied Ralph. "It must be quite a long story,
+though."
+
+"It is," admitted his companion.
+
+"Then suppose we leave its recital till we are rested a bit,"
+suggested Ralph. "I want you to come up to the house and have supper.
+Then we'll adjourn to the garden and have a quiet, comfortable chat."
+
+"That will be famous," declared Clark. "Say, you don't treat an
+imposter like myself courteous or anything, do you?"
+
+"Are you really an imposter?" asked Ralph, with a faint smile.
+
+"I am--and a rank one."
+
+"Just one question--you are not the real Marvin Clark?"
+
+"No more than yourself."
+
+"And you are Fred Porter?"
+
+"That's it."
+
+"I thought so," said the young engineer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+"THE SILVANDOS"
+
+
+"I declare!" exclaimed Ralph Fairbanks.
+
+"For mercy's sake!" echoed Fred Porter.
+
+Both stood spellbound just within the grounds of the Fairbanks' home,
+where they had arrived. Over towards the dividing lot line of the next
+door neighbor, their eyes had lit upon an unusual and interesting
+scene.
+
+Two figures were in action among the branches of the great oak tree.
+They were boys, and their natural appearance was enough to attract
+attention. They were leaping, springing, chasing one another from
+branch to branch, with a remarkable agility that made one think of
+monkeys and next trained athletes.
+
+"Who are they, anyway?" demanded Fred.
+
+"They are new to me," confessed the young engineer.
+
+The two strangers were about of an age, under sixteen. It would puzzle
+one to figure out their nationality. Their faces were tawny, but
+delicate of profile, their forms exquisitely molded. They suggested
+Japanese boys. Then Ralph decided they more resembled lithe Malay
+children of whom he had seen photographs. At all events, they were
+natural tree climbers. They made the most daring leaps from frail
+branches. They sprung from twigs that broke in their deft grasp, but
+not until they had secured the purchase they aimed at in the act to
+send them flying through the air to some other perilous point in view.
+Their feats were fairly bewildering, and as one landed on the ground
+like a rubber ball and the other chased him out of sight in the next
+yard, Ralph conducted his companion into the house with these words:
+
+"That's odd enough to investigate."
+
+He did not announce his arrival to his mother, but led Fred up to his
+room. As he passed that now occupied by the Foggs, it made his heart
+glad to hear the fireman crowing at the baby to the accompaniment of a
+happy laugh from the fireman's wife.
+
+"You can wash up and tidy up, Porter," he said to his friend. "I'll
+arrange for an extra plate, and take you down later to meet the best
+mother in the world."
+
+"This is an imposition on you good people," declared Fred, but Ralph
+would not listen to him. He went downstairs and out the front way,
+and came around the house looking all about for some trace of the two
+remarkable creatures he had just seen. They had disappeared, however,
+as if they were veritable wood elves. Passing the kitchen window, the
+young engineer halted.
+
+"Hello!" he uttered. "Zeph Dallas is back again," and then he listened
+casually, for Zeph was speaking to his mother.
+
+"Yes, Mrs. Fairbanks," Ralph caught the words, "I'm the bad penny that
+turns up regularly, only I've got some good dollars this time. On the
+mantel is the money I owe Ralph for the clothes he got me."
+
+"But can you spare the money?" spoke Mrs. Fairbanks.
+
+"Sure I can, and the back board, too," declared Zeph, and glancing in
+through the open window Ralph noted the speaker, his fingers in his
+vest armholes, strutting around most grandly.
+
+"I can't understand how you came to get so much money in two days,"
+spoke the lady. "You couldn't have earned it in that short space of
+time, Zeph."
+
+"No, ma'am," admitted Zeph, "but I've got it, haven't I? It's honest
+money, Mrs. Fairbanks. It's an advance on my wages--expense money and
+such, don't you see?"
+
+"Then you have secured work, Zeph?"
+
+"Steady work, Mrs. Fairbanks."
+
+"What at, Zeph?"
+
+"Mrs. Fairbanks," answered the lad in a hushed, mysterious tone of
+voice, "I am hired as a detective."
+
+"You're what?" fairly shouted Ralph through the window.
+
+"Hello! you here, are you?" cried Zeph, and in a twinkling he had
+joined Ralph outside the house. "Yes, sir," he added, with an
+important air that somewhat amused Ralph, "I've landed this time. On
+both feet. Heart's desire at last--I'm a detective."
+
+Ralph had to smile. He recalled the first arrival of honest but
+blundering Zeph Dallas at Stanley Junction, a raw country bumpkin.
+Even then the incipient detective fever had been manifested by the
+crude farmer boy. From the confident, self-assured tone in which Zeph
+now spoke, the young railroader was forced to believe that he had
+struck something tangible at last in his favorite line.
+
+"What are you detecting, Zeph?" he inquired.
+
+"That's a secret."
+
+"Indeed--and what agency are you working for--the government?"
+
+"That," observed Zeph gravely, "is also a secret--for the present.
+See here, Ralph Fairbanks, you're guying me. You needn't. Look at
+that."
+
+With great pride Zeph threw back his coat. It was to reveal a star
+pinned to his vest.
+
+"Yes," nodded Ralph, "I see it, but it doesn't tell who you are."
+
+"Don't it say 'Special'?" demanded Zeph, with an offended air.
+
+"Yes, I see the word."
+
+"Well, then, that's me--special secret service, see? Of course, I
+don't look much like a detective, just common and ordinary now, but
+I'm going to buy a wig and a false beard, and then you'll see."
+
+"Oh, Zeph!" exclaimed Ralph.
+
+"All right, you keep right on laughing at me," said Zeph. "All the
+same, I'm hired. What's more, I'm paid. Look at that--I've got the job
+and I've got the goods. That shows something, I fancy," and Zeph waved
+a really imposing roll of bank notes before the sight of the young
+engineer.
+
+"Your employers must think you a pretty good man to pay you in
+advance," suggested Ralph.
+
+"They do, for a fact," declared Zeph. "They know they can depend upon
+me. Say, Ralph, it's funny the way I fell into the job. You never in
+your life heard of the slick and easy way I seemed to go rolling
+right against it. And the mystery, the deadly secrets, the--the--hold
+on, though, I'm violating the eth--eth--yes, ethics of the
+profession."
+
+"No, no--go on and tell us something about it," urged Ralph. "I'm
+interested."
+
+"Can't. I've gone too far already. Sworn to secrecy. Honestly, I'm not
+romancing, Ralph, I'm working on a case that reads like a story book.
+Some of the strange things going on--they fairly stagger me. I can't
+say another word just now, but just the minute I can, you just bet
+I'll tell you all about it, Ralph Fairbanks. Say, you haven't seen two
+boys around here, have you--two tiny fellows? I left them in the
+garden here. They're in my charge, and I mustn't lose sight of them,"
+and Zeph began looking all around the place.
+
+"Two human monkeys, who make no more of flying through the air than
+you or I do to run a race?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"That's them," assented Zeph.
+
+"They were here a few minutes ago," advised Ralph, "but I don't see
+them just now. I wondered who they were. The last I saw of them, they
+were chasing one another over our neighbors' lot over there."
+
+"I must find them," said Zeph. "They are another of my
+responsibilities. I hear them."
+
+As Zeph spoke, there proceeded from the alley a mellow and peculiar
+but very resonant whistle. It was followed by a responsive whistle,
+clear as a calliope note. Then into view dashed the two boys for whom
+Zeph was looking. They were still chasing one another, and the
+foremost of the twain was making for the house. As he passed a tree
+full tilt, without the least apparent exertion he leaped up lightly,
+seized a branch, coiled around it like a rubber band, and his pursuer
+passed under him at full speed.
+
+"This way, Kara--hey, Karo," called out Zeph, and the two strange lads
+came up to him with a fawn-like docility, in keeping with the mild,
+timid expression of their faces.
+
+"Sare," spoke one of them with a bow, and his companion repeated the
+word. They both bowed to Ralph next, and stood like obedient children
+awaiting orders. Ralph was silent for fully a minute, studying their
+unfamiliar make-up. At that moment Fred Porter, having come down
+stairs the front way, strolled around the corner of the house.
+
+"This is my friend, Fred Porter--Zeph--Zeph Dallas, Porter,"
+introduced the young railroader, and the two boys shook hands. Porter
+became instantly interested in the two strange lads.
+
+"I'm going to show you fellows something," said Zeph, "something
+mighty remarkable, something you never saw before, and it's going to
+beat anything you ever heard of. About those two boys. Kara!"
+
+One of the two lads instantly moved to the side of Zeph, who beckoned
+to him to follow him. He led the boy ten feet away behind a thick
+large bush, his back to the others.
+
+"Karo," he spoke again, and the other boy allowed him to turn him
+around where he stood, his back to the other boy.
+
+"See here, Zeph," spoke Ralph with a broad smile, "are you going to
+give us a detective demonstration of some kind, or a sleight-of-hand
+demonstration?"
+
+"Quit guying me, Ralph Fairbanks," said Zeph. "You're always at it,
+but I'm going to give you something this time that will make you sit
+up and take notice, I'll bet. Those boys came from a good many
+thousand miles away--from the other side of the world, in fact."
+
+"They look it," observed Fred Porter.
+
+"Gomera," exclaimed Zeph.
+
+"Where's that now?" inquired Fred.
+
+"It is the smallest of the Canary Islands."
+
+"Oh, that's it!"
+
+"And they talk without saying a word," was Zeph's next amazing
+announcement.
+
+"Whew!" commented Fred dubiously.
+
+"They do. It's that I'm going to show you. Perhaps those boys are the
+only two of their kind in the United States. They are Silvandos."
+
+"What are Silvandos, Zeph?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Silvandos," replied Zeph, with manifest enjoyment of the fact that he
+was making a new and mystifying disclosure, "are persons who carry on
+a conversation through a whistling language."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+ZEPH DALLAS AND HIS "MYSTERY"
+
+
+"Whistling language?" repeated Fred Porter. "Is there one?"
+
+"Aha! didn't I say I was going to show you something you never heard
+of before? You bet there is a whistling language!" chuckled Zeph--"and
+I'm now about to demonstrate it to you. You see these two boys? Well,
+they are natives of Gomera, the smallest of the Canary Islands. They
+were raised in a district where at times there is no living thing
+within sight, and the vast wilderness in the winding mountains is
+broken only by the crimson flower of the cactus growing in the clifts
+of the rock."
+
+"You talk like a literary showman, Zeph Dallas," declared Fred.
+
+"Well, I'm telling the story as I get it, ain't I?" demanded Zeph in
+an injured tone and with a sharp look at Fred, as if he suspected that
+he was being guyed. "Anyhow, I want to explain things so you'll
+understand."
+
+"Go right ahead, Zeph," insisted Ralph encouragingly, "we're
+interested."
+
+"Well, up among those big stone terraces is the whistling race. They
+are able to converse with one another at a distance of three miles."
+
+"That's pretty strong," observed Fred. "But make it three miles."
+
+"A Silvando will signal a friend he knows to be in a certain distant
+locality. He does it by setting his fore fingers together at a right
+angle in his mouth, just as you'll see these two Canaries do in a
+minute or two. An arrow of piercing sounds shoots across the ravine."
+
+"Arrow is good--shoots is good!" whispered Fred, nudging Ralph.
+
+"There is a moment's pause--" continued Zeph.
+
+"Oh, he's read all this in some book!" declared Fred.
+
+"Then there comes a thin almost uncanny whistle from far away.
+Conversation begins, and as the sounds rise and fall, are shrill or
+drawn, so they are echoed. Then comes the ghostly reply, and then
+question and answer follows. They talk--all right. Travelers say so,
+and a lot of scientific fellows are now on the track of this strange
+tribe to investigate them before civilization makes of their talk a
+dead language. Kara--ready!" called out Zeph to the boy at the bush.
+"Karo--attention!"
+
+"Sare," answered the little fellow, his bright twinkling eyes full of
+intelligence.
+
+"Ask him how many!" said Zeph "--see?" and he touched himself, the boy
+and Ralph and Fred with his forefinger in turn.
+
+Out rang a series of rising interrogatory sounds. There was a pause.
+Then from the boy stationed at the bush came quick responsive
+toots--one, two, three, four.
+
+"Tell Kara to bring you this--see, this?" and Zeph stooped down and
+touched the sodded yard with his hand. Karo whistled again.
+Immediately Kara wheeled, stooped also, and was at their side in an
+instant, tendering a handful of grass.
+
+"Say, this is odd all right," confessed Fred thoughtfully.
+
+"Tell Kara to climb a tree next," spoke Zeph. More "whistle talk," and
+agile as a monkey Kara was aloft, making dizzying whirls among the
+branches of an oak nearby. "I tell you, it would stun you to watch
+these little fellows at play. It's like a piccolo or a calliope to
+hear them talk--yes, sir, talking just as knowingly as we do."
+
+"Who are they, anyway?" spoke Fred curiously?
+
+"I've told you--Canaries."
+
+"Yes, but where did you pick them up?"
+
+"That's a secret. You see," responded Zeph, looking duly wise and
+mysterious, "those boys were imported to this country by a peculiar
+old man, who wanted servants around him who weren't gabbing about his
+affairs and asking him questions all the time. Well, he's got them,
+hasn't he? I'm working for that man, or rather for a friend of his.
+Detective work," continued Zeph, rather proudly. "I've told Ralph.
+These two boys have been shut up in the house for two months. They
+just pined for fresh air, and trees--oh! trees are their stronghold.
+When I started out with them they made for the first tree like birds
+for a roost. I have taken them out for an airing, and I ran down here
+to report to Ralph how I was getting on, and brought them along with
+me for the novelty of the thing."
+
+"Do they live near here?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"No," answered Zeph, "we had to come by rail. I can't tell you where
+they live, but it's on a branch of the Great Northern. I've got to get
+back to-night. We've had our supper, Ralph. I just wanted to settle up
+the bills I owed you. I'll say good-bye to your mother and get to the
+depot."
+
+Zeph and his charges trooped to the kitchen door. Zeph spoke a few
+words to Mrs. Fairbanks. His companions bowed her a polite and
+graceful adieu, and Ralph accompanied their former boarder to the
+street.
+
+"See here, Ralph," said Zeph to the young engineer in parting, "I
+don't want you to think I wouldn't tell you everything."
+
+"That's all right, Zeph."
+
+"But honestly, I've solemnly agreed not to lisp a word about what I am
+really about or the people concerned in it."
+
+"That's all right, too," declared Ralph.
+
+"I'll say this, though," resumed Zeph: "I'm working on a strange and
+serious case. It's no play or fooling. I'm getting big pay. I may do a
+big thing in the end, and when I do, if I do, I'm coming straight to
+tell you all about it."
+
+Ralph watched Zeph and his charges disappear down the street with a
+great deal of curiosity and wonderment in his mind. A great many
+lively and unusual incidents were coming to the front recently, but
+this one was certainly enough out of the ordinary to give him food for
+profound thought.
+
+Ralph rejoined Fred in the garden, and took him into the house and
+introduced him to his mother. Mrs. Fairbanks won the heart of the
+manly young fellow, as she did the love of all of her son's friends.
+
+It was a pleasant, happy little coterie, that which sat down at the
+table soon afterwards to enjoy one of Mrs. Fairbanks' famous meals.
+
+"I'm ashamed!" declared Fred, after his seventh hot biscuit with
+freshly churned butter that made his mouth water, "but eating houses
+and hotels, Mrs. Fairbanks, make a roving, homeless fellow like me
+desperate, and if a third helping of that exquisite apple sauce isn't
+out of order, I'll have another small fish."
+
+"I'm spoiled for regular cooking, Bessie," declared Fogg to his wife.
+"Mrs. Fairbanks is fattening us till we'll be of no use at all."
+
+"You are all flatterers," said Mrs. Fairbanks warningly, but with a
+pleased smile.
+
+"I'll take another piece of cake, ma'am, providing you'll promise me
+the little exercise of helping you wash the dishes afterwards," spoke
+Fred.
+
+He interested the widow with his animated, interested talk as he
+bustled around the kitchen, wearing a big apron while drying the
+dishes. Then when this task was completed, he and Ralph went out to
+the little summer house and comfortably seated themselves.
+
+"Now then," remarked the young railroader with a pleasant smile, "now
+for your confession, Fred."
+
+"No, sir," objected his comrade vociferously, "I've done nothing
+that's wrong to confess. It will be an explanation."
+
+"All right," agreed Ralph, "open the throttle and start the train."
+
+At that moment there was an interruption. A chubby, undersized boy
+came swiftly through the gateway. He was advancing up the steps of the
+house when Ralph halted him.
+
+"Hi, there, Davis!" he challenged. "What's wanted?"
+
+"Oh, you there, Fairbanks!" responded Ned Davis, the red-headed call
+boy for the roundhouse of the Great Northern, familiarly known as
+"Torchy." "Extra orders for you and Fogg--you're to take out a special
+to-night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+IN WIDENER'S GAP
+
+
+There was always a spice of novelty and excitement for the young
+engineer in running a special. Besides that, extra orders meant pay
+and a half, sometimes double pay, with twenty-four hours' rest after
+it, if the special run came after midnight.
+
+Ralph arose from his seat in the summer-house, telling Ned Davis that
+Fogg and himself would report at the roundhouse at once.
+
+"You'll have to excuse me, Porter," he said to his guest. "We'll have
+to postpone our talk until to-morrow."
+
+"Duty call, I see," returned Fred. "Well, there's no urgency, now that
+I've found out you don't consider me some hideous impostor of the old
+story book kind. I'll go as far with you as a hotel, and tell you what
+I have to say after this trip."
+
+"You'll camp right here at the Fairbanks cottage until I return,"
+peremptorily declared Ralph. "My mother would be lonesome if there
+wasn't a boy somewhere about the house. Zeph is gone and my other
+friends, and you will be good company."
+
+"I'm only too willing, if it's entirely agreeable," said Fred, and so
+it was settled.
+
+Fogg grumbled a good deal when Ralph told him of the extra call. He
+declared that he had just succeeded in teaching the baby to say "All
+aboard!" looked at the sky and predicted the biggest storm of the
+season, and was cross generally until he climbed aboard No. 999. Then
+Ralph heard him talking to the well-groomed steel steed as if it was
+some pet racer, and he anxious and glad to put it through its paces.
+
+"What's the run, Fairbanks?" asked the fireman, as Ralph returned from
+the roundhouse office.
+
+"Nothing very interesting. Special sleeper, some convention crowd for
+Bridgeport, came in on the north branch. We've got to pick our way on
+our own schedule."
+
+"Huh! thought it must be a treasure train, or the pay car at the
+least!" snorted Fogg contemptuously, but thoroughly good-natured under
+the surface.
+
+When they backed down to the depot, Ralph was handed his flimsy
+orders. No. 999 was given standard special lights, with the usual
+markers at the rear of the sleeping car, but no one on platform
+charge. The coach had a conductor, but he barely showed himself, and
+went inside, where all the curtains were drawn and passengers
+evidently gone to sleep.
+
+"I told you it was going to rain," spoke Fogg, as they cleared the
+limits and got ready for a spurt. "All schedule cancelled where we can
+get clear tracks, I suppose? All right, let's see what 999 can do on
+slippery rails."
+
+No. 999 did famously, as she always did under the guidance of the
+vigilant young engineer. Ralph was learning a good deal lately, and
+his mind was always strictly on the business of the moment when at the
+throttle. He was learning that there was a science in running a
+locomotive a good deal deeper than merely operating throttle, brake
+and lever automatically. There was a way to conserve the steam energy
+and reserve wide-open tactics for full pressure that he had found out,
+which enabled him to spurt when the chance came, at no cost of
+exhaustion later. He knew the gauges by heart, how to utilize the
+exhaust, and worked something along the line of the new superheated
+steam theory.
+
+The night had set in very dark and very stormy. They had nothing to
+look out for, however, on the out track except an accommodation that
+had started two hours previous. No. 999 had a light load, and she sped
+along without a jar. The wires took care of her. By nine o'clock they
+were twenty miles "to the good" on regular schedule basis.
+
+After that it was slower progress. The wind had arisen to a hurricane,
+the rain came down in torrents, and as they passed Winston they began
+to get in among the hills, where there was a series of intricate and
+dangerous curves.
+
+"It's nearly a waterspout," observed Fogg, as the rain swept against
+the cab as if driven from a full pressure hose, and they could feel
+the staunch locomotive quiver as it breasted great sweeps of the wind.
+"I don't like that," he muttered, as a great clump came against the
+cab curtain. And he and his engineer both knew what it was from past
+experience.
+
+"One of those young landslides," spoke Ralph.
+
+"The second in a half-an-hour," declared Fogg. "It's clear mud, but
+sometime in one of these storms we'll get a big drop of rock, and
+there'll be mischief afoot."
+
+Ralph slowed as they entered a long stretch known as Widener's Gap. It
+was a pull up hill. Besides that, Widener was only two miles ahead,
+and the curves were so sharp and frequent that they could not catch
+the semaphore at any distance.
+
+Both engineer and fireman were under an intense strain, and Ralph kept
+a keen lookout from his cab window. Fogg was doing the same. Suddenly
+he uttered a great shout. It was echoed by Ralph, for there was cause
+for excitement.
+
+"A tree!" yelled Fogg.
+
+Ralph set the air and pulled the lever in a flash. What the gleaming
+headlight of No. 999 had shown, however, they were upon in a leap.
+They could feel a grinding jar, but the pilot had evidently swept the
+obstacle aside. They could hear the branches sweep the top of the
+engine. Then there came a warning sound.
+
+Bumpety-bump,-bump-bump! The tree, uprooted from the gap side by the
+rain and the wind, had descried half a circle, it seemed, when shifted
+by the pilot. Its big end had rolled under the coach. From the feeling
+the young engineer could guess what had happened.
+
+"Shut her off!" shouted Fogg.
+
+"The coach has jumped the track!" echoed Ralph quickly.
+
+His heart was in his mouth as he made every exertion to bring the
+locomotive to a quick stop. No. 999 acted splendidly, but it was
+impossible to slow down under two hundred feet.
+
+"Both trucks off--she's toppling!" yelled Fogg, with a backward
+glance.
+
+Each instant Ralph waited for the crash that would announce a
+catastrophe. It did not come. The coach swayed and careened, pounding
+the sleepers set on a sharp angle and tugging to part the bumpers.
+Ralph closed the throttle and took a glance backwards for the first
+time.
+
+"The coach is safe, Mr. Fogg," he spoke. "Get back and see how badly
+the passengers are mixed up."
+
+"There's nothing coming behind us?" asked the fireman.
+
+"No, but tell the conductor to set the light back as far as he can
+run."
+
+"Allright."
+
+"The Night Express!" gasped Ralph the next moment, in a hushed
+whisper, as he caught the faint echo of a signal whistle ahead of them
+in the distance.
+
+An alarming thought came into his mind. Nothing could menace them
+ahead on the out track and nothing was due behind, but the coach
+attached to No. 999 stood on a tilt clear across the in track.
+
+Along those rails in ten minutes' time, unaware of the obstruction,
+the night express would come thundering down the grade at a forty-mile
+clip around the sharp curves of Widener's Gap.
+
+"It's 38. She's due, entering Widener," breathed Ralph. "Yes," with a
+glance at the cab clock, "and just on time. Mr. Fogg," he shouted
+after his fireman, leaping to the ground, "get the people out of that
+coach--38 is coming."
+
+"The Night Express," cried Fogg hoarsely. "I never thought of it."
+
+Ralph tore one of the rear red tender lights from its place. He
+started down the out rails on a dead run. His only hope now was of
+reaching the straight open stretch past the last curve in open view of
+Widener. To set the warning signal short of that would be of no avail.
+No. 38 could not possibly see it in time, coming at full speed, to
+avoid a smash-up.
+
+In a single minute the young engineer was drenched to the skin. It was
+all that he could do to keep from being blown from his footing. He
+fairly counted the seconds as he shot forward, sprinting to the limit
+on that slippery, flooded roadbed. He could not restrain a shout of
+relief and hope as he turned the last curve.
+
+"Widener--38!" he gasped.
+
+The station lamps were visible, a mile distant. Somewhat nearer, a
+blur of white radiance amid the dashing rain, was the headlight of
+No. 38 showing that she was coming at momentarily increasing speed.
+Ralph aimed to run nearer to the air line stretch to plant the signal.
+Suddenly his feet tripped and he went headlong. The breath seemed
+knocked out of his body as he landed across the ties of the brief
+trestle reach, which he had forgotten all about in his excitement. The
+lantern, flung wide from his grasp, struck one rail, smashed to
+pieces, and the lamp went out as it dropped with a flare into the deep
+gully beneath.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+AT THE SEMAPHORE
+
+
+THE young engineer of No. 999 struggled to his feet appalled. The case
+seemed hopeless. He had matches in his pocket. In dry weather under
+the same circumstances he might to gather up enough dry grass and
+brush to build a fire between the rails, but now, with everything
+soaked and dripping this was impossible.
+
+"The semaphore signal!" gasped Ralph. "Can I reach it in time?"
+
+He crossed the remainder of the trestle in desperate leaps. Ralph
+calculated the distance to the semaphore, the distance of the train,
+and his heart failed him. Still he kept on. His eyes were fixed on the
+lantern aloft showing open tracks for the oncoming train. It was his
+star of hope. Then as he reached it he saw that he was too late.
+
+To scale the slippery timber to the staple-runners without boot hooks
+would be no easy task. To get to the first rung and ascend would
+consume fully two minutes' time.
+
+"What shall I do--what can I do?" panted the young railroader in
+desperation.
+
+Just beyond the semaphore was a symmetrical heap of bleached blocks of
+rock comprising a landmark guide for engineers. Ralph ran to it.
+Groping among the gravel at its base, his fingers frantically grasped
+several loose stones. He glanced once at the glowering headlight of
+No. 38.
+
+"If I can make it--if I can only make it!" he voiced, and the
+aspiration was a kind of a wail.
+
+The young engineer of No. 999 had been the former leader of all boyish
+sports and exercises in Stanley Junction. Posed as he had posed many
+times in the past when he was firing at a mark, with all his skill, he
+calculated aim, distance and fling. The bull's eye target was the
+lantern pendant from the arm of the semaphore.
+
+One--failed! the missile missed its intended mark.
+
+Two--a ringing yell of delight, of hope, of triumph rang from the lips
+of the young engineer. The skillfully-aimed projectile had struck the
+glass of the signal, shivering it to atoms. The wind and rain did the
+rest. Out went the light.
+
+A sharp whistle from No. 38, the hiss of the air brakes, and panting
+and exhausted, the young engineer of No. 999 watched the Night
+Express whiz by on a lessening run and come to a stop two hundred
+yards away.
+
+Ralph dashed after the train, now halted beyond the trestle. He did
+not heed the shout of the brakeman already out on the tracks, but got
+up to the locomotive just as the conductor, lantern in hand, reached
+it.
+
+"Hello!" shot out the engineer of No. 38, staring at the figure
+outlined within the halo of the conductor's light--"Fairbanks!"
+
+"Why, so it is!" exclaimed the conductor, and it was easy for him to
+discern from Ralph's sudden appearance and breathless manner that he
+had some interest, if not an active part, in the mysterious
+disappearance of the semaphore signal. "What is it, Fairbanks?"
+
+Very hurriedly Ralph explained. The engineer of No. 38 uttered a low
+whistle, meantime regarding the active young railroader, whom he well
+knew, with a glance of decided admiration. Then as hurried were the
+further movements of the conductor.
+
+Within a very few minutes a brakeman was speeding back to Widener to
+inform the man on duty there of the condition of affairs. He returned
+to report the situation in safe official control all up and down the
+line. In the meantime No 38. had moved up to the scene of the wreck.
+This was done at the suggestion of Ralph, who did not know how the
+passengers in the special coach might have fared. Arrived at the
+scene, however, it was soon learned that two men only had been thrown
+from their beds and slightly bruised. The rest of the passengers were
+only shaken up.
+
+The frightened passengers were huddled up, drenched to the skin, at
+the side of the gap, for Fogg had insisted on their taking no risk
+remaining in the derailed coach.
+
+"We're stalled for three hours," decided the engineer of No. 38.
+
+"Yes, and more than that, if the wrecking gang is not at Virden, as we
+suppose," added the conductor.
+
+The passengers of the derailed coach were taken to shelter in a coach
+which backed to Widener. There was nothing to do now for the engineer
+and fireman of No. 999 but to await the arrival of the wrecking crew.
+Word came finally by messenger from the dispatcher at the station that
+the same was on its way to the Gap. Inside of two hours the coach was
+back on the rails, and No. 999 moved ahead, took on transferred
+passengers from No. 38, and renewed the run to Bridgeport on a
+make-time schedule.
+
+There had been a good many compliments for the young engineer from
+the crew of No. 38. The conductor had expressed some gratifying
+expressions of appreciation from the passengers who had heard of
+Ralph's thrilling feat at the semaphore. The conductor of the special
+coach attached to No. 999 had come up and shook hands with Ralph, a
+choking hoarseness in his throat as he remarked: "It's a honor to
+railroad with such fellows as you." Fogg had said little. There were
+many grim realities in railroading he knew well from experience. This
+was only one of them. After they started from Widener he had given his
+engineer a hearty slap of the shoulder, and with shining eyes made the
+remark:
+
+"This is another boost for you, Fairbanks."
+
+"For No. 999, you mean," smiled Ralph significantly. "We'll hope so,
+anyway, Mr. Fogg."
+
+Wet, grimed, cinder-eyed, but supremely satisfied, they pulled into
+Bridgeport with a good record, considering the delay at the Gap. The
+conductor of the special coach laid off there. No. 999 was to get back
+to Stanley Junction as best she could and as quickly. As she cut loose
+from the coach its conductor came up with an envelope.
+
+"My passengers made up a little donation, Fairbanks," the man said.
+"There's a newspaper man among them. He's correspondent for some daily
+press association. Been writing up 'the heroic dash--brave youth at
+the trestle--forlorn hope of an unerring marksman'--and all that."
+
+"Oh, he's not writing for a newspaper," laughed Ralph; "he's making up
+a melodrama."
+
+"Well, he'll make you famous, just the same, and here's some
+government photographs for you lucky fellows," added the conductor,
+tossing the envelope in his hand into the cab.
+
+Fogg grinned over his share of the fifty-dollar donation and accepted
+it as a matter of course. Ralph said nothing, but he was somewhat
+affected. He was pleased at the recognition of his earnest services.
+At the same time the exploit of the night had shaken his nerves
+naturally, and reminded him of all the perils that accompanied a
+practical railroad career. A stern sense of responsibility made him
+thoughtful and grave, and he had in mind many a brave, loyal fellow
+whose fame had been unheralded and unsung, who had stuck to his post
+in time of danger and had given up his life to save others.
+
+No. 999 was back at Stanley Junction by eight o'clock the next
+morning. When Ralph reached home he was so tired out he did not even
+wait for breakfast, but went straightway to his bed.
+
+He came down the stairs in the morning bright as a dollar, to hear his
+mother humming a happy song in the dining-room, and Fred Porter
+softly accompanying with a low-toned whistle on the veranda. The
+latter, waving a newspaper in his hand, made a dash for Ralph.
+
+"Look!" he exclaimed, pointing to some sensational headlines. "They've
+got you in print with a vengeance. A whole column about 'the last
+heroic exploit of our expert young railroader and rising
+townsman--Engineer Fairbanks.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE BOY WHO WAS HAZED
+
+
+"Well, Porter, proceed."
+
+Ralph gave the direction. He and Fred were seated in the garden
+summer-house, settled comfortably on benches facing each other across
+a rustic table, after a good breakfast, a general restful feeling
+permeating them.
+
+"All right," assented Fred. "Before I begin, though, I wish to make a
+remark. The way your mother and yourself have treated me has been just
+royal--I'll never forget it!"
+
+"And never forget us," directed the young engineer with a warm,
+friendly smile. "You'll always find yourself welcome in this house."
+
+"That's what gets me," said Fred, and there was a slight tremor and a
+suspicion of tears in his voice. "Most fellows would have little to do
+with an impostor, eh?"
+
+"That's a pretty hard word, Porter," intimated Ralph. "Just the same,
+I believe in you. I have had confidence in you all along."
+
+"And my story won't disturb it any," declared Fred. "Well, to
+begin--my name is not Marvin Clark."
+
+"Of course, I know that already."
+
+"It is Fred Porter."
+
+"So you have told me."
+
+"I am an orphan, homeless. As I said when I first came here, I have
+been a sort of a knockabout, a wanderer. I have been a poor boy. The
+real Marvin Clark, whose father is the real and genuine president of
+the Middletown & Western Railroad, is a rich boy. I have saved his
+life when he was drowning. He likes me for that, and there isn't much
+that he wouldn't do for me."
+
+"You deserve it," said Ralph.
+
+"Well, to make a long story short, he was a student at the Earlville
+Academy. He's a fine, manly fellow, nothing sneaking or mean about
+him. One night, though, he and his school chums got to cutting up.
+They raided the town and had a dozen fights with the village boys. One
+of them was taken prisoner, a lad named Ernest Gregg. The academy
+fellows decided to haze him. They put him through an awful course of
+sprouts. They ducked him in the river, scared him with mock gunpowder
+explosions, and wound up by tying him blindfolded to a switch near a
+railroad track. They left him there all night. The result was that
+when little Ernest was discovered the next morning, he was in a high
+fever and delirious."
+
+"Too bad," murmured Ralph. "I don't think much of your Marvin Clark."
+
+"Hold on, don't misjudge him. He helped to capture the enemy, as they
+called poor little Gregg, but he left the crowd right after that,
+supposing his chums would scare their captive a bit and let him go.
+Clark had no hand whatever in the downright persecution that sent the
+boy to the hospital. It seems that some of the gunpowder got into the
+eyes of the little fellow, and the douse in the river had given him a
+cold. The scare he got had nearly driven him out of his right mind,
+for he was a timid little fellow. A month later Ernest was discharged
+from the hospital nearly blind, thin, pale and weakly, a mere shadow
+of his former self."
+
+"Of course the academy fellows tried to make up for all that,"
+suggested Ralph.
+
+"They didn't. Vacation came on, and they hied to their homes with not
+a thought of the great sorrow they had brought on their innocent
+victim. They say that Clark was just furious when he heard of it all.
+He laid out two of the ringleaders and shamed them in public. He
+sought out Ernest and took him to the best hotel in town. He hired
+doctors, and loaded the little fellow with comforts and luxuries."
+
+"It must have cost him something," remarked Ralph.
+
+"What did Clark care for that? His father was rich and gave him all
+the money he wanted. He had an account at a bank, and was heir to two
+aunts who doated on him and who were fabulously rich. I never saw a
+fellow take to heart the misfortunes of a poor little stranger as
+Clark did. The incident seemed to have changed his whole life. He
+sobered down wonderfully. He blamed himself for the whole thing, and
+took the whole responsibilities upon himself. Nearly all the time he
+was with Ernest, trying to cheer him up, hoping to find some way to
+make him well and strong and happy again."
+
+"A royal good fellow, in fact, just as you said--I see that."
+
+"Yes, sir," declared Fred staunchly. "Well, to continue: Clark's
+father and family were going to Europe. They had arranged for young
+Clark to go with them, but he wouldn't. Then there was a family
+council. Clark had not made much progress at school. He was fine at
+football, but no good at arithmetic. In fact, he was a disappointment
+to his father as a student. The old man, the academy professor, and
+the family lawyer, held a great consultation. Old man Clark came to a
+stern decision. It was planned out that young Clark should follow in
+the footsteps of his father and become a railroader. A regular
+arrangement was made. Clark was to have free passes everywhere. He was
+to spend his entire vacation traveling over different railroad
+systems, while his folks were in Europe. Twice a week he was to send
+to the family lawyer reports of his progress, accompanied by vouchers
+showing that he had not wasted the time."
+
+"I see," nodded Ralph; "also where you come in."
+
+"Yes, that's easy to guess," said Fred. "Just at that time I happened
+to be on a flying visit to Earlville, where one day I met Clark. He
+took me to the hotel, where I met Ernest. I had known young Gregg
+before, for he had come to Earlville a ragged, homeless lad before I
+first left, seeming to have no home or relatives, and going to work at
+odd jobs around the town. Clark told me of the fix he was in. While we
+were talking, a sudden idea came to him. He became very much excited
+and serious, and then made a very strange request of me."
+
+"To assume his identity and go railroading in his stead?" inquired
+Ralph, anticipating what was coming.
+
+"You've struck it," assented Fred; "just that."
+
+"And you accepted?"
+
+"And that is why you see me here," said Fred. "Don't think any the
+less of me, Fairbanks, for doing it. Don't find fault with me if I
+took up the imposture for all there was in it. It's my way--when I go
+at a thing, I do so with all my--nerves. I was Marvin Clark to the
+core. I took up his name, I played his part, and say, I tried not to
+disgrace his good name by one unmanly act. He taught me to imitate his
+handwriting perfectly one day. The next I was on the road, without a
+mishap until I met you."
+
+"Which may not be a mishap after all," suggested the young engineer.
+
+"I think as you do about that. I've come to you for advice, and I feel
+sure that it will be good advice. Now, then, to get to central motive
+of Clark's plan--a noble, grand act, a royal deed. It was all for the
+sake of his little charge, Ernest Gregg."
+
+"I can imagine that," said Ralph.
+
+"Clark could not get the little fellow out of his mind. He had got, it
+seemed, a clew to some of his relatives. He told me that only for a
+wicked enemy, and if he had his rights, Ernest would be in a position
+of positive wealth. He said that he was determined to find a certain
+old man who could clear up the whole situation. He was going to start
+out with Ernest to solve the secret of his strange life, while his
+friends supposed that he was following out the plan that his father
+had arranged. Clark made a plan how we were to keep track of one
+another, writing to certain points we agreed upon. I started out from
+Earlville on my part of the arrangement, while Clark stole out of town
+with his young charge. For three weeks I wrote regularly to him and he
+replied. During the last month I have not received a word from him,
+and some of my letters have come back to me."
+
+"Then you are worried about him?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"I am, very much. You see, he spoke of an enemy of Ernest. How do I
+know what may have happened to both of them? If Clark should
+disappear, see what a fix I am in, assuming his name, spending his
+money. I'd have a hard time explaining reasonably the wild, mad move
+Clark made me take."
+
+"It is certainly a singular situation," admitted the young railroader
+thoughtfully.
+
+"Isn't it, now? I've come to you to have you help me solve the
+problem. Think it over, give me some advice. Or, one thing--you go to
+many places with your railroading. You might keep a watch out for
+Clark, just as I am doing. You might get a clew to him or run across
+him."
+
+"But how should I know him?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"I'm going to give you his picture."
+
+"That will help."
+
+Fred drew out a memorandum book and selected from it a small
+photograph, which he presented to Ralph. The latter saw a bright,
+manly face portrayed in the picture.
+
+"You keep that," directed Fred.
+
+Ralph reflected for a few moments. Then they discussed the situation
+in all its bearings. There was not much to suggest, however, on the
+part of the young engineer. The most they could hope for, he told
+Fred, was that one or the other of them might by some circumstance run
+across the missing Clark and his young charge.
+
+"I've got an idea that I ought to run down a branch line of the road I
+have never been over," suggested Fred, at the close of their animated
+colloquy. "If I do, I'll have to catch a train in an hour. I'll get
+word to you soon again, and if you hear of anything that interests me,
+I'll arrange so that a letter or a wire will reach me if you address
+it to Marvin Clark, Lake Hotel, Wellsville."
+
+"All right," agreed Ralph.
+
+They strolled together down to the depot a little after that. A train
+from the west came in just as the one having Fred for a passenger
+steamed out. A familiar figure alighted from one of the coaches.
+
+"Here I am again," announced Zeph Dallas, coming up to Ralph.
+
+"How are your little friends, the Canaries?" inquired the young
+engineer.
+
+"Safe and snug at home," replied Zeph. "Going up to the house?"
+
+"Yes, just come in from a special trip, and I probably have a lay-over
+till to-morrow. I want to call and see a friend at the hotel for a few
+moments. Then I'm at your service."
+
+When they reached the hotel, Ralph sought out Archie Graham, to find
+the young inventor in his room, engrossed in putting together some
+kind of a mechanical model. The latter greeted Ralph with effusion.
+
+"I'm having the prime chance of my life," declared Archie. "That note
+of yours was the open sesame to the roundhouse and everything about
+it. The foreman made me as welcome as a friend. I say, Fairbanks, they
+think a lot of you, these railroad chums of yours."
+
+"Do they?" asked Ralph, with a modest smile. "I'm glad they do."
+
+"I'll show you results in a few days," declared Archie, with a show
+of more enthusiasm than Ralph had ever before seen him exhibit. "I've
+got up an invention that will just about revolutionize engineering."
+
+"You don't say so!"
+
+"Yes, I do. Only a day or two, and I'm going to try it--you'll hear
+about it, all right."
+
+Ralph did, in fact, hear about it in a very sensational way, and
+within a few hours after the interview.
+
+He rejoined Zeph and they proceeded homewards. Zeph was just as
+mysterious as ever about his new employment. Ralph knew that he was
+bubbling over from a pent-up lot of secrecy, but he did not encourage
+his quaint friend to violate an evident confidence reposed in him by
+his employer.
+
+Zeph announced that he would like to stay over at the Fairbanks home
+until the next day, and was made duly welcome. He amazed and amused
+Ralph by showing him his "detective outfit," as he called it. It was
+an incongruous mass, stored away in a flat leather case that he
+secreted in a great pocket made inside his coat--a wig, false
+whiskers, a pair of goggles, and a lot of other "secret service"
+paraphernalia, suggested to Zeph by reading some cheap and sensational
+detective stories.
+
+"Well, I've got to get on the shadowy trail to-day," yawned Zeph, as
+he got out of bed the next morning.
+
+"Where's the shadow, Zeph?" asked Ralph humorously.
+
+"Let you know when I find my quarry."
+
+"Ha, bad as that?" laughed Ralph.
+
+"Oh, you can smile, Ralph Fairbanks," said Zeph resentfully. "I tell
+you, I'm on a mighty important case and--say, where did you get
+that?"
+
+"What?"
+
+"That picture!" exclaimed Zeph, picking up from the bureau the
+photograph of Marvin Clark, given to the young engineer by Fred Porter
+the day previous.
+
+"Oh, that picture?" said Ralph. "A friend of mine gave it to me. He's
+trying to find its original, and hoped I could help him."
+
+"Trying to find him?" repeated Zeph with big staring eyes. "Whew! I
+can do that for you."
+
+"You can?" demanded Ralph.
+
+"I should say so!"
+
+"Do you know the original of that picture then?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Sure I do--why, he's the person who hired me to be a detective," was
+Zeph's remarkable reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+"LORD LIONEL MONTAGUE"
+
+
+"You can't get on here!"
+
+"But I've got a paus, don't you know."
+
+"Paws? Yes, I see," said Lemuel Fogg. "Take 'em off the tender, son,
+or you'll get a jerk that will land you, for we're going to start up
+pretty soon."
+
+"Hawdly--I have a right here, my man--I've got a paus, don't you
+know."
+
+"See here, my friend, if you are bound for Hadley, this isn't the
+train."
+
+"I didn't say Hadley, sir, I said 'hawdly.'"
+
+"He means hardly, Mr. Fogg," put in Ralph, "and he is trying to tell
+you he has a pass."
+
+"Why don't he talk English, then?" demanded the fireman of No. 999
+contemptuously, while the person who had aroused his dislike looked
+indignant and affronted, and now, extending a card to Ralph, climbed
+up into the tender.
+
+He was a stranger to the engineer--a man Ralph could not remember
+having seen before. His attire was that of a conventional tourist,
+and his face, words and bearing suggested the conventional foreigner.
+He wore a short, stubby black mustache and side whiskers, a monocle in
+one eye, and he had a vacuous expression on his face as of a person of
+immense profundity and "class."
+
+Ralph, glancing over the card, saw that it was a pass from the master
+mechanic of the road, briefly explaining that the bearer was Lord
+Lionel Montague, studying up American railroad systems.
+
+"We can't offer you a seat, Lord Montague," spoke Ralph politely.
+"It's rough work in cramped quarters aboard a locomotive."
+
+"I have noticed it," replied "his ludship." "Not so abroad, by no
+means, my man. In fact, on the home lines in Lunnon, it is quite the
+thing, you know, for the quality to make a fad of locomotive parties,
+and the accommodations for their comfort are quite superior to this,
+don't you know."
+
+"That so?" growled Fogg, with an unpleasant glance at the stranger.
+"Why, I've had Senators in my cab in my time, glad to chum with the
+crew and set back on the coal, jolly and homelike as could be--as
+you'll have to do, if you stay on this engine."
+
+"Remawkably detestable person!" observed the stranger confidentially
+to Ralph. "I shall ride only a short distance--to the first stop, in
+fact."
+
+"You are welcome," replied Ralph, "and if I can explain anything to
+you, I am at your service."
+
+"Thawnks, thawnks," uttered the pretentious passenger, and fixed his
+monocled eye on space in a vapid way.
+
+No. 999 was on schedule for the old accommodation run to Riverton. It
+was nearly a week after the interview between the young engineer and
+Fred Porter recited in the last chapter. Affairs had quited down with
+Ralph, and railroad life had settled down to ordinary routine of the
+usual commonplace character.
+
+There had at first been considerable interest for Ralph in the
+remarkable statement of Zeph Dallas that the original of the
+photograph of Marvin Clark, the son of the railroad president, was his
+mysterious employer. Further than that involuntary admission of his
+erratic friend, however, Ralph could not persuade Zeph to go. Zeph
+declared that he was bound by a compact of the greatest secrecy. He
+insisted that there could be no possibility of a mistake in his
+recognition of the picture.
+
+Ralph told him that a friend was very anxious to find his employer,
+and told Zeph who his friend was. The latter became serious, and acted
+quite disturbed when he learned that it was Fred Porter, whom he had
+met several times.
+
+"I'd like to tell you a whole lot, Ralph, but I can't do it!" Zeph had
+burst out. "Say, one thing, though; I'm going to tell my employer
+about Fred Porter being so anxious to see him, and you can write to
+Porter and tell him that his friend is all right and safe, if you want
+to. What's that address--I may get around to Porter myself."
+
+Ralph told Zeph. That same evening the latter left Stanley Junction,
+and Ralph had not heard from him since, nor did he receive word from
+Fred. Temporarily, at least, Zeph, Fred and the railroad president's
+son, Marvin Clark, the "Canaries" and all the peculiar mystery
+surrounding them, seemed to have drifted out of the life of the young
+engineer.
+
+No. 999 was about ready to start on her daily trip when the stranger
+designated as Lord Montague had appeared. As he stood against the
+tender bar and seemed to commune with himself on the crudity of
+American locomotive cabs, Ralph leaned from the window and hailed a
+friend.
+
+"I say, Graham," he observed, "you seem particularly active and
+restless this morning."
+
+Ralph had reason for the remark. The young inventor had been very
+little care to his sponsor and friend during the past week. Given
+free access to the roundhouse, Archie had just about lived there.
+Quiet and inoffensive, he at first had been a butt for the jokes of
+the wipers and the extras, but his good-natured patience disarmed
+those who harmlessly made fun of him, and those who maliciously
+persecuted him had one warning from his sledge-hammer fists, and left
+him alone afterwards.
+
+On this especial morning Archie was stirred with an unusual animation.
+Ralph noticed this when he first came down to the roundhouse. The
+young inventor hung around the locomotive suspiciously. He even rode
+on the pilot of No. 999 to the depot, and for the past five minutes he
+had paced restlessly up and down the platform as though the locomotive
+held some peculiar fascination for him. As he now came up to the cab
+at Ralph's hail, his eye ran over the locomotive in the most
+interested way in the world, and Ralph wondered why.
+
+"Call me, Fairbanks?" mumbled Archie, and Ralph could not catch his
+eye.
+
+"I did, Graham," responded Ralph. "What's stirring you?"
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Chasing up 999."
+
+"Am I?"
+
+"It looks that way; it looks to me as if you were watching the
+locomotive."
+
+"She's worth watching, isn't she?"
+
+"Yes, but you act as if you expect her to do something."
+
+"Ha! ha!--that's it, h'm--you see--say, wish I could run down the line
+with you this morning."
+
+"We're crowded in the cab, as you see," explained Ralph, "but if you
+want the discomfort of balancing on the tank cover back there----"
+
+"I'd dote on it--thanks, thanks," said Archie with a fervor that
+increased Ralph's curiosity as to his strange actions this particular
+morning.
+
+"Got some new bee in his head?" suggested Fogg, as Archie scrambled up
+over the coal. "He'll have a new kind of locomotive built by the time
+we clear the limits--that is, in his mind."
+
+Lord Lionel Montague warmed up to Ralph the next few minutes before
+starting time. He asked a few casual questions about the mechanisms of
+No. 999, and then seemed tremendously interested in the young engineer
+himself.
+
+"I've taken a fawncy to you, Mr. Fairbanks, don't you know," he
+drawled out. "I'd like to cultivate you, quite. I must call on you at
+Stanley Junction. There's a great deal you might tell me of interest,
+don't you see."
+
+"I shall be happy to be of service to you, Lord Montague," responded
+Ralph courteously.
+
+He did not like the man. There was something untrue about his shifty
+eye. There was a lot of "put on" that did not strike Ralph as natural.
+"His ludship" harped on the youth of Ralph. Only veterans were
+intrusted with important railroad positions in England--"didn't he
+know." He was asking many questions about Ralph's juvenile friends, as
+if with some secret purpose, when the train started up.
+
+"Hi, up there!" Fogg challenged Archie, seated on the tank tender top,
+"don't get moving up there and tumble off."
+
+The young inventor certainly looked as if he was moving. His eyes were
+glued to the smokestack of the locomotive, as though it possessed a
+fascinating influence over him.
+
+"Say, there's some draft this morning," observed the fireman, half-way
+to the crossing, as he threw some coal into the furnace.
+
+"I should say so," replied Ralph; "some sparks, too, I notice."
+
+"Humph! that new patent spark arrester don't arrest particularly,"
+commented Fogg. "Queer," he added, with a speculative eye on the
+smokestack.
+
+That appendage of No. 999 was shooting out showers of sparks like a
+roman candle. As she slid the splits at the crossing and got down to
+real business, the display was very noticeable.
+
+"I'd say that some of our old time enemies were doctoring the fuel, if
+it wasn't that the crowd is off the job after that last drubbing I
+gave Hall and Wilson," remarked the fireman. "I can't understand it.
+That draft is pulling the coal up through the flues fast as I can
+shovel it in. Thunder!"
+
+With a yell the fireman of No. 999, as he opened the furnace door to
+throw in more coal, leaped to one side.
+
+A cyclonic stream, like the sudden blast of a volcano, poured out into
+the cab.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+ARCHIE GRAHAM'S INVENTION
+
+
+The cab was suddenly filled with smoke, ashes and steam. Something
+unusual had happened. Unable to determine it all in a minute, Ralph
+pulled the lever and set the air brakes.
+
+Mingled with the jar and the hiss of steam there arose a great cry--it
+was a vast human roar, ringing, anguished, terrified. It proceeded
+from the lips of the self-dubbed Lord Montague, and glancing towards
+the tender Ralph witnessed a startling sight.
+
+The monocled, languid-aired nobleman had struck a pose against the
+tender bar, and as Fogg opened the furnace door and the fire box
+suddenly belched out a sheet of flame and then a perfect cloud of
+ashes, the passenger of high degree was engulfed. Fogg, alert to his
+duty, after nimbly skipping aside, had kicked the furnace door shut.
+He was not quick enough, however, to prevent what seemed to be half
+the contents of the furnace from pouring out a great cascade of ashes
+as if shot from a cannon, taking the astounded and appalled Montague
+squarely down his front.
+
+"Murder!" he yelled, and grasped his head in his hands to brush away
+the hot ashes that were searing his face.
+
+As he did so he became a new personality. His mustache was brushed
+from his lip and fell to the bottom of the cab, while its former
+possessor made a mad dive to one side.
+
+"Here, you chump!" cried Fogg; "do you want to kill yourself?" and
+grabbing the singed and frightened passenger, he pinned him against
+the coal and held him there. In doing this he brushed one whisker from
+the side of his captive's face, and the latter lay panting and
+groaning with nearly all his fictitious make-up gone and quite all of
+his nerve collapsed.
+
+"What's happened?" asked Ralph, as they slowed down.
+
+"It felt like a powder blast," declared Fogg.
+
+Archie Graham had uttered a cry of dismay--of discovery, too, it
+seemed to Ralph. The young engineer glanced at his friend perched on
+the top of the tender tank. The face of the young inventor was a
+study.
+
+Archie acted less like a person startled than as one surprised. He
+appeared to be neither shocked nor particularly interested. His
+expression was that of one disappointed. It suddenly flashed across
+Ralph, he could scarcely have told why, that the young inventor had
+indeed been "inventing" something, that something had slipped a cog,
+and that he was responsible for the catastrophe of the moment. Now
+Archie looked about him in a stealthy, baffled way, as though he was
+anxious to sneak away from the scene.
+
+Half-blinded, sputtering and a sight, "his ludship" struggled out of
+the grasp of the fireman. His monocle was gone. His face, divested of
+its hirsute appendages, Ralph observed, was a decidedly evil face. As
+the train came to a halt the dismantled passenger stepped from the
+cab, and wrathfully tearing the remaining false whiskers from place,
+sneaked down the tracks, seeking cover from his discomfiture.
+
+"Hi! you've left that nobleman face of yours behind you," shouted Fogg
+after him. "What's his game, Fairbanks?"
+
+"It staggers me," confessed Ralph. "Hello, there, Graham!"
+
+But the young inventor with due haste was disappearing over the rear
+of the tender, as though he was ashamed of a part in the puzzling
+occurrence at the moment.
+
+"Something's wrong," muttered Fogg, and he opened the furnace door
+timidly. There was no further outburst of ashes. "Queer," he
+commented. "It couldn't have been powder. I noticed a draft soon as we
+started. What made it? Where is it now?"
+
+"It was only when we were running fast," submitted Ralph.
+
+The fireman leaped down to the tracks. He inspected the locomotive
+from end to end. Then he began ferretting under the engine. Ralph
+watched him climb between the drivers. Strange, muffled mutterings
+announced some discovery. In a moment or two Fogg crawled out again.
+
+"I vum!" he shouted. "What is this contraption?"
+
+He grasped a piece of wire-netted belting, and as he trailed out its
+other end, to it was attached a queer-looking device that resembled a
+bellows. Its frame was of iron, and it had a tube with a steel
+nozzle.
+
+"I say," observed the young engineer, in a speculative tone, "where
+did that come from?"
+
+"I found its nozzle end stuck in through one end of the draft holes in
+the fire box," answered Fogg. "This belt ran around two axles and
+worked it. Who put it there?"
+
+"Graham," announced Ralph politely. "Well--well--I understand his
+queer actions now. Bring it up here," continued Ralph, as the fireman
+was about to throw it aside.
+
+"The young fellow who thinks he is going to overturn the system with
+his inventions? Well, he must have done a lot of work, and it must
+have taken a heap of time to fix the thing so it worked. The belt was
+adjusted to a T. Say, you'd better keep him out of the roundhouse, or
+he'll experiment on us some day in a way that may lead to something
+serious."
+
+Ralph put the contrivance under his seat for more leisurely inspection
+later on. He had to smile to think of the patience, the ingenuity and
+the eccentric operation of the well-meant project of his young
+inventor friend. The bellows principle of increasing the furnace draft
+might have been harmless in a stationary engine. Even on the
+locomotive it had shown some added suction power while the locomotive
+was going ahead, but the moment the furnace door was opened the
+current of air from below sought the nearest vent. That was why "his
+ludship" had retired under a decided cloud in more ways than one.
+
+When they arrived at Riverton the young engineer made a search for
+both Archie and the disguised impostor. He located neither. From what
+he gathered from the conductor, Archie had left the train at the first
+station after the stop. The pretended English lord had been noticed
+footing it back towards Stanley Junction.
+
+The return trip was uneventful. Archie did not put in an appearance,
+and Ralph fancied he might have gone back to Bridgeport. The next
+morning when Ralph reported for duty, little Torchy, the call boy,
+sidled up to him in a confidential way.
+
+"Say, Mr. Fairbanks--I noticed a fellow was on your cab on your run
+yesterday that I have seen before----"
+
+"Indeed," answered Ralph curiously; "what about him?"
+
+"Nothing much, only he was around here a couple of days ago. He
+pretended that he wanted to see the inside of a roundhouse, and Mr.
+Forgan sent me with him to show him about. When he got me alone he
+began asking me all about you. Then he tried to pump me about all your
+boy friends. I didn't like his looks or his actions, so I thought I
+would tell you what I have."
+
+"Thank you," said Ralph. "If you ever run against him again, tell
+me."
+
+"I will, sure," responded the staunch little fellow, who had a genuine
+friendship for Ralph, who had encouraged him greatly, by initiating
+him into roundhouse duties when he first came to work for the Great
+Northern.
+
+Ralph could not fathom the possible motive of the stranger, who
+apparently was somehow interested in his doings. When they started out
+on their regular run, he told Fogg what Torchy had imparted to him.
+The fireman reflected speculatively over the disclosure.
+
+"I can't understand what the fellow is up to," he admitted, "unless
+one of the gangs is up to a new trick and has hired a stranger to work
+it on us."
+
+There was a long wait at Riverton after arrival that day. Then they
+were sided, and Fogg strolled off to a restaurant. Ralph sat down on a
+pile of ties at the side of the track and enjoyed the lunch that he
+had brought with him from home. He had just finished it and was about
+to go to the cab and get a book on railroading to read, when a tall,
+farmer-appearing fellow came upon the scene.
+
+"Say," he drawled, "is this 999--yes, I see it is."
+
+"All right," nodded Ralph; "what about it?"
+
+"I want to see the engineer."
+
+"I am the engineer."
+
+"Name Fairbanks?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I'm sent to you."
+
+"By whom?"
+
+"Don't know--never saw the boy before. He's a stranger in Riverton.
+Came up to me and gave me a half-a-dollar to come here and deliver a
+message to you."
+
+"Let me know it," directed Ralph.
+
+"Come out here on the tracks, and I'll show you where he said you was
+to come to see him. See that old shed over beyond those freights?
+Well, the boy said you was to come there."
+
+"Oh, he did?" commented Ralph musingly.
+
+"Yes, he said to come alone, as it was particular. He said you'd know
+when I said Martin--Martin, oh, yes, Clark, that's it."
+
+"Marvin Clark," decided the young railroader at once, and as the
+messenger went his way Ralph ran to the engine cab, threw off his
+jacket and then walked down the tracks. He of course thought of Fred
+Porter at once. It looked as though that individual had turned up
+again and had sent for him, and Ralph was glad to hear from him at
+last.
+
+The building that had been pointed out to him by the boy messenger was
+a storage shed for repair tools and supplies. Ralph passed a line of
+damaged freights, and reaching the shed, found its door open. He
+stepped across the threshold and peered around among the heaps of iron
+and steel.
+
+"Is anybody here?" he inquired.
+
+"Yes, two of us," promptly responded a harsh, familiar voice, that
+gave Ralph a start, for the next instant his arms were seized, drawn
+behind him, and the young engineer of No. 999 found himself a
+prisoner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+IKE SLUMP AGAIN
+
+
+Ralph knew at once that he had fallen into a trap of some kind. He
+struggled violently, but it was of no avail. Two persons had slipped
+up behind him, two pairs of hands were holding him captive.
+
+"Who are you?" demanded the young engineer sharply, over his
+shoulder.
+
+There was no response, but he was forced forward clear back into the
+shed. The front door was kicked shut. Ralph was thrown roughly among a
+heap of junk. He recovered himself quickly and faced his assailants.
+
+The light in the place was dim and uncertain. The only glazed aperture
+in the shed was a small window at the rear. With considerable interest
+Ralph strained his gaze in an endeavor to make out his captors. Then
+in immense surprise he recognized both.
+
+"Ike Slump and Jim Evans," he spoke aloud involuntarily.
+
+"You call the roll," observed Evans with a sneer.
+
+Ralph reflected rapidly. The last he had heard of this precious brace
+of comrades, they had been sentenced to prison for a series of bold
+thefts from the railroad company. How they had gotten free he could
+not decide. He fancied that they had in some way escaped. At all
+events, they were here, and the mind of the young engineer instantly
+ran to one of two theories as to their plans: Either the gang at
+Stanley Junction had hired them to annoy or imperil him, or Slump and
+Evans were inspired by motives of personal revenge.
+
+Ike Slump had been a trouble to Ralph when he first began his
+ambitious railroad career. It was Slump who had hated him from the
+start when Ralph began his apprenticeship with the Great Northern, as
+related in "Ralph of the Roundhouse." Ralph had detected Slump and
+others in a plot to rob the railroad company of a lot of brass journal
+fittings. From that time on through nearly every stage of Ralph's
+upward career, Slump had gone steadily down the easy slope of crime.
+
+When he linked up with Evans, his superior in years and cunning, he
+had several times sought revenge against Ralph, and but for the
+vigilance and courage of the young engineer his life might have paid
+the forfeit.
+
+Evans acted promptly, wasting no words. He had drawn a weapon from his
+pocket, and this he handed to Slump. Then he turned a fierce, lowering
+visage upon Ralph.
+
+"Fairbanks," he began, "you're to go with us--where, don't matter, nor
+why. We owe you one, as you've known for a long time, and if it wasn't
+that we're here for the money there is in it, and not revenge, I'd
+take pleasure in balancing the months you got us in jail by crippling
+you so you'd never pull another lever. This is business, though, pure
+and simple. If you get hurt, you can blame yourself. You've got to go
+with us."
+
+"Why have I?" demanded Ralph.
+
+"Because we say so. There's a man quite anxious to see you."
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"That's telling. He wants to ask you just one question. A civil answer
+given, and you are free as the wind. Slump, take this pistol, get up
+on that pile of rails, and guard Fairbanks. If he starts to run,
+shoot--understand?"
+
+"I guess I do!" snarled the graceless Ike, climbing to the top of the
+pile of rails. "When I think of what this fellow has done to down me,
+it makes my blood boil."
+
+"I'll be back with a wagon in fifteen minutes," said Evans. "You take
+your medicine quietly, Fairbanks, and nobody will get hurt. Try any
+capers, and blame yourself."
+
+The speaker proceeded to the door of the shed, opened it, and closed
+it after himself as if everything was settled his way. Ike Slump,
+regarding the captive with a venomous expression of face, sat poising
+his weapon with the manner of a person glad to have an occasion arise
+that would warrant its use under the instructions given by his
+partner.
+
+Ralph summed up the situation and counted his chances. It was apparent
+to him that only a bold, reckless dash could avail him. There was no
+chance to pounce upon and disarm the enemy, however, and Ralph
+hesitated about seeking any risks with a fellow who held him so
+completely at his mercy.
+
+"How does it seem?" jeered Ike, after a spell of silence, but Ralph
+did not answer at once. He had experienced no actual fear when so
+suddenly seized. Now, although he could not disregard a certain risk
+and menace in the custody of two of his worst enemies, a study of the
+face of the youth before him made the young railroader marvel as to
+what he could find enticing in doing wrong, and he actually felt
+sorrow and sympathy, instead of thinking of his own precarious
+situation.
+
+"Slump," spoke Ralph finally, "I am sorry for you."
+
+"That so? Ho! ho! truly?" gibed the graceless Ike. "What game are you
+up to? Don't try any, I warn you. You're clever, Ralph Fairbanks, but
+I'm slick. You see, the tables have turned. I knew they would, some
+time."
+
+"What is it you fellows want of me, anyhow?" ventured Ralph, hoping to
+induce Ike to disclose something.
+
+"Nothing to worry about," declared Slump carelessly. "You'll soon
+know. Say, though, Fairbanks, don't stir the lion, don't pull his
+tail."
+
+"You seem to be talking about menageries," observed Ralph.
+
+"You'll think you're in one, sure enough, if you rile Evans up. He
+won't stand any fooling, you hear me. Shut up, now. We'll leave
+discussing things till this job is over and done with. Then I may have
+something to tell you on my own personal account, see?" and Ike tried
+to look very fierce and dangerous. "I'll give you something to think
+of, though. You're going to tell a certain man all you know about a
+certain fellow, and you're going to fix it so that the certain man
+can find the certain fellow, or you don't run 999 for a time to come,
+I'll bet you."
+
+"Who is this certain man?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"I don't know his name. He's a stranger to me."
+
+"And who is the certain fellow?"
+
+"I know that one--I don't mind telling you. Then shut up. You've a way
+of worming things out of people, and I'm not going to help you
+any--it's Marvin Clark."
+
+"I thought it was," nodded the young engineer reflectively; and then
+there was a spell of silence.
+
+Ralph could only conjecture as to the significance of Ike's statement.
+There certainly was some vivid interest that centered about the
+missing son of the railroad president. That name, Marvin Clark, had
+been used to lure Ralph to the old shed. Now it was again employed. It
+took a far flight of fancy to discern what connection young Clark
+might have with these two outcasts--worse, criminals. Ralph decided
+that their only mission in any plot surrounding Clark was that of
+hired intermediaries. He did not know why, but somehow he came to the
+conclusion that Evans and Slump were acting in behalf of the pretended
+Lord Montague. Why and wherefore he could not imagine, but he believed
+that through circumstances now developing he would soon find out.
+
+Slump shifted around on the pile of rails a good deal. They afforded
+anything but a comfortable resting place. Finally he seemed to decide
+that he would change his seat. He edged along with the apparent
+intention of reaching a heap of spike kegs. He never, however, took
+his eye away from Ralph. Ike, too, held his weapon at a continual
+menace, and gave his captive no chance to act against him or run for
+the door.
+
+Near the end of the pile of rails, Ike prepared to descend backwards
+to the spike kegs. He planned to do this without for an instant
+relaxing his vigilance. As he reached out one foot to touch the rails,
+there was an ominous grinding sound. He had thrown his weight on one
+rail. The contact pushed this out of place.
+
+Once started, the whole heap began to shift. Ralph, quite awed, saw
+the pile twist out of shape, and, tumbling in their midst, was his
+watcher. A scream of mortal agony rang through the old shed, and Ike
+Slump landed on the floor with half a ton of rails pinioning his lower
+limbs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+A CRITICAL MOMENT
+
+
+If the rails under which Ike Slump lay had not caught at their ends
+with other rails, his limbs would have been crushed out of all
+semblance. Ralph noted this at once, and as well the extreme peril of
+the situation of the enemy who, a minute previous had been gloating
+over his helplessness.
+
+"Don't move--for your life, don't move!" shouted Ralph, and he sprang
+forward in front of the pinioned Ike Slump.
+
+"I'm killed, I'm crushed to death!" bellowed Ike. "Oh, help! help!"
+
+The weapon had fallen from his hand. Both arms wildly sawing the air,
+Ike shivered and shrank like the arrant craven he was at heart.
+
+"Do just as I say," ordered the young engineer breathlessly. "Don't
+stir--don't even breathe."
+
+Ralph had jumped to the end of the pile of rails. His quick eye
+selected the one rail that was the key of the tangle, which, directed
+wrong, would sweep the mass with crushing force across the pinioned
+body of Ike. The rails were short lengths. But for this, Ralph, strong
+as he was, could have done little or nothing. He got a grasp upon the
+rail. Then he sung out.
+
+"Slip when I lift."
+
+"I can't,--I can't!" wailed Ike.
+
+"You've got to--now!"
+
+Ralph gave a tug at the rail. There was an ominous grind and quiver as
+the others interlocked. He made a tremendous lift, one which strained
+every sinew and started the perspiration from every pore.
+
+"I'm numbed, I'm all crushed!" snivelled Ike; nevertheless he managed
+to crawl out, or rather slip out from under the uplifted rail. He
+rolled on the dirt floor of the shed, making a great ado. It was just
+in time, for Ralph felt his eyes starting from his head. He dropped
+the heavy mass he had sustained and staggered back, well-nigh
+overcome.
+
+As his breath came back to him, Ralph glanced particularly at Ike. The
+latter was completely absorbed in his own sufferings. Ralph could
+discern from the movements of his limbs that neither of them was
+dislocated and apparently no bones were broken. Still, he realized
+that they must be badly bruised and that Ike was disabled, at least
+for a time.
+
+"I'm going for help," he said simply, and darted from the shed. Ike
+yelled after him to protest against desertion, but Ralph paid no
+attention. He planned to get to friends while Evans was still away,
+and he determined to get back with friends by the time Evans
+returned.
+
+Fogg was at the engine as Ralph ran along the tracks, and one of the
+brakemen of the accommodation was with him. Ralph rapidly apprized his
+fireman of the situation.
+
+"Slump and Evans, eh!" muttered Fogg, a deep crinkle of belligerency
+crossing his forehead. "It was Slump who stole half my chickens. As to
+Evans, his mean treachery during the strike came near getting me
+discharged. I thought they were safe in jail."
+
+"So did I," said Ralph. "They seem to have escaped, though. Mr. Fogg,
+they are bad people to have at large."
+
+"Bad! they're of a dangerous breed, I tell you. Simmons, hustle along
+with us."
+
+The fireman snatched up a furnace poker and put down the track after
+Ralph, on the run. He was the first to dart into the shed when they
+reached it, and ran up against the others following, after a swift
+glance about the place.
+
+"No one here," he reported. "Gone--they've slipped us--there's no one
+in this shed."
+
+"Ah, I see," spoke Ralph, with a look about the place outside. "Here
+are wagon wheels," and then he cast his eye across the landscape.
+
+It was so crowded with tracks, buildings and trees beyond that he
+could not look far in the distance. Ralph, however, was satisfied that
+Evans, returning with the wagon, had made haste to carry his helpless
+comrade to the vehicle and get beyond reach of capture.
+
+Fogg was for starting a pursuit, but Ralph convinced him of the
+futility of this course, and they returned to the locomotive. Once
+there, the fireman went over the case in all its bearings. Ralph had
+heretofore told him little concerning Fred Porter and Marvin Clark. He
+had shown him the photograph of the latter some days previous, asking
+him to keep an eye out for its original. Now he felt that some
+confidence was due his loyal cab mate, and he recited the entire story
+of what he knew and his surmises.
+
+"You've got a square head, Fairbanks," said Fogg, "and I'll rely on it
+every time. It's logic to think your way. Some fellow is mightily
+interested in this young Clark. None too good is the fellow, either,
+or he wouldn't have to beat around the bush. No, he's not straight,
+or he wouldn't hire such fellows as Evans and Ike Slump to help him
+out."
+
+"I don't understand it all," confessed Ralph, "but I can see that a
+good deal of mysterious interest centers around this young Clark. I'm
+going to try and get some word to Porter--and to Zeph Dallas. They
+should know what's going on regarding Clark."
+
+The incident did not depart from the young engineer's mind during the
+return trip to Stanley Junction, nor for several days later. With the
+escape of Evans and Ike Slump, however, the episode ended, at least
+for the time being. A week and more passed by, and that precious pair
+and their presumable employer, the pretended Lord Montague, seemed to
+have drifted out of existence quite as fully as had Zeph, Porter and
+young Clark.
+
+One morning there was an animated discussion going on when Ralph
+entered the roundhouse. He was greatly interested in it, although he
+did not share in the general commotion.
+
+The result of somebody's "confidential" talk with the division
+superintendent had leaked out--the Great Northern was figuring to soon
+announce its new train.
+
+"As I get it," observed old John Griscom, "the road is in for a bid on
+the service the Midland Central is getting."
+
+"You don't mean through business?" spoke an inquiring voice.
+
+"Sure, that," assented the veteran railroader. "We've beat them on the
+China & Japan Mail run to Bridgeport, and now the scheme is to run the
+Overland Express in from the north, catch her up here, and cut out
+Bridgeport at a saving of fifty miles on the regular western run."
+
+"Then they will have to take the Mountain Division from Stanley
+Junction."
+
+"Just that, if they expect to make the time needed," assented Griscom.
+"Hey, Bill Somers," to a grizzled old fellow with one arm, who was
+shaking his head seriously at all this confab, "what you mooning
+about?"
+
+"I wouldn't take that run," croaked Somers, "if they gave me a solid
+gold engine with the tender full of diamonds. I left an arm on that
+route. Say, Dave Little and I had a construction run over those
+sliding curves up and down the canyon grades. It lasted a month. There
+were snowslides, washouts, forest fires. There's a part of the road
+that's haunted. There's a hoodoo over one section, where they kill a
+man about once a week. Little lost his leg and his job there. My old
+arm is sleeping thereabouts in some ravine. No Mountain Division run
+for me, boys!"
+
+"You won't get it, never fear," observed a voice.
+
+"No, I know that," retorted Somers a little sadly, indicating his
+helplessness by moving his stump of an arm, "but I pity the fellow who
+does."
+
+Day by day after that there were new additions to the fund of gossip
+concerning the new run. It all interested Ralph. Nothing definite,
+however, was as yet stated officially. Ralph and Fogg continued on the
+accommodation, and there was now little break in the regular routine
+of their railroad experience.
+
+Ralph had made a short cut across the switch yards one morning, when a
+stirring episode occurred that he was not soon to forget, nor others.
+It took an expert to thread the maze of cars in motion, trains stalled
+on sidings, and trains arriving and departing.
+
+It was the busiest hour of the day, and Ralph kept his eye out
+sharply. He had paused for a moment in a clear triangle formed by
+diverging rails, to allow an outward bound train to clear the switch,
+when a man on the lower step of the last car waved his hand and hailed
+him.
+
+It was the master mechanic, and Ralph was pleased at the notice taken
+of him, and interested to learn what the official wanted of him. The
+master mechanic, alighting, started across the tracks to join Ralph.
+
+A train was backing on the one track between them. Another train was
+moving out on the rails still nearer to Ralph.
+
+It was a scene of noise, commotion and confusion. If the master
+mechanic had been a novice in railroad routine, Ralph could not have
+repressed a warning shout, for with his usual coolness that official,
+timing all train movements about him with his practiced eye, made a
+quick run to clear the train backing in to the depot. He calculated
+then, Ralph foresaw, to cross the tracks along which the outgoing
+train was coming.
+
+"He's taking a risk--it's a graze," murmured the young engineer in
+some trepidation.
+
+The master mechanic was alert and nimble, though past middle age. He
+took the chances of a spry jump across the rails, his eye fixed on the
+outgoing train, aiming to get across to Ralph before it passed. In
+landing, however, he miscalculated. The run and jump brought him to a
+dead halt against a split switch. His foot drove into the jaws of the
+frog as if wedged there by the blow of a sledge-hammer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE NEW RUN
+
+
+The young engineer stood shocked and motionless--only, however, for
+the minutest fraction of a moment. A railroad man's life is full of
+sudden surprises and situations calling for prompt, decisive and
+effective action. Ralph had learned this from experience.
+
+The master mechanic was in the direct path of the train backing into
+the depot. The one he had just left and the one proceeding in the same
+direction shut him in where there was no flagman or switches. The
+train bearing down upon him was on a rounding bend of rails, the
+locomotive not in view, and there was no possible chance of signalling
+the engineer.
+
+As Ralph started forward the engine of the outbound train passed him.
+He waited for one car only to pass him. How he skimmed its rear
+platform he never knew. It was a daring, reckless spring, and he
+landed on the planking beyond the rails on a dizzying slide. The next
+instant he was at the side of the imperilled railroad official.
+
+"I'm caught!" gasped the master mechanic, with a white but set face,
+as he recognized Ralph.
+
+"Swing down!" cried the young railroader. "It's your only chance."
+
+The master mechanic barely suppressed a groan as he toppled sideways.
+The twist to his ankle made him wince. Ralph saw that his foot was
+held as in a vise. No amount of pulling could get him free. The train
+backing down was less than thirty feet away.
+
+"Hold steady," breathed Ralph in a shaking tone, and his hand dove for
+his pocket. He recalled it all afterwards as a remarkable thing that,
+standing there, a great peril hovering, there seemed to flash through
+his mind a vivid photograph of Torchy.
+
+The call boy at the roundhouse was a great friend of the young
+engineer. Ralph had been his model, as was he his friend. He had
+loaned the little fellow a book on railroading that had delighted
+Torchy, and observing Ralph sharpening a peg for his bumper with a
+decidedly blunt-edged knife, he had begged the privilege of getting it
+sharpened for him.
+
+When he had returned the knife to Ralph the day previous, Torchy
+declared that it was sharp as a razor and would cut a hair in two.
+Ralph found this to be no exaggeration. In addition Torchy had oiled
+the blade hinges. Now the young engineer thought of Torchy and of the
+knife as he drew it from his pocket, whipped open its big blade and
+made a dive rather than a swoop beside the body of the master
+mechanic.
+
+"Pull back your foot!" cried Ralph, and made a swoop. The flanges of
+the near truck wheels were grinding on the edge of the rails not five
+feet away. Ralph's arm described a deft oval movement. In one swift
+stroke he slit the shoe from vamp to sole. He was conscious that the
+foot of the master mechanic came free. Then something struck Ralph,
+and he felt himself tossed aside inert and unconscious by some
+stunning force.
+
+When he again opened his eyes Ralph caught the vague hum of a lingo of
+switch pidgin, smut-faced, blear-eyed men near by, himself stretched
+at full length on sleeping car cushions on the floor of the doghouse.
+He sat up promptly. There was a momentary blur to his sight, but this
+quickly passed away.
+
+"Aha--only a bump--I told you so!" cried bluff-hearted Tim Forgan, the
+foreman, jumping from a bench and approaching Ralph.
+
+"All right, Fairbanks?" questioned John Griscom, coming to his side.
+
+"Right as a trivet," reported Ralph, getting to his feet. "What hit
+me?"
+
+"The step of a coach, it seems," explained Forgan.
+
+Ralph passed his hand over his head until it rested on a lump and a
+sore spot near one ear. It was wet and greasy where some liniment had
+been applied.
+
+"The master mechanic?" he asked, with a quick memory of what had
+happened.
+
+"Ankle wrenched," said Griscom. "We made him get to a surgeon on a
+litter. He minded nothing but you, till he was sure that you were all
+right."
+
+Ralph uttered a vast sigh of relief and satisfaction. Forgan led him
+to his own special office armchair. Half-a-dozen crowded about him,
+curious for details of the accident no one of them had witnessed.
+
+Ralph gave them the particulars as he could remember them. He asked
+for a drink of water, felt of the bump again with a smiling grimace,
+and arose to his feet.
+
+"Same schedule, I suppose?" he inquired, starting to go outside the
+doghouse and inspect the bulletin board on which daily orders were
+posted.
+
+"You don't mean that you are going to make your run to-day,
+Fairbanks?" asked the foreman.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Used up."
+
+"Am I?" queried Ralph with a smile. "Then I don't know it. I fancy it
+was a narrow escape, and I am grateful for it."
+
+"The master mechanic was looking for you when he got frogged,"
+observed Griscom.
+
+"Yes, I thought he was," nodded Ralph.
+
+"Here, Fairbanks," broke in the foreman of the roundhouse, "tack up
+this flimsy with the rest, will you?"
+
+Ralph took the tissue sheet tendered, stepped through the open doorway
+into the roundhouse, and set the sheet upon two tacks on the bulletin
+board. He started to stroll over to No. 999 in her stall.
+
+"Hold on," challenged Forgan; "that flimsy just came in. It's an
+important order. Better read it, Fairbanks."
+
+"All right," assented Ralph, and turning, cast his eyes at the sheet.
+They distended wide, for this is what he read:
+
+  "No. 7, new train, Overland Express, Mountain Division, 6.12
+  p. m., beginning Monday, the 15th. Engineer: Fairbanks--Fireman:
+  Fogg."
+
+"My!" was all that Ralph could gasp out.
+
+A great hearty hand, that of the old railroad veteran, John Griscom,
+landed on Ralph's shoulder with a resounding slap.
+
+"Fairbanks!" he roared in the ear of the bewildered young engineer,
+"the top rung of the ladder at last!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE MOUNTAIN DIVISION
+
+
+"Well, lad, you've passed muster and got to the head of the class!"
+proclaimed old John Griscom.
+
+"Oh, no," dissented Ralph Fairbanks; "I'm just started in to learn
+what real railroading means."
+
+"I'd call you a pretty apt student, then," put in Tim Forgan, foreman
+of the Stanley Junction roundhouse.
+
+"If there's any man, boy or child in this doghouse who says that young
+Fairbanks isn't a crackerjack, let him step right up here and take his
+medicine!" vaunted Lemuel Fogg, playfully, but with a proud look of
+admiration at the expert young engineer.
+
+"It's the best part of it to know that you fellows mean every word you
+say and believe in me," observed Ralph. "Your encouragement and
+influence have boosted me up to the Overland Express all right--I'll
+try and never make you ashamed of having backed me."
+
+Ralph Fairbanks felt good and showed it. His friends shared in his
+emotions and sentiments, and that made the present occasion doubly
+glad and welcome. It was one of those rare moments, coming only once
+in a while, when Ralph and his comrades had an idle half hour to chat
+and compliment each other in the doghouse.
+
+The Overland Express had become an established feature of the Great
+Northern--as little Torchy had phrased it, "a howling success." A week
+had gone by, and now, seated in the midst of his loyal friends, Ralph
+felt that he had made good on a promotion that placed him at the top
+notch of engineering service.
+
+It was a big thing for a youth to gain that high distinction--engineer
+of the Overland Express. Looking back over the active, energetic
+career that had led up to this, however, Ralph realized that the
+climax had been reached a step at a time through patience,
+perseverance and genuine hard work. It was a proof to him that any
+person following discipline and having as a motto precision and
+finality, was bound to succeed. It was a most enjoyable breathing
+spell to realize that all the anxiety, dash and novelty of the
+experimental trips over the Mountain Division were past, and he now
+felt that he knew the route and all its details perfectly.
+
+Ralph had found time to do some thinking about his friends the past
+day or two. He had seen two of them, for Van Sherwin and little Limpy
+Joe had come down from the Short Line, and had spent a pleasant day at
+the Fairbanks home. Archie Graham, too, had put in an appearance. The
+young inventor looked shamefaced and distressed when he admitted all
+that Ralph had guessed concerning the patent bellows--draft
+improvement for locomotives.
+
+"It only worked the wrong way," explained Archie; "next time----"
+
+"Next time try it on some other railroad, Archie," advised Ralph.
+"They're watching for you with rifles down at the Great Northern
+roundhouse."
+
+"Huh!" snorted Archie contemptuously; "they'll be sorry when I strike
+some real big thing and another line gets it. Now then, I've got
+something brand new--the rocket danger signal."
+
+"Go right ahead experimenting with it, only choose a spot where you
+won't hurt any one," advised Ralph. "You're all right, Archie,"
+declared the young railroader, slapping his comrade appreciatively on
+the shoulder, "only you are too ambitious. I have no doubt that you
+will some day hit something tangible. It's a long, patient road,
+though--this inventing things."
+
+"You bet it is," assented Archie with force.
+
+"And you attempt too grand beginnings. Take something more simple and
+easy than trying to revolutionize railroad service all at once, and
+gradually work up to bigger things."
+
+"Say, there's sense in that, an old inventor told me the same thing,"
+said Archie; "but you see this rocket danger signal of mine is a new
+thing. I'm going to Bridgeport to-morrow to get some fixings I have in
+my workshop there. You'll hear from me later, Fairbanks."
+
+Concerning Zeph, Fred Porter and Marvin Clark the young railroader had
+heard nothing since the last visit of Zeph to Stanley Junction. Many a
+time he wondered what had become of them. He had all kinds of theories
+as to their continued mysterious absence, but no solution offered as
+time wore on.
+
+The Overland Express had not become an old thing with Ralph. He felt
+that the charm and novelty of running the crack train of the road
+could never wear out. With each trip, however, there came a feeling of
+growing strength and self-reliance. Ralph had learned to handle the
+proposition aptly, and he took a great pride in the time record so
+far.
+
+"It's a lively run, and no mistake," he remarked to Fogg, as they
+started out from the depot that evening. "We haven't had any of the
+direful mishaps, though, that those old doghouse croakers predicted."
+
+"No," admitted the fireman, but he accompanied the word with a serious
+shake of the head; "that's to come. I'm trained enough to guess that
+another frost or two will end in the season that every railroad man
+dreads. Wait till the whiskers get on the rails, lad, and a freshet or
+two strikes 999. There's some of those culverts make me quake when I
+think of the big ice gorges likely to form along Dolliver's Creek. Oh,
+we'll get them--storms, snowslides and blockades. The only way is to
+remember the usual winter warning, 'extra caution,' keep cool, and
+stick to the cab to the last."
+
+Summer had faded into autumn, and one or two sharp frosts had
+announced the near approach of winter. The day before there had been a
+slight snow flurry. A typical fall day and a moonlit night had
+followed, however, and Ralph experienced the usual pleasure as they
+rolled back the miles under flying wheels. They took the sharp curves
+as they ran up into the hills with a scream of triumph from the
+locomotive whistle every time they made a new grade.
+
+"Waste of steam, lad, that," observed Fogg, as they rounded a curve
+and struck down into a cut beyond which lay the town of Fordham.
+
+"Better to be safe," responded Ralph. "There's a crossing right ahead
+where the old spur cuts in."
+
+"Yes, but who ever crosses it?" demanded the fireman.
+
+"Some one did two nights ago," insisted Ralph. "I'm positive that we
+just grazed a light wagon crossing the roadway leading into the cut."
+
+"Then it was some stray farmer lost off his route," declared Fogg.
+"Why, that old spur has been rusting away for over five years, to my
+recollection. As to the old road beyond being a highway, that's
+nonsense. There's no thoroughfare beyond the end of the spur. The road
+ends at a dismantled, abandoned old factory, and nobody lives anywhere
+in this section."
+
+"Is that so?" Toot! toot! toot!
+
+The whistle screeched out sharply. The fireman stuck his head out of
+the window. Ralph had already looked ahead.
+
+"I declare!" shouted Fogg, staring hard. "Swish--gone! But what was it
+we passed?"
+
+Ralph did not speak. He sat still in a queer kind of realization of
+what they both had just seen, and in the retrospect. While he and his
+fireman had been conversing, just ahead in the white moonlight he had
+seen two human figures against the sky. It was a flashing glimpse
+only, for the train was making a forty mile clip, but, dangling from a
+tree overhanging the side of the cliff lining the tracks on one side,
+he had made out two boys.
+
+"The Canaries!" he murmured to himself, in profound surprise and deep
+interest. "I even heard them whistle."
+
+Ralph was so sure that the little swinging figures he had seen were
+the lithe, strange creatures who had been brought to Stanley Junction
+by Zeph Dallas, that he thought about it all the rest of the trip. He
+said nothing further to Fogg about the circumstance, but he resolved
+to investigate later on.
+
+The young engineer tried to calculate ahead how some day soon he could
+arrange to visit the vicinity of the old Fordham spur. He was positive
+that he had seen the two Canaries. Their presence at the spur
+indicated that they must be denizens of its neighborhood. This being
+true, their presence might indicate the proximity of Zeph Dallas. At
+least the strange young foreigners might know what had become of the
+ardent young "detective."
+
+Ralph made a good many inquiries of his fireman as to the Fordham
+spur. Fogg simply knew that it ran to an old ruined factory long since
+abandoned. On the return trip Ralph kept a sharp lookout as they
+neared the cut. There was no second appearance of the Canaries,
+however, nor the next night, nor that following. The young engineer
+found no opportunity of visiting the place, but he kept his plan to do
+so constantly in mind.
+
+It was two days later as he made the short cut to the roundhouse about
+noon, that Ralph was greeted by a new discovery that fairly took his
+breath away. He had stepped aside to wait till a locomotive with one
+car attached passed the crossing. The peculiar oddness of the car at
+once attracted his attention.
+
+It was an old tourist car, used only on far western railroads. He had
+seen its like only once or twice before. Its inside shades were all
+drawn. There was no sight of life about it. The locomotive belonged to
+the northern branch of the Great Northern, and had the right of way
+and was tracked for the Mountain Division.
+
+"That's a queer layout," soliloquized Ralph, as the strange outfit
+flashed by. "Hello!"
+
+The young engineer uttered a great shout. As the car passed him he
+naturally glanced at its rear platform.
+
+Upon its step in solitary possession of the car sat his long-lost
+friend--Zeph Dallas.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+MYSTERY
+
+
+Ralph Fairbanks saw Zeph Dallas distinctly and recognized him. The
+latter looked up as the young engineer uttered an irrepressible shout.
+He started to wave his hand. Then he shrank down on the car step as if
+seeking to hide himself.
+
+Ralph stood gazing after the coach until it had disappeared from view.
+From the look of things he decided that Zeph was not casually stealing
+a ride. Something about him suggested a sense of proprietorship--a
+certain official aspect as if he had a right to be where Ralph had
+seen him, was, in fact, in charge of the car.
+
+"A queer car--the queerest old relic I ever saw," mused Ralph. "I'm
+going to look into this affair."
+
+"Say, Mr. Fairbanks," spoke little Torchy as the young engineer
+entered the roundhouse; "just saw an old friend of ours."
+
+"Did you?" spoke Ralph. "You don't mean Zeph Dallas, do you?"
+
+"That's who," nodded Torchy. "Big as life on a single car run--and,
+say, such a car!"
+
+"Do you know where it came from, or where it was bound for?" inquired
+Ralph.
+
+"No, but I heard one of the fellows here say it must have come over
+the north branch."
+
+"I thought so, too," said Ralph, and after a stroll about the place he
+went down to the dispatcher's office. Ralph knew the railroad routine
+well, and he soon had a good friend working in his interest. He was
+one of the assistants in the office of the chief dispatcher. Ralph had
+loaned him a little sum of money once when he was off on the sick
+list. It had been paid back promptly, but the man was a grateful
+fellow, and, under the influence of a sense of obligation, was glad to
+return the favor in any way he could.
+
+"I'll fix you out, Fairbanks," he promised, and he kept his word, for
+as Ralph sat in the doghouse two mornings later the man came to its
+doorway, peered in, and beckoned to his friend to come outside.
+
+"All right, Fairbanks," he reported, holding a card in his hand
+bearing some memoranda; "I've got the tracer."
+
+"Good!" applauded Ralph.
+
+"Here's the dope--that engine and old tourist car was a kind of a
+special--the craziest special, though, that either you or I ever
+heard of."
+
+"Is that so?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"Listen, and see. She started on extra orders from Brampton, the yards
+up on the north division. Was chartered for a run via the Junction to
+Fordham spur."
+
+"Indeed?" murmured Ralph thoughtfully.
+
+"It was a plain twenty-four hours' charter, same as a picnic or an
+excursion special, but there was only one passenger, conductor, or
+whatever you might call him--a kid."
+
+"Yes," nodded Ralph, "Zeph Dallas."
+
+"You could have knocked me down with a feather when I found that out,"
+went on the man from the dispatcher's office, "although I didn't find
+it out until later. Yes, the train had been rented and paid for by our
+old extra wiper here, that dreamer, kicker and would-be detective,
+Dallas. A pretty penny it must have cost. Where did he get the money?
+Skylarking around the country like a millionaire, and what did he pick
+out that antiquated curiosity of a relic car for? Well, it was the
+'Dallas Special,' sure enough, and it made its run just the same as if
+he was a railroad president inspecting the lines."
+
+"I'm interested," explained Ralph.
+
+"I'm jiggergasted," added the dispatcher; "I got the line on their
+route by wire to Brampton. I found that the contract was to run to
+Fordham spur and back to Brampton."
+
+"But what for?" inquired Ralph.
+
+"To deliver some special freight presumably," said the dispatcher. "At
+first I wondered if things mightn't be stirring up in a new business
+way at the old factory. Thought maybe they were going to do some
+blasting, and Dallas had been hired to run through a load of giant
+powder. Well, I was off in my guess."
+
+"How did you find that out?" asked Ralph.
+
+"I caught the Brampton outfit on the return trip. She had to switch
+here for an hour to get the right of way north. I went over to the
+siding and happened to know the engineer."
+
+"And where was Zeph?"
+
+"They left him up at the spur."
+
+"H'm," commented Ralph, feeling that Zeph was indeed enveloping
+himself in a dense mist of mystery.
+
+"The engineer just grinned and haw-hawed when I asked him about his
+run. He said that Dallas had acted like a fellow on the most serious
+business, the whole run through. When they got to the spur he had them
+run in about two hundred feet. Then he sat down by the side of the
+track, watch in hand, solemnly waited for an hour to pass by, and
+then told the engineer the trip was ended and he was satisfied."
+
+"He didn't explain----" began Ralph in wonderment.
+
+"Not a word. He just waved his hand grandly good-by to the engineer,
+and passed out of sight. It was a queer go--wasn't it, now? The
+engineer and fireman were dumfounded. They looked into the car out of
+sheer curiosity."
+
+"And found?" pressed Ralph.
+
+"Nothing."
+
+"What!"
+
+"No--empty."
+
+Ralph was bewildered, and said so. The dispatcher acknowledged the
+same sentiment, so had the engineer and the fireman, he said.
+
+"There you have it," he remarked. "Queer go, eh?"
+
+"The strangest I ever heard of," confessed Ralph.
+
+"You see, there's no motive to trace," observed the dispatcher in a
+puzzled, baffled way. "Think of the cost of it! Think of the mystery
+about the whole affair! What is Dallas up to, and why the spur?"
+
+"I don't know," admitted the young engineer, equally perplexed, "but
+I'm going to find out, make sure of that."
+
+Things were certainly focusing around Fordham spur, there was no doubt
+of it. That point of the road was a decided point of interest to Ralph
+every time the Overland Express neared the spur on succeeding trips.
+He could only conjecture that Zeph and the Canaries and others in whom
+Zeph was interested, were located somewhere in the vicinity. However,
+he caught no sight of any person in the neighborhood of the spur as he
+passed it. The thing was getting to be a worry to the young engineer,
+but although he daily promised himself he would manage some way to
+visit the place, no favorable opportunity presented.
+
+The run to Rockton and back had become harder as cold weather came on.
+There was a call for extra vigilance and close attention to routine. A
+snowstorm caught them one night on the out run, and Ralph found out
+that it was no trifle running with blurred signals among the deep
+mountain cuts. A great rain followed, then a freeze up, then another
+heavy fall of snow, and the crew of the Overland Express had a
+rigorous week of it.
+
+They had made the run to Rockton four hours late on account of a
+broken bridge, and the next evening when they reported at the
+roundhouse, engineer and fireman found a cancelled trip instead of
+readiness for their regular return run to Stanley Junction. The
+foreman was busy in his office at the telephone, receiving continual
+instructions from the dispatcher. He was sending men and messengers in
+every direction. The exigencies of the hour required blockade and
+wrecking crews. The foreman looked bothered and worried, and nodded to
+Ralph and Fogg in a serious way as there was a lull at the 'phone.
+
+"No run to-night, boys," he announced. "You'd better get back to your
+warm beds."
+
+"Blockade on the Mountain Division?" inquired the fireman.
+
+"Worse than that. The whole division is annulled this Side of Fordham,
+and that's over half the run. Two bridges down, a freight wreck at
+Wayne, and the mountain cuts are choked with drifts. I doubt if you
+will break through for a couple of nights."
+
+"H'm," observed Fogg. "I fancied to-day's storm would shut up
+things."
+
+"It has. We're half clear south, but west and north there isn't a
+wheel moving within fifty miles."
+
+"We may as well make the best of it then, Fairbanks," said the
+fireman, "and get back to our boarding house."
+
+The speaker started for the door and Ralph followed him. Just then
+with a sudden roar of the tempest outside the door was swept open.
+Two snow-covered forms came in.
+
+They were men closely muffled up, and they paused for a moment to
+shake the snow from their heavy enveloping overcoats. The foreman
+stared curiously at the intruders. One of them threw his overcoat
+open. Fogg grasped Ralph's arm with a start as he seemed to recognize
+the man.
+
+"Hello!" he ejaculated in a sharp half whisper. "What does this mean,
+Fairbanks? It's the president of the Great Northern."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+THE RAILROAD PRESIDENT
+
+
+As the person Fogg designated pushed back his storm cap and came under
+the light of a bracket lamp, Ralph observed that the fireman had been
+correct in his surmise--it was Mr. Robert Grant, president of the
+road. He busied himself removing the snow from his garments and taking
+in the warmth of the place, while his companion came forward to the
+doghouse.
+
+Ralph and Fogg drew to one side, curious and interested. They now
+recognized the man who had entered the roundhouse with the president
+as Lane, superintendent of the Mountain Division of the Great
+Northern. His manner was hurried, worried and serious. A big load of
+responsibility rested on his official shoulders, and he realized it
+and showed it. He nodded brusquely to Ralph and Fogg, and then went up
+to the desk where the foreman sat.
+
+"Get the dispatcher's office, Jones, and get it quick," he spoke
+tersely, and he added something in an undertone. The foreman gave a
+slight start. From the way he turned and stared at the companion of
+the superintendent, Ralph could trace that he had just been informed
+of his identity.
+
+"Here you are," said the foreman, after a minute at the 'phone and
+handing the receiver to the superintendent. The latter, without
+seating himself, instantly called over the wire:
+
+"This is Superintendent Lane. I want the chief dispatcher." A pause.
+"That you, Martin?--Yes?--Hold the wire. The president of the road
+wants to talk with you. Mr. Grant."
+
+Ralph knew the railroad president quite well. It was a long time since
+he had seen him. That was at headquarters, after Ralph and some of his
+railroad friends had succeeded in rescuing a relative of the official
+from a band of blackmailers. Ralph did not believe that the president
+would remember him. He was both surprised and pleased when the
+official, glancing about in his keen, quick way, smiled and mentioned
+his name in greeting, nodded to Fogg, and then went up to the
+foreman's table.
+
+Spread out upon this was an outline map of the great Northern and all
+its branches. The foreman had been utilizing it as an exigency chart.
+He had three pencils beside it--red, green and blue, and these he had
+used to designate by a sort of railroad signal system the condition of
+the lines running out of Rockton. Red signified a wreck or stalled
+train, green snow blockades, blue bridges down and culverts under
+water. The map was criss-crossed with other special marks, indicating
+obstructions, flood damage and the location of wrecking crews.
+
+"As bad as that!" commented the president in a grave tone, with a
+comprehensive glance over the chart. Then he picked up the receiver.
+
+"Martin, chief dispatcher," he spoke through the 'phone. "Give me the
+situation over the Mountain Division in a nutshell."
+
+What followed took barely sixty seconds. The information must have
+been as distressing as it was definite, for Ralph noticed a deeper
+concern than ever come over the serious face of the official.
+
+"How's the South Branch?" he inquired next.
+
+"It's useless, Mr. Grant," put in the superintendent, as the president
+dropped the receiver with a disappointed and anxious sigh. After
+receiving some further information he again swept his eye over the map
+on the table. His fingers mechanically followed the various divisions
+outlined there. The foreman came to his side.
+
+"Excuse me, Mr. Grant," he spoke respectfully, "but I'm in pretty
+close touch with conditions along the lines. If I can explain
+anything----"
+
+"You can. That is the old Shelby division?" inquired the official, his
+finger point resting on a line on the chart running due southeast
+between the Mountain Division and the South Branch out of Rockton.
+
+"Yes, sir," assented the foreman proudly. "You know it has been
+practically abandoned except for coal freight, since the south line
+was completed. It's used as a belt line now--transfer at Shelby
+Junction."
+
+"What's the condition."
+
+"Risky. We sent a freight over this morning. It got through four hours
+late."
+
+"But it got through, you say?" spoke the official earnestly. "Get the
+dispatcher again. Ask for details on that division. Don't lose any
+time."
+
+The foreman was busy at the 'phone for some minutes. As he held the
+receiver suspended in his hand, he reported to the railroad
+president:
+
+"Snow and drifting wind reported between here and Dunwood."
+
+"What else?"
+
+"Look out for washouts and culverts and bridges damaged by running ice
+and water between Dunwood and Kingston."
+
+"That's half the forty-five miles--go head."
+
+"Between Kingston and Shelby Junction water out over the bottoms and
+flood coming down the valley."
+
+"What's on the schedule?"
+
+"All schedules cancelled, not a wheel running except on instructions
+from this end."
+
+"Give them," spoke the official sharply. "Tell the dispatcher to keep
+the line clear from end to end. Wire to the stations that a special is
+coming through, no stops."
+
+"Yes, sir," assented the foreman in wonderment, and executed the
+order. The official stood by his side until he had completed the
+message. Then he said:
+
+"Tell the dispatcher to get Clay City, and find out if the Midland
+Express over the Midland Central left on time."
+
+"On time, sir, and their road is not much hampered," reported the
+foreman a few minutes later.
+
+"All right," nodded the official briskly. "Now then, get out your best
+locomotive. Give her a shallow caboose, and get her ready as speedily
+as you can."
+
+The foreman ran out into the roundhouse. The president took out his
+watch. To the infinite surprise of Ralph he called out:
+
+"This way, Fairbanks."
+
+He placed a hand on the shoulder of the young engineer and looked him
+earnestly in the eye.
+
+"I know you and your record," he said. "Is that your regular fireman?"
+indicating Fogg.
+
+"Yes, sir, Lemuel Fogg. We're on No. 999, Overland Express."
+
+"Yes, yes, I know," spoke Mr. Grant hurriedly. "Mr. Fogg!"
+
+The fireman approached promptly.
+
+"My friends," continued the official rapidly to both. "I have got to
+reach Shelby station by 10.15. I must catch the Night Express on the
+Midland Central at that point--without fail," added Mr. Grant with
+emphasis.
+
+"Yes, sir," nodded Fogg coolly.
+
+"One minute late means the loss of a great big fortune to the Great
+Northern. The minute on time means anything in reason you two may ask,
+if you make the run."
+
+"We are here to make the run, Mr. Grant, if you say so," observed
+Ralph.
+
+"Sure," supplemented Fogg, taking off his coat. "Is that the order,
+sir?"
+
+"I haven't the heart to order any man on a run a night like this,"
+responded the official, "but if you mean it----"
+
+"Fairbanks," shot out the fireman, all fire and energy, "I'll get 999
+ready for your orders," and he was out into the roundhouse after the
+foreman in a flash.
+
+"Mr. Grant, you're taking a long chance," suggested the division
+superintendent, coming up to where the president and Ralph stood.
+
+"Yes, and it must be any chances, Fairbanks," said the official. He
+was becoming more and more excited each succeeding minute. "I'm too
+old a railroader not to know what the run means. If you start, no
+flinching. It's life or death to the Mountain Division, what you do
+this night."
+
+"The Mountain Division?" repeated Ralph, mystified.
+
+"Yes. It's an official secret, but I trusted you once. I can trust you
+now." Mr. Grant drew a folded paper from his pocket. "The president of
+the Midland Central is on the Night Express, returning from the west.
+The document I show you must be signed before he reaches the city,
+before midnight, or we lose the right to run over the Mountain
+Division. If he once reaches the city, interests adverse to the Great
+Northern will influence him to repudiate the contract, which only
+awaits his signature to make it valid. He will sign it if I can
+intercept him. Can you make Shelby Junction, ninety miles away, in
+two hours and fifteen minutes?"
+
+"I will make Shelby Junction ahead of the Night Express," replied
+Ralph calmly, but with his heart beating like a triphammer, "or I'll
+go down with 999."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+A RACE AGAINST TIME
+
+
+There was a thrill and fervor to the present situation that appealed
+to Ralph mightily. The brisk, animated procedure of the president of
+the Great Northern had been one of excitement and interest, and at its
+climax the young engineer found himself stirred up strongly.
+
+Mr. Grant smiled slightly at Ralph's valiant declaration. He drew the
+division superintendent aside in confidential discourse, and Ralph
+went to the bulletin board and began studying the routeing of the
+Shelby division. Then he hurried out into the roundhouse.
+
+No. 999 was steamed up quickly. Ralph put the cab in rapid order for a
+hard run. The foreman hurried back to his office and telephoned to the
+yards. When No. 999 ran out on the turntable it was the foreman
+himself who opened the ponderous outside doors.
+
+"It's some weather," observed Fogg, as the giant locomotive swung out
+into the heart of a driving tempest.
+
+The foreman directed their movements to a track where a plug engine
+had just backed in with a light caboose car. There was no air brake
+attachment and the coupling was done quickly.
+
+"All ready," reported Ralph, as Mr. Grant came up with the division
+superintendent.
+
+The railroad president stepped to the platform of the caboose, spoke a
+few words to his recent companion in parting, and waved his hand
+signal-like for the start.
+
+Fogg had been over the Shelby division several times, only once,
+however, on duty. He knew its "bad spots," and he tried to tell his
+engineer about them as they steamed off the main track.
+
+"There's just three stations the whole stretch," he reported, "and the
+tracks are clear--that's one good point."
+
+"Yes, it is only obstruction and breakdowns we have to look out for,"
+said Ralph. "Give us plenty of steam, Mr. Fogg."
+
+"There's heaps of fuel--a good six tons," spoke the fireman. "My! but
+the stack pulls like a blast furnace."
+
+The cab curtains were closely fastened. It was a terrible night. The
+snow came in sheets like birdshot, a half-sleet that stung like hail
+as it cut the face. The rails were crusted with ice and the sounds
+and shocks at curves and splits were ominous. At times when they
+breasted the wind full front it seemed as if a tornado was tugging at
+the forlorn messenger of the night, to blow the little train from the
+rails.
+
+Fogg stoked the fire continuously, giving a superabundant power that
+made the exhaust pop off in a deafening hiss. They ran the first ten
+miles in twelve minutes and a half. Then as they rounded to the first
+station on the run, they were surprised to receive the stop signal.
+
+"That's bad," muttered the fireman, as they slowed down. "Orders were
+for no stops, so this must mean some kind of trouble ahead."
+
+"What's this?" spoke Mr. Grant sharply, appearing on the platform from
+the lighted caboose. He held his watch in his hand, and his pale face
+showed his anxiety and how he was evidently counting the minutes.
+
+An operator ran out from the station and handed a tissue sheet to
+Ralph. The latter read it by the light of the cab lantern. Mr. Grant
+stepped down from the platform of the caboose.
+
+"What is it, Fairbanks?" he asked somewhat impatiently.
+
+"There's a great jam at the dam near Westbrook," reported Ralph.
+"Driftwood has crossed the tracks near there, and the operator beyond
+says it will be a blockade if the dam breaks."
+
+"Are you willing to risk it?" inquired the official.
+
+"That's what we are here for," asserted Ralph.
+
+"Then don't delay."
+
+"It's getting worse and worse!" exclaimed Fogg, after a half-hour's
+further running.
+
+Ralph never forgot that vital hour in his young railroad experience.
+They were facing peril, they were grazing death, and both knew it. The
+wind was a hurricane. The snow came in great sheets that at times
+enveloped them in a whirling cloud. The wheels crunched and slid, and
+the pilot threw up ice and snow in a regular cascade.
+
+There was a sickening slew to the great locomotive as they neared
+Westbrook. The track dropped here to take the bridge grade, and as
+they struck the trestle Fogg uttered a sharp yell and peered ahead.
+
+"We can't stop now!" he shouted; "put on every pound of steam,
+Fairbanks."
+
+Ralph was cool and collected. He gripped the lever, his nerves set
+like iron, but an awed look came into his eyes as they swept the
+expanse that the valley opened up.
+
+The trestle was fully half a foot under water already, and the volume
+was increasing every moment. Fogg piled on the coal, which seemed to
+burn like tinder. Twice a great jar sent him sprawling back among the
+coal of the tender. The shocks were caused by great cakes of ice or
+stray timbers shooting down stream with the gathering flood, and
+sliding the rails.
+
+"She's broke!" he panted in a hushed, hoarse whisper, as they caught
+sight of the dam. There was a hole in its center, and through this
+came pouring a vast towering mass fully fifteen feet high, crashing
+down on the bridge side of the obstruction, shooting mammoth bergs of
+ice into the air. As the sides of the dam gave way, they were fairly
+half-way over the trestle. It seemed that the roaring, swooping mass
+would overtake them before they could clear the bridge.
+
+The light caboose was swinging after its groaning pilot like the tail
+of a kite. A whiplash sway and quiver caused Ralph to turn his head.
+
+The door of the caboose was open, and the light streaming from within
+showed the railroad president clinging to the platform railing,
+swaying from side to side. He evidently realized the peril of the
+moment, and stood ready to jump if a crash came.
+
+A sudden shock sent the fireman reeling back, and Ralph was nearly
+thrown from his seat. The locomotive was bumping over a floating piece
+of timber of unusual size, and toppling dangerously. Then there came
+a snap. The monster engine made a leap as if freed from some incubus.
+
+"The caboose!" screamed Fogg, and Ralph felt a shudder cross his
+frame. He could only risk a flashing glance backward--the caboose was
+gone! It had broken couplings, and had made a dive down through the
+flood rack clear to the bottom of the river, out of sight. Then
+No. 999 struck the edge of the up grade in safety, past the danger
+line, gliding along on clear tracks now.
+
+Fogg stood panting for breath, clinging to his seat, a wild horror in
+his eyes. Ralph uttered a groan. His hand gripped to pull to stop, a
+sharp shout thrilled through every nerve a message of gladness and
+joy.
+
+"Good for you--we've made it!"
+
+The railroad president came sliding down the diminished coal heap at
+the rear of the tender. He had grasped its rear end, and had climbed
+over it just as the caboose went hurtling to destruction. The glad
+delight and relief in the eyes of the young engineer revealed to the
+official fully his loyal friendship. Fogg, catching sight of him,
+helped him to his feet with a wild hurrah. The fireman's face shone
+with new life as he swung to his work at the coal heap.
+
+"If we can only make it--oh, we've got to make it now!" he shouted at
+Ralph.
+
+There was a sharp run of nearly an hour. It was along the lee side of
+a series of cuts, and the snow was mainly massed on the opposite set
+of rails. Ralph glanced at the clock.
+
+"We're ahead of calculations," he spoke to Fogg.
+
+"We're in for another struggle, though," announced the fireman. "When
+we strike the lowlands just beyond Lisle, we'll catch it harder than
+ever."
+
+Ralph was reeking with perspiration, his eyes cinder-filled and glazed
+with the strain of continually watching ahead. There had not been a
+single minute of relief from duty all the way from Westbrook. They
+struck the lowlands. It was a ten-mile run. First it was a great
+snowdrift, then a dive across a trembling culvert. At one point the
+water and slush pounded up clear across the floor of the cab and
+nearly put out the fire. As No. 999 rounded to higher grade, a tree
+half blown down from the top of an embankment grazed the locomotive,
+smashing the headlight and cutting off half the smokestack clean as a
+knife stroke.
+
+Ralph made no stop for either inspection or repairs. A few minutes
+later an incident occurred which made the occasion fairly bristle with
+new animation and excitement.
+
+Mr. Grant had sat quietly in the fireman's seat. Now he leaned over
+towards Ralph, pointing eagerly through the side window.
+
+"I see," said Ralph above the deafening roar of the wind and the
+grinding wheels, "the Night Express."
+
+They could see the lights of the train ever and anon across an open
+space where, about a mile distant, the tracks of the Midland Central
+paralleled those of the Shelby division of the Great Northern. The
+young engineer again glanced at the clock. His eye brightened, into
+his face came the most extravagant soul of hope. It was dashed
+somewhat as Fogg, feeding the furnace and closing the door, leaned
+towards him with the words:
+
+"The last shovel full."
+
+"You don't mean it!" exclaimed Ralph.
+
+The fireman swept his hand towards the empty tender.
+
+"Eight miles," said Ralph in an anxious tone. "With full steam we
+could have reached the Junction ten minutes ahead of the Express. Will
+the fire last out?"
+
+"I'll mend it some," declared the fireman. "Fairbanks, we might
+lighten the load," he added.
+
+"You mean----"
+
+"The tender."
+
+"Yes," said Ralph, "cut it loose," and a minute later the railroad
+president uttered a sudden cry as the tender shot into the distance,
+uncoupled. Then he understood, and smiled excitedly. And then, as Fogg
+reached under his seat, pulled out a great bundle of waste and two oil
+cans, and flung them into the furnace, he realized the desperate
+straits at which they had arrived and their forlorn plight.
+
+Conserving every ounce of steam, all of his nerves on edge, the young
+engineer drove No. 999 forward like some trained steed. As they
+rounded a hill just outside of Shelby Junction, they could see the
+Night Express steaming down its tracks, one mile away.
+
+"We've made it!" declared Ralph, as they came within whistling
+distance of the tower at the interlocking rails where the two lines
+crossed.
+
+"Say," yelled Fogg suddenly, "they've given the Express the right of
+way."
+
+This was true. Out flashed the stop signal for No. 999, and the white
+gave the "come on" to the Night Express. There was no time to get to
+the tower and try to influence the towerman to cancel system at the
+behest of a railroad president.
+
+"You must stop that train!" rang out the tones of the official
+sharply.
+
+"I'm going to," replied Fairbanks grimly.
+
+He never eased up on No. 999. Past the tower she slid. Then a glowing
+let up, and then, disregarding the lowered gates, she crashed straight
+through them, reducing them to kindling wood.
+
+Squarely across the tracks of the incoming train the giant engine,
+battered, ice-coated, the semblance of a brave wreck, was halted.
+There she stood, a barrier to the oncoming Express.
+
+Ralph jumped from his seat, reached under it, pulled out a whole bunch
+of red fuses, lit them, and leaning out from the cab flared them
+towards the oncoming train, Roman-candle fashion.
+
+The astonished towerman quickly changed the semaphore signals. Her
+nose almost touching No. 999, the Express locomotive panted down to a
+halt.
+
+"You shall hear from me, my men," spoke the railroad president simply,
+but with a great quiver in his voice, as he leaped from the cab, ran
+to the first car of the halted express and climbed to its platform.
+
+Ralph drove No. 999 across the switches. The Express started on its
+way again. In what was the proudest moment of his young life, the
+loyal engineer of staunch, faithful No. 999 saw the president of the
+Great Northern take off his hat and wave it towards himself and Fogg,
+as if with an enthusiastic cheer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+ZEPH DALLAS AGAIN
+
+
+"Say--Engineer Ralph--Mr. Fairbanks!"
+
+A spluttering, breathless voice halted Ralph on his way from the depot
+to the roundhouse. It was the call boy, Torchy, the young engineer
+ascertained, as he waited till the excited juvenile came up to him.
+
+"What's the trouble, Torchy?" he inquired.
+
+Torchy caught his breath, but the excited flare in his eyes did not
+diminish.
+
+"Say!" he spluttered out; "I was looking for you. That car, the one
+they use out west in Calfrancisco, Francifornia, no, I mean
+Calfris--rot! out west, anyway--tourist car."
+
+"I know, yes," nodded Ralph.
+
+"Well, you remember the queer old fossil's special to Fordham spur?
+That fellow Zeph Dallas was on it."
+
+"I remember distinctly; go ahead."
+
+"There's another car just like that one in the yards now, right this
+minute."
+
+"You don't say so? I didn't suppose that more than one antiquated
+relic of that kind was in existence," said Ralph.
+
+"Come on and see," invited Torchy. "This last car must have come from
+the north this morning, just like the other one did. It's bunched up
+with a lot more of the blockade runners, delayed freight, you know,
+and they've made up a train of it and others for the Mountain
+Division."
+
+Besides being intensely interested, Ralph had time to spare. It was
+nearly a week after the Shelby Junction incident. The great storm had
+crippled some of the lines of the great Northern to a fairly alarming
+extent. The Mountain Division had felt the full force of the blizzard
+and had suffered the most extensively. There were parts of the
+division where it took several days to repair culverts, strengthen
+trestles and replace weakened patches of track. The Overland Express
+missed several runs, but had got back on fair schedule two days
+before. A new storm had set in that very morning, and as Ralph
+followed Torchy there were places where the drifts were up to their
+knees.
+
+"There you are," announced his companion, pausing and pointing over at
+a train on a siding. "Isn't that last car the very picture of the one
+that Dallas was on?"
+
+"Remarkably so," assented Ralph.
+
+"I've got to get to the roundhouse," explained the little fellow,
+turning back in his tracks. "Thought you'd want to know about that
+car, though."
+
+"I do, most emphatically," declared Ralph, "and greatly obliged to you
+for thinking of it."
+
+Ralph approached the train on the siding. It was one of the queerest
+he had ever seen. There was a motley gathering of every class of
+freight cars on the line. As he passed along he noted the destination
+of some of the cars. No two were marked for the same point of
+delivery. It was easy to surmise that they were victims of the recent
+blockade.
+
+Ralph came up to the rear car of the incongruous train with a good
+deal of curiosity. It was not the car that had made that mysterious
+run to Fordham Spur with Zeph Dallas, although it looked exactly like
+it. The present car was newer and more staunch. A fresh discovery made
+Ralph think hard. The car was classified as "fast freight," and across
+one end was chalked its presumable destination.
+
+"Fordham Spur," read the young engineer. "Queer--the same as the other
+car. I wonder what's aboard?"
+
+Just like the other car, the curtains were closely drawn in this one.
+There was no sign of life about the present car, however. Smoke curled
+from a pipe coming up through its roof. No one was visible in the
+immediate vicinity except a flagman and some loiterers about a near
+switch shanty. Ralph stepped to the rear platform of the car. He
+placed his hand on the door knob, turned it, and to his surprise and
+satisfaction the door opened unresistingly.
+
+He stepped inside, to find himself in a queer situation. Ralph stood
+in the rear partitioned-off end of the car. It resembled a homelike
+kitchen. An oil stove stood on a stand, and around two sides of the
+car were shelves full of canisters, boxes and cans, a goodly array of
+convenient eatables. Lying asleep across a bench was a young colored
+man, who wore the cap and apron of a dining-car cook.
+
+Ralph felt that he was intruding, but his curiosity overcame him. He
+stepped to the door of the partition. Near its top was a small pane of
+glass, and through this Ralph peered.
+
+"I declare!" he exclaimed under his breath, and with a great start.
+
+A strange, vivid picture greeted the astonished vision of the young
+railroader. If the rear part of the tourist car had suggested a modern
+kitchen, the front portion was a well-appointed living room. It had a
+stove in its center, and surrounding this were all the comforts of a
+home. There was a bed, several couches, easy chairs, two illuminated
+lamps suspended from side brackets, and the floor was covered with
+soft, heavy rugs.
+
+Upon one of the couches lay a second colored man, apparently a special
+car porter, and he, like the cook, was fast asleep. All that Ralph had
+so far seen, however, was nothing to what greeted his sight as his
+eyes rested on the extreme front of the car.
+
+There, lying back in a great luxurious armchair, was a preternaturally
+thin and sallow-faced man. His pose and appearance suggested the
+invalid or the convalescent. He lay as if half dozing, and from his
+lips ran a heavy tube, connected with a great glass tank at his side.
+
+Such a picture the mystified Ralph had never seen before. He could not
+take in its full meaning all in a minute. His puzzled mind went
+groping for some reasonable solution of the enigma. Before he could
+think things out, however, there was a sound at the rear door of the
+car. Some one on the platform outside had turned the knob and held the
+door about an inch ajar, and Ralph glided towards it. Through the
+crack he could see three persons plainly. Ralph viewed them with
+wonderment.
+
+He had half anticipated running across Zeph Dallas somewhere about the
+train, but never this trio--Ike Slump, Jim Evans and the man he had
+known as Lord Montague. The two latter were standing in the snow. Ike
+was on the platform. He was asking a question of the man who had posed
+as a member of the English nobility:
+
+"Be quick, Morris; what am I to do?"
+
+Lord Montague, _alias_ Morris, with a keen glance about him, drew a
+heavy coupling pin from under his coat.
+
+"Take it," he said hastily, "and get inside that car."
+
+"Suppose there's somebody hinders me?"
+
+"Didn't I tell you they were all asleep?" demanded Morris. "You'll
+find a man near a big glass tank."
+
+"See here," demurred Ike; "I don't want to get into any more trouble.
+When it comes to striking a man with that murderous weapon----"
+
+"Murderous fiddlesticks!" interrupted Morris. "You are to hurt nobody.
+Smash the tank, that's all--run out, join us, and it's a hundred
+dollars cash on the spot, and a thousand when I get my fortune."
+
+"Here goes, then," announced Ike Slump, pushing open the door, "but
+what you want to go to all this risk and trouble for to smash an old
+glass tank, I can't imagine."
+
+"You'll know later," muttered Morris grimly.
+
+Ralph did not know what the three rascals were up to, but he realized
+that it must be something bad. Putting two and two together, thinking
+back a bit of all that had occurred concerning Zeph, the Clark boy,
+and the Slump crowd, he began to fancy that tourist cars played a big
+part in the programme, whatever that programme was. The smashing of
+the glass tank, Morris had announced, was worth a hundred dollars to
+Ike--might lead to a fortune, he had intimated.
+
+"There's some wicked plot afoot," decided Ralph, "so--back you go, Ike
+Slump!"
+
+As Ike stepped across the threshold of the car the young engineer
+acted. He had grabbed the coupling pin from Ike's hand, dropped it,
+grasped Ike next with both hands and pressed him backwards to the
+platform. Ike struggled and himself got a grip on Ralph. The latter
+kept forcing his opponent backwards. Ike slipped and went through the
+break in the platform railing where the guard chain was unset, and
+both toppled to the ground submerged in three feet of snow.
+
+Ralph had landed on top of Ike and he held him down, but the cries of
+his adversary had brought Evans and Morris to his rescue. The former
+was pouncing down upon Ralph with vicious design in his evil face,
+when a new actor appeared on the scene.
+
+It was Zeph Dallas. He came running to the spot with his arms full of
+packages, apparently some supplies for the tourist car which he had
+just purchased of some store on Railroad Street. These he dropped and
+his hand went to his coat pocket. The amateur detective was quite as
+practical and businesslike as did he appear heroic, as he drew out a
+weapon.
+
+"Leave that fellow alone, stand still, or you're goners, both of you,"
+panted Zeph. "Hi! hello! stop those men! They're conspirers, they're
+villains!"
+
+Zeph's fierce shouts rang out like clarion notes. They attracted the
+attention of the crowd around the switch shanty, and as Evans and
+Morris started on a run three or four of the railroad loiterers
+started to check their flight. As Zeph helped Ralph yank Ike Slump to
+his feet and drag him along, the young engineer observed that Evans
+and Morris were in the custody of the switch shanty crowd.
+
+Two men coming down the track hastened over to the crowd. Ralph was
+glad to recognize them as Bob Adair, the road detective, and one of
+the yards watchmen.
+
+"What's the trouble here, Fairbanks?" inquired Adair, with whom the
+young engineer was a prime favorite and an old-time friend.
+
+"Dallas will tell you," intimated Ralph.
+
+"Yes," burst out Zeph excitedly; "I want these three fellows arrested,
+Mr. Adair. They must be locked up safe and sound, or they'll do great
+harm."
+
+"Ah--Evans? Slump?" observed Adair, recognizing the twain who had
+caused the Great Northern a great deal of trouble in the past.
+"They'll do on general principles. Who's this other fellow?"
+
+"He's the worst of the lot, the leader. He's an awful criminal,"
+declared Zeph with bolting eyes and intense earnestness. "Mr. Adair,
+if you let that crowd go free, you'll do an awful wrong."
+
+"But what's the charge?"
+
+"Conspiracy. They're trying to----"
+
+"Well, come up to the police station and give me something tangible to
+go on, and I'll see that they get what's coming to them," promised the
+road detective.
+
+"I can't--say, see! my train. I've got to go with that train, Ralph,"
+cried Zeph in frantic agitation. "Try and explain, don't let those
+fellows get loose for a few hours--vast fortune--Marvin Clark--Fred
+Porter--Fordham Cut--big plot!"
+
+In a whirl of incoherency, Zeph dashed down the tracks, for the train
+with the tourist car had started up. He had just time enough to gather
+up his scattered bundles and reach the platform of the last car, as
+the mixed train moved out on the main line and out of sight, leaving
+his astonished auditors in a vast maze of mystery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+SNOWBOUND
+
+
+Chug!
+
+"A snowslide!" exclaimed Ralph, in dismay.
+
+"An avalanche!" declared Fogg. "Dodge--something's coming!"
+
+With a crash both cab windows were splintered to fragments. The young
+engineer of No. 999 was nearly swept from his seat as there poured in
+through the gap a volume of snow.
+
+They had struck an immense snowdrift obliquely, but the fireman's side
+caught the brunt. As the powerful locomotive dove into the drift, the
+snow packed through the denuded window-frame at the fireman's seat
+like grain into a bin. A solid block of snow was formed under the
+terrific pressure of the compact. It lodged against the coal of the
+tender with a power that would probably have crushed the life out of a
+person standing in the way.
+
+"Whew!" shouted Fogg. "Lucky I ducked."
+
+Ralph stopped the engine, which had been going slower and slower each
+minute of the past hour. They had gotten about half the distance to
+Rockton. Long since, however, both engineer and fireman had fully
+decided that they would never make terminus that night.
+
+They had left Stanley Junction under difficulties. The snow was deep
+and heavy, and there was a further fall as they cleared the limits.
+There was no wind, but the snow came down with blinding steadiness and
+volume, and at Vernon they got the stop signal.
+
+The operator stated that the line ahead leading past Fordham Cut was
+impassable. The passenger was stalled ten miles away, and orders from
+Rockton were to the effect that the Overland Express should take the
+cut-off. This diverged into the foothills, where there were no such
+deep cuts as on the direct route, and where it was hoped the drifts
+would not be so heavy.
+
+Neither Ralph nor Fogg was familiar with their new routing. For an
+hour they made fair progress. Then they began to encounter trouble.
+They did not run a yard that the pilot wheels were not sunk to the
+rims in snow. Landmarks were blotted out. As they found themselves
+blindly trusting to the power of the giant locomotive to forge ahead
+despite obstacles, they were practically a lost train.
+
+It was now, as they dove bodily into a great drift choking up an
+embankment cut, that they realized that they had reached a definite
+angle in their experience of the run, and were halted for good.
+
+No. 999 barely pushed her nose far enough out of the enveloping drift,
+to enable Ralph by the aid of the glaring headlight to discern other
+drifts further ahead.
+
+"We're stalled, that's dead sure," declared Fogg. "Signal the
+conductor and see what the programme is."
+
+It was some time after the tooting signal that the conductor put in an
+appearance. He did not come along the side track. That was fairly
+impossible, for it would have been sheer burrow progress. He came over
+the top of the next car to the tender, a blind baggage, and as he
+climbed over the coal in the tender his lantern smashed and he
+presented a pale and anxious face to the view of the cab crew.
+
+"What's the prospects?" he inquired in a discouraged tone.
+
+"It looks like an all-night lay-over," reported Ralph.
+
+"There's nothing ahead, of course," said the conductor calculatingly.
+"There's a freight due on the in track. Behind us a freight was to
+come, provided No. 11 put out from Stanley Junction to-night."
+
+"Which I doubt," said Fogg.
+
+"If we could back to Vernon we'd be in better touch with something
+civilized," went on the conductor. "The wires are all down here."
+
+"I can try it," replied Ralph, "but without a pilot the rear car will
+soon come to a bump."
+
+"Give her a show, anyway," suggested the conductor.
+
+Two minutes' effort resulted in a dead stop. The young engineer knew
+his business well enough to understand that they were in danger of
+running the train off the track.
+
+"I'll send a signal back, if a man can get back," decided the
+conductor.
+
+The backing-up had left a clear brief space before the train. Ralph
+took a lantern and left his fireman in charge of the locomotive. He
+was gone about ten minutes, and came back panting and loaded down with
+the heavy, clinging snow.
+
+"May as well bunk in right here," ventured Fogg.
+
+"That's it," answered Ralph definitely. "It's drift after drift ahead.
+No use disabling the locomotive, and we simply can't hope to dig our
+way out."
+
+The conductor came forward again looking miserable. A red lantern had
+been planted as far down the tracks as the brakeman dared to go. The
+conductor and Ralph held a conversation. Fogg, a veteran in the
+service, was appealed to for a final decision.
+
+"You've hit it," said the fireman sagely and with emphasis. "It's a
+permanent blockage, and our only chance is for the Great Northern to
+find us out or for us to wait until the snow melts."
+
+"If this snow keeps up we'll be buried under," said the conductor.
+
+"Well, we've got to make the best of it," advised Fogg. "If we can
+make it, build a big fire ahead there as a warning or signal, although
+I don't believe there's much stirring at either end. Then it's just a
+question of food and warmth."
+
+"Food!" repeated the conductor, who was fat and hearty and looked as
+if he never willingly missed his meals; "where in the world are we to
+get food? They cut the diner off at the Junction, and there probably
+isn't a farmhouse or station along this dreary waste for miles."
+
+"Well, I fancy we'll have to stand the hunger," said Ralph. "As to the
+heat, that's an essential we mustn't neglect. We had better shut off
+the steam pipes, keeping only a little fire in the furnace and
+starting the stoves in the coaches."
+
+"Yes, we might last out on that plan," nodded the conductor, glancing
+over the tender.
+
+Ralph pulled to a spot about two hundred feet ahead, where the advance
+and retreat of the train had cleared a space alongside the rails, and
+the conductor went back to the coaches.
+
+Ralph adjusted the steam pipes so they would not freeze, and Fogg
+banked the fire. Then they got to the ground with rake and shovel, and
+skirmished around to see what investigation might develop.
+
+Despite the terrible weather and the insecurity of their situation,
+the train crew were soon cheerily gathering wood up beyond the
+embankment. They had to dig deep for old logs, and they broke down
+tree branches. Then they cleared a space at the side of the track and
+started a great roaring fire that flared high and far.
+
+"Nobody will run into that," observed Fogg with a satisfied chuckle.
+
+"And it may lead a rescue party," suggested Ralph.
+
+Some of the men passengers strolled up to the fire. Fear and anxiety
+had given way to a sense of the novelty of the situation. Ralph
+assured them that their comfort and safety would be looked after. He
+promised a foraging party at daylight in search of food supplies.
+
+"They're talking about you back there in the coaches, Fairbanks,"
+reported the conductor a little later. "They know about your
+arrangements for their comfort, and they're chatting and laughing, and
+taking it all in like a regular picnic."
+
+"I suppose you've been giving me undue credit, you modest old hero!"
+laughed Ralph.
+
+"Hello!" suddenly exclaimed Fogg; "now, what is that?"
+
+All hands stared far to the west. A dim red flame lit the sky. Then it
+appeared in a new spot, still far away. This was duplicated until
+there were vague red pencils of light piercing the sky from various
+points of the compass.
+
+"It's queer," commented the conductor. "Something's in action, but
+what, and how?"
+
+"There!" exclaimed Fogg, as suddenly seemingly just beyond the heavy
+drift immediately in front of the train the same glare was seen.
+
+"Yes, and here, too!" shouted out the conductor, jumping back.
+
+Almost at his feet something dropped from midair like a rocket, a
+bomb. It instantly burst out in a vivid red flame. Ralph investigated,
+and while thus engaged two more of the colored messengers,
+projectiles, fireworks, whatever they were, rained down, one about
+half-way down the train, the other beyond it.
+
+The young engineer was puzzled at first, but he soon made out all that
+theory and logic could suggest. There was no doubt but that some one
+at a distance had fired the queer little spheres, which were made of
+the same material as the regular train fuse, only these burned twice
+as long as those used as railroad signals, or fully twenty minutes.
+
+"I make it out," explained Ralph to the conductor, "that somebody with
+a new-fangled device like a Roman candle is sending out these bombs as
+signals."
+
+"Then we're not alone in our misery," remarked Fogg.
+
+"First they went west, then they came this way," continued Ralph. "I
+should say that it looks as if the signal is on a train stalled like
+us about a mile away. I'll soon know."
+
+Ralph got into the cab. In a minute or two No. 999 began a series of
+challenge whistles that echoed far and wide.
+
+"Hark!" ordered Fogg, as they waited for a reply.
+
+"A mere peep," reported the conductor, as a faint whistle reached
+their strained hearing above the noise of the tempest.
+
+"Yes," nodded Fogg, "I figure it out. There's a train somewhere near
+with the locomotive nigh dead."
+
+"If it should be the east freight stalled," suggested Ralph to the
+conductor, "you needn't worry about those hungry children in the
+coaches, and that baby you told about wanting milk."
+
+"No, the east freight is a regular provision train," put in the
+fireman. "If we could reach her, we'd have our pick of eatables."
+
+It was two hours later, and things had quieted down about the
+snowed-in train, when a series of shouts greeted Ralph, Fogg and the
+conductor, seated on a broken log around the fire at the side of the
+tracks.
+
+"What's this new windfall!" exclaimed Fogg.
+
+"More signals," echoed the conductor, staring vaguely.
+
+"Human signals, then," supplemented Ralph. "Well, here's a queer
+arrival."
+
+Five persons came toppling down the side of the embankment, in a
+string. They were tied together at intervals along a rope. All in a
+mix-up, they landed helter-skelter in the snow of the cut. They
+resembled Alpine tourists, arrived on a landslide.
+
+"Why, it's Burton, fireman of the east freight!" shouted the
+conductor, recognizing the first of the five who picked himself up
+from the snow.
+
+"That's who!" answered the man addressed, panting hard. "We're
+stalled about a mile down the cut. Coal given out, no steam. Saw your
+fire, didn't want to freeze to death quite, so----"
+
+"We guessed that you were the Overland," piped in a fresh, boyish
+voice. "Packed up some eatables, and here we are. How do you like my
+new railroad rocket signals, Engineer Fairbanks?" and Archie Graham,
+the young inventor, picked himself up from the snow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+One hour after daybreak the vicinity of the snowbound Overland Express
+resembled a picture, rather than a forlorn blockade.
+
+The lone adventurers who had made the trip from the stalled freight
+had been a relief party indeed. The engineer was a railroader of long
+experience, and he had thought out the dilemma of the refugees. He and
+his companions had broken open a freight car and had brought each a
+good load. There was coffee, sugar, crackers, canned meats, a ham,
+and, what was most welcome to anxious mothers and their babes, a whole
+crate of condensed milk.
+
+There never was a more jolly breakfast than that aboard the snowbound
+coaches. There was plenty to eat and to spare all around, and plenty
+more at the stalled freight, everybody knew. In front of the engine
+many a merry jest went the rounds, as the train crews and some of the
+passengers broiled pieces of succulent ham on the end of pointed
+twigs.
+
+"You see, it was this way," Archie Graham explained to the young
+engineer of No. 999. "I was just watching a chance for washouts or
+snowstorms to get on a train diving into the danger. Those red bombs
+are my invention. I shoot them from a gun. I can send them a mile or
+gauge them to go fifty feet. They ignite when they drop, and by
+sending out a lot of them they are bound to land somewhere near the
+train you aim at. The engineer is bound to take notice, just as you
+did, of the glare, and that's where they beat the fusees and save the
+running back of a brakeman."
+
+"Archie," said Ralph honestly, "I believe you're going to hit some
+real invention some time."
+
+"I helped out some with my patent rocket signals this time," declared
+Archie.
+
+"You did, my lad," observed Fogg with enthusiasm, "and the passengers
+know all about it, and they've mentioned you in a letter they're
+getting up to the company saying how they appreciate the
+intelligence--that's Fairbanks--the courage, ahem! that's me, and the
+good-heartedness, that's all of us, of the two train crews."
+
+By the middle of the afternoon a snow plow opened up the line from
+Rockton to the stalled train. It was not until two mornings later,
+however, that the main line was open and Ralph and Fogg got back to
+Stanley Junction.
+
+Archie came on the same train. Ralph asked him up to the house, but
+the young inventor said he wanted the quiet of his hotel room to work
+on his signal rocket idea, which he declared would amount to something
+yet.
+
+The young engineer had scarcely got in the house after the warm,
+cheerful greeting of his anxious mother, when Zeph Dallas put in an
+appearance.
+
+Zeph was looking exceedingly prosperous. He wore a new, nicely-fitting
+suit of clothes, a modest watch and chain, and was quite dignified and
+subdued, for him.
+
+"When you've had your breakfast, Ralph," he said, "I've got something
+to tell you."
+
+"Yes," nodded Ralph, "I'm expecting to hear a pretty long story from
+you, Zeph."
+
+The young engineer hurried his breakfast and soon joined Zeph in the
+sitting-room.
+
+"Say, Ralph," at once observed his friend, "you've done some big
+things in your time, but the biggest thing you ever did was when you
+saw to it that Jim Evans and Ike Slump, and most of all, that fellow,
+Morris, were held as prisoners by Adair, the road detective."
+
+"I fancied they deserved locking up," remarked Ralph.
+
+"There would have been a murder if you hadn't seen to it," declared
+Zeph. "I've a story to tell that would make your hair stand on end,
+but it would take a book to tell it all."
+
+"I'm here to listen, Zeph," intimated Ralph.
+
+"Yes, but I'm due to meet Mr. Adair at the jail. He's sent Evans and
+Slump back to the prison they escaped from. I hurried on here from the
+Fordham cut purposely to tell him what I wanted done with Morris."
+
+"I say, Zeph," rallied the young railroader, "you seem to have a big
+say in such things for a small boy."
+
+"That's all right," declared Zeph good-naturedly; "I'm all here, just
+the same, and I'm here for a big purpose. In a word, not to mystify
+you, Ralph, for you know only half of the story, I was hired by Marvin
+Clark, the son of the Middletown & Western Railroad president, to do
+all I've done, and I have been royally paid for it."
+
+"Then you must have done something effective," observed Ralph.
+
+"Clark thought so, anyway. I'll try and be brief and to the point, so
+that you'll understand in a nutshell. You know Marvin Clark and Fred
+Porter and the two Canaries?"
+
+The young engineer nodded assentingly.
+
+"Well, as I say, I ran across Clark accidentally in my stray
+wanderings. He and a sickly boy named Ernest Gregg were living in a
+fixed-over building at Fordham Spur. I seemed to be just the person
+Clark was waiting for. He hired me to do some work for him. He was
+planning to get the poor boy, Gregg, his rights."
+
+"Yes, I know about that," observed Ralph.
+
+"Then if you do, I can hurry over things. It seems that when he began
+to look up Gregg's affairs, he found out that Ernest had a strange
+hermit of a grandfather, named Abijah Gregg. Ernest's father was an
+only son. About five years ago the old man discovered a terrible
+forgery in which he was robbed of over ten thousand dollars. He had
+reason to believe that Ernest's father and a man named Howard were
+responsible for it. He disowned his son and all his family, and a
+month later Ernest's father died, leaving his son a disowned and
+homeless outcast."
+
+"And what became of Howard?" inquired the interested Ralph.
+
+"He disappeared. Old Gregg became soured at all humanity after that,"
+narrated Zeph; "the more so because he had a profligate nephew who
+turned out bad. This was the man in jail here now."
+
+"Lord Lionel Montague--Morris?"
+
+"Yes, Morris robbed the old man, who became afraid of him. The old man
+tried to hide away from everybody. In his wanderings he picked up the
+two Canaries and settled down at the lonely place at Fordham Cut. He
+was very rich, partly paralyzed, and intended to leave his fortune to
+the state, rather than have any relative benefit by it. Well, Marvin
+Clark, the splendid, unselfish fellow, got a clew to all this. He
+located old Abijah Gregg. He spent just loads of money following down
+points, until he discovered that the man Howard was a broken-down
+invalid in New Mexico. Clark was sick himself for a month, and that
+was why Fred Porter did not hear from him."
+
+"And later?" asked Ralph.
+
+"I ran across Porter and brought him to the Spur about a month ago. He
+is there now. Well, Clark found out positively that Ernest's father
+never had a thing to do with forgery. It had been really committed by
+Howard and this villain, Morris. He got in touch with Howard in New
+Mexico, who was a dying man. He found him anxious to make what
+reparation he could for a wicked deed. Old Gregg would not go to New
+Mexico. Howard could only live where the air was just right for him.
+The physicians said that if he ever went to any other climate, the
+change of atmosphere would kill him. With plenty of money at his
+command, Clark arranged it all. The New Mexico doctors got a tank that
+held an artificial air, and Clark arranged so that Howard could come
+east in a special car."
+
+"And the first tourist car that you ran empty to the Spur?" inquired
+Ralph.
+
+"Why, we knew that Morris was trying every way to locate and annoy his
+uncle. We thought that maybe he had got onto our plans about Howard.
+We ran the dummy car to see if we were being watched. Don't you see,
+that if Morris had succeeded in smashing the glass air tank, Howard
+would have died before he could tell his story to old Mr. Gregg."
+
+"And now?" said Ralph.
+
+"The story has been told. Old Mr. Gregg is convinced that his son was
+innocent of forgery. He will take care of his grandson and make him
+his heir, and young Clark, as you see, has done a grand thing."
+
+"Yes, indeed," assented Ralph.
+
+"Howard will return to New Mexico with a relieved conscience. I am
+going to the jail here now to see Morris. If he will agree to leave
+the country and never annoy his uncle again, I will give him a certain
+large sum of money, as directed by his uncle. If he doesn't, he will
+be prosecuted for the forgery."
+
+"Zeph," observed the young railroader enthusiastically, "you have
+proven yourself not only a real detective, but a splendid lawyer, as
+well."
+
+"Thank you," returned Zeph, and blushed modestly; "most everybody that
+gets in with you does some kind of good in the world."
+
+It was two hours later when a messenger came to the Fairbanks home
+with a letter for Ralph.
+
+The young engineer flushed with pleasure as he read a brief
+communication from the master mechanic, advising him that Mr. Robert
+Grant, president of the Great Northern, was at Stanley Junction, and
+wished to see him for a few minutes at the Waverly Hotel.
+
+Ralph told his mother of the incident, and her eyes followed him
+fondly and proudly as, arrayed in his best, Ralph started out to keep
+his appointment.
+
+It was a warm welcome that the young railroader received from the
+great railroad magnate. Mr. Grant went over their mutual experiences
+the night of the wild dash of the special from Rockton to Shelby
+Junction.
+
+"You did a most important service for the road that night, Fairbanks,"
+said the railroad president; "how much, is a secret in the archives of
+the company, but I can say to you confidentially that the Mountain
+Division would have passed to another line if we had not acted in
+time."
+
+"I am very glad," said Ralph modestly.
+
+"I want to acknowledge that service. I am only the president of the
+road," said Mr. Grant, smiling, and Ralph smiled, too, "so being a
+servant of the road, I must act under orders. I learned that, like all
+thrifty young men, you had a savings account at the bank here. I have
+deposited there the company's check for one thousand dollars to your
+account."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Grant----" began Ralph, but the railroad president held up
+his hand to check the interruption.
+
+"As to Fogg," went on Mr. Grant, "the road has closed up the
+subscription in his behalf, by giving him sufficient to rebuild his
+burned-down house."
+
+Ralph's face was aglow with pride, pleasure and happiness.
+
+"So, good-by for the present, Fairbanks," concluded the railroad
+president, grasping Ralph's hand warmly. "There are higher places for
+ambitious young men in the service of the road, as you know. I shall
+not try to influence your plans, for I know that sheer merit will put
+you forward when you decide to advance. As to my personal influence,
+that, you know, is yours to command. For the present, however, we
+should regret to see the Overland Express in other hands than those of
+the youngest and the best engineer on the Great Northern."
+
+What Mr. Grant had to say about Ralph's advancement came true a little
+later, and those who care to follow our hero's future career may do so
+in the next story of this series, to be called, "Ralph, the Train
+Dispatcher; or, The Mystery of the Pay Car." In that volume we shall
+meet many of our old friends once more, and see what our hero did when
+new difficulties confronted him.
+
+One day Ralph was surprised to receive a visit from Marvin Clark and
+Fred Porter. He received them both warmly, and soon learned that Clark
+had fixed up his trouble over railroad work, and with his parent, and
+had secured a good position for Fred, so that the latter would no
+longer need to lead a roving life.
+
+"But I must have one more ride with you, Fairbanks," said Fred.
+
+"And I'll go along," said the son of the railroad president.
+
+"With pleasure!" cried Ralph. "Come on!" And he led the way to where
+No. 999 stood ready for the next run.
+
+The trip was a grand success. And here we will, for the present, at
+least, say good-by to Ralph of the Overland Express.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+THIS ISN'T ALL!
+
+Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made
+in this book?
+
+Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
+experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
+
+On the reverse side of the wrapper which comes with this book,
+you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the
+same store where you got this book.
+
+Don't throw away the Wrapper.
+
+Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.
+But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
+catalog.
+
+
+
+
+THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
+
+By VICTOR APPLETON
+
+Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers.
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius.
+Tom Swift is a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions
+and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading.
+
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
+ TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
+ TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
+ TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
+ TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
+ TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
+ TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
+ TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE DON STURDY SERIES
+
+By VICTOR APPLETON
+
+Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by
+
+WALTER S. ROGERS
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself
+
+In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted
+scientist, Don Sturdy travels far and wide, gaining much useful
+knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.
+
+DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY;
+  Or, Autoing in the Land of the Caravans.
+
+An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild
+animals and crafty Arabs.
+
+DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS;
+  Or, Lost in the Jungles of the Amazon.
+
+Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes
+to be found in South America--to be delivered alive! The filling of
+that order brought keen excitement to the boy.
+
+DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD;
+  Or, The Old Egyptian's Great Secret.
+
+A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of
+Kings in Egypt. Once the whole party became lost in the maze of
+cavelike tombs far underground.
+
+DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE;
+  Or, Cast Away in the Land of Ice.
+
+Don and his uncles joined an expedition bound by air across the north
+pole. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship.
+
+DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES;
+  Or, The Trail of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
+
+An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska in a
+territory but recently explored. A story that will make Don dearer to
+his readers than ever.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE RADIO BOYS SERIES
+
+(Trademark Registered)
+
+By ALLEN CHAPMAN
+
+Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
+
+Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in
+sending and receiving--telling how small and large amateur sets can
+be made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and
+adventure out of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so
+thoroughly fascinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel
+sure all lads will peruse them with great delight.
+
+Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio
+expert.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS;
+  Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT;
+  Or, The Message That Saved the Ship.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION;
+  Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS;
+  Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE;
+  Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS;
+  Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain.
+
+THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL;
+  Or, Making Safe the Ocean Lanes.
+
+RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS;
+  Or, Saving the City in the Valley.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE RAILROAD SERIES
+
+By ALLEN CHAPMAN
+
+Author of the "Radio Boys," Etc.
+
+Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great
+American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance--railroad
+wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat"
+locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money
+on board--but there is much more than this--the intense rivalry among
+railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the
+getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the
+manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or
+ruin.
+
+
+RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE;
+  Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.
+
+RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER;
+  Or, Clearing the Track.
+
+RALPH ON THE ENGINE;
+  Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.
+
+RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS;
+  Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.
+
+RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER;
+  Or, the Mystery of the Pay Car.
+
+RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN;
+  Or, The Young Railroader's Most Daring Exploit.
+
+RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER;
+  Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.
+
+RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH;
+  Or, The Stolen Government Bonds.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE RIDDLE CLUB BOOKS
+
+By ALICE DALE HARDY
+
+Individual Colored Wrappers. Attractively Illustrated.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+Here is as ingenious a series of books for little folks as has ever
+appeared since "Alice in Wonderland." The idea of the Riddle books
+is a little group of children--three girls and three boys decide to
+form a riddle club. Each book is full of the adventures and doings of
+these six youngsters, but as an added attraction each book is filled
+with a lot of the best riddles you ever heard.
+
+
+THE RIDDLE CLUB AT HOME
+
+An absorbing tale that all boys and girls will enjoy reading. How the
+members of the club fixed up a clubroom in the Larue barn, and how
+they, later on, helped solve a most mysterious happening, and how one
+of the members won a valuable prize, is told in a manner to please
+every young reader.
+
+THE RIDDLE CLUB IN CAMP
+
+The club members went into camp on the edge of a beautiful lake. Here
+they had rousing good times swimming, boating and around the
+campfire. They fell in with a mysterious old man known as The Hermit
+of Triangle Island. Nobody knew his real name or where he came from
+until the propounding of a riddle solved these perplexing questions.
+
+THE RIDDLE CLUB THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
+
+This volume takes in a great number of winter sports, including
+skating and sledding and the building of a huge snowman. It also
+gives the particulars of how the club treasurer lost the dues
+entrusted to his care and what the melting of the great snowman
+revealed.
+
+THE RIDDLE CLUB AT SUNRISE BEACH
+
+This volume tells how the club journeyed to the seashore and how they
+not only kept up their riddles but likewise had good times on the
+sand and on the water. Once they got lost in a fog and are marooned
+on an island. Here they made a discovery that greatly pleased the
+folks at home.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
+
+For Little Men and Women
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.
+
+Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten
+stands among children and their parents of this generation where the
+books of Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps
+of this inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and
+experiences are a source of keen delight to imaginative children
+everywhere.
+
+
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS KEEPING HOUSE
+ THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CLOVERBANK
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.
+
+Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are
+eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of
+age. Their eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of
+inquisitive little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
+
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG
+ BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES
+
+By LAURA LEE HOPE
+
+Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny Brown Series, The
+Make-Believe Series, Etc.
+
+Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
+
+Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+
+Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into
+immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them
+at once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun
+and cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that
+can be easily followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most
+entertaining manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on
+the bookshelf of every child in the land.
+
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S
+ SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE HONEY BUNCH BOOKS
+
+By HELEN LOUISE THORNDYKE
+
+Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations Drawn by
+WALTER S.
+ROGERS
+
+A new line of fascinating tales for little girls. Honey Bunch is a
+dainty, thoughtful little girl, and to know her is to take her to
+your heart at once.
+
+HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL
+
+Happy days at home, helping mamma and the washerlady. And Honey Bunch
+helped the house painters too--or thought she did.
+
+HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY
+
+What wonderful sights Honey Bunch saw when she went to visit her
+cousins in New York! And she got lost in a big hotel and wandered
+into a men's convention!
+
+HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM
+
+Can you remember how the farm looked the first time you visited it?
+How big the cows and horses were, and what a roomy place to play in
+the barn proved to be?
+
+HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE
+
+Honey Bunch soon got used to the big waves and thought playing in the
+sand great fun. And she visited a merry-go-round, and took part in a
+seaside pageant.
+
+HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN
+
+It was great sport to dig and to plant with one's own little garden
+tools. But best of all was when Honey Bunch won a prize at the flower
+show.
+
+HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP
+
+It was a great adventure for Honey Bunch when she journeyed to Camp
+Snapdragon. It was wonderful to watch the men erect the tent, and
+more wonderful to live in it and have good times on the shore and in
+the water.
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Ralph on the Overland Express, by Allen Chapman
+
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