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diff --git a/28292-h/28292-h.htm b/28292-h/28292-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ba2e89 --- /dev/null +++ b/28292-h/28292-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7418 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ralph on the Engine, by Allen Chapman. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.2em;} + table.booklist p {text-align:center; margin:0 auto; font-size:smaller;} + table.titlepage p {text-align:center; margin:0 auto;} + hr.title {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:15%;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size:.8em;} + hr.tb {width: 30%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both; margin: 1em auto;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + h1 {text-align:center;font-size:x-large;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-size:1.4em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ralph on the Engine, 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 Engine + The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail + +Author: Allen Chapman + +Release Date: March 9, 2009 [EBook #28292] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH ON THE ENGINE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figcenter'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' style='width: 365px; height: 553px;' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;width: 365px;'> +THE LOCOMOTIVE SETTLED BACK ON A SLANT.<br /> +<i>Ralph on the Engine. Frontispiece (Page 10.)</i><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<table class='titlepage' summary='' cellpadding="20"> + <tr><td> + <p style='font-size:2em;'>RALPH ON THE</p> + <p style='font-size:2em;margin-bottom:0.5em;'>ENGINE</p> + <p style='margin-bottom:1em;'>OR</p> + <p style='font-size:1.4em;'>THE YOUNG FIREMAN OF</p> + <p style='font-size:1.4em;margin-bottom:3em;'>THE LIMITED MAIL</p> + <p>BY</p> + <p style='font-size:1.2em;'>ALLEN CHAPMAN</p> + <p style='font-size:0.7em;'> + AUTHOR OF “RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE,” “RALPH IN THE<br /> + SWITCH TOWER,” “THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT,”<br /> + “TWO BOY PUBLISHERS,” “THE<br /> + DAREWELL CHUMS,” ETC.</p> + <p style='margin:2em auto;'><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p> + <p>NEW YORK</p> + <p style='font-size:1.2em;letter-spacing:0.15em;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> + <p>PUBLISHERS</p> + <p style='font-size:0.8em;margin-top:1em;'>Made in the United States of America</p> + </td></tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<table class='booklist' summary='railroad series' style='margin:auto; border: 1px solid black; padding:10px;'> + <tr><td colspan='2' style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:larger;'><p>THE RAILROAD SERIES<br />By Allen Chapman</p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><hr class='title' /></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p><i>12 mo., Cloth, Illustrated.</i></p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><hr class='title' /></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p style='text-align:left'>RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE<br /> +   Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man</p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p style='text-align:left'>RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER<br /> +   Or, Clearing the Track</p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p style='text-align:left'>RALPH ON THE ENGINE<br /> +   Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail</p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p>(Other volumes in preparation.)</p></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><hr class='title' /></td></tr> + <tr><td colspan='2'><p>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p></td></tr> + <tr><td align='left'>PUBLISHERS</td><td align='right'>NEW YORK</td></tr> +</table> +<p style='margin-top:1em; text-align:center; font-size:smaller'>Copyright, 1909, by<br />GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<hr class='title' /> +<p style='text-align:center; font-size:smaller'><i>Ralph on the Engine</i></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' width='500' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Night Run</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_THE_NIGHT_RUN'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Landslide</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_THE_LANDSLIDE'>9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Everybody’s Friend</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_EVERYBODYS_FRIEND'>19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>An Old-Time Enemy</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_AN_OLDTIME_ENEMY'>27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>On Special Duty</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V_ON_SPECIAL_DUTY'>35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Zeph</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI_ZEPH'>43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Limpy Joe’s Railroad Restaurant</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII_LIMPY_JOES_RAILROAD_RESTAURANT'>50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Hidden Plunder</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII_THE_HIDDEN_PLUNDER'>58</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Suspicious Proceeding</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX_A_SUSPICIOUS_PROCEEDING'>66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Special</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X_THE_SPECIAL'>73</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Kidnapped</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI_KIDNAPPED'>82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Railroad President</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII_THE_RAILROAD_PRESIDENT'>89</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Short Line Railway</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII_THE_SHORT_LINE_RAILWAY'>97</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Railroad Strike</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV_A_RAILROAD_STRIKE'>106</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Runaway Trains</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV_THE_RUNAWAY_TRAINS'>116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Car No. 9176</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI_CAR_NO_9176'>124</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Under Sealed Orders</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVII_UNDER_SEALED_ORDERS'>132</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Strike Leader</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_STRIKE_LEADER'>142</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Wire Tappers</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIX_THE_WIRE_TAPPERS'>150</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In Peril</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XX_IN_PERIL'>159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Friend in Need</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXI_A_FRIEND_IN_NEED'>165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Limited Mail</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXII_THE_LIMITED_MAIL'>173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Picnic Train</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIII_THE_PICNIC_TRAIN'>181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>In “The Barrens”</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIV_IN_THE_BARRENS'>190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Too Late</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXV_TOO_LATE'>197</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Mad Engineer</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVI_THE_MAD_ENGINEER'>205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A New Mystery</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVII_A_NEW_MYSTERY'>213</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXVIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Freight Thieves</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_FREIGHT_THIEVES'>219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXIX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>A Prisoner</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXIX_A_PRISONER'>226</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>The Lost Diamonds</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXX_THE_LOST_DIAMONDS'>235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right' style='padding-right:1em;'>XXXI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Justice at Last—Conclusion</span> </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XXXI_JUSTICE_AT_LASTCONCLUSION'>241</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<h1>RALPH ON THE ENGINE</h1> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_THE_NIGHT_RUN' id='CHAPTER_I_THE_NIGHT_RUN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>THE NIGHT RUN</h3> +</div> +<p>“Ralph Fairbanks.”</p> +<p>“On hand, sir.”</p> +<p>“You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the +Dover slow freight.”</p> +<p>“All right, sir.”</p> +<p>Ralph Fairbanks arose from the bench on +which he was seated in the roundhouse at Stanley +Junction.</p> +<p>Over a dozen men had been his companions for +the past hour. There were engineers waiting for +their runs, firemen resting after getting their +locomotives in order, and “extras,” who, like the +young railroader himself, were so far on the +substitute list only.</p> +<p>Ralph was glad of his appointment. This was +his second month of service as a fireman. It had +been by no means regular employment, and, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +he was industrious and ambitious, he was glad to +get at work with the prospect of a steady run.</p> +<p>The foreman of the roundhouse had just +turned from his desk after marking Ralph’s name +on the list when a man hurriedly entered the place. +He was rather unsteady in his gait, his face was +flushed, and he looked dissolute and unreliable.</p> +<p>“Give me the slow freight run, Forgan,” he +panted. “I’m listed next.”</p> +<p>“Two minutes late,” observed the foreman, in +a business-like way.</p> +<p>“That don’t count on a stormy night like this.”</p> +<p>“System counts in this establishment always, +Jim Evans,” said Mr. Forgan.</p> +<p>“I ran all the way.”</p> +<p>“Stopped too long at the corner saloon, then,” +put in Dave Adams, a veteran engineer of the +road.</p> +<p>Evans glared at the man who spoke, but recognizing +a privileged character, stared down the +row of loiterers and demanded:</p> +<p>“Who’s got my run?”</p> +<p>“Do you own any particular run, Jim?” inquired +Adams, with a grin.</p> +<p>“Well, Griscom’s was due me.”</p> +<p>“Young Fairbanks was on hand, so it’s his run +now.”</p> +<p>“That kid’s,” sneered Evans, turning on Ralph +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +with angry eyes. “See here, young fellow, do +you think it’s square cutting in on a regular man +this way?”</p> +<p>“I’ll answer that,” interposed Tim Forgan +sharply. “He was here, you weren’t. He holds +the run till a better man comes along.”</p> +<p>Evans stood glaring at Ralph for a few minutes. +Then he moved to the youth’s side.</p> +<p>“See here, kid,” he observed, “I want this run +specially. It’ll be a regular, for Cooper is going +with another road. I’m a man and must earn a +man’s wages. You’re only a kid. I’ve got a +family. Come, give me the run and I’ll treat you +handsomely,” and the speaker extended a cigar.</p> +<p>“Thank you, I don’t smoke,” said Ralph. Then +looking the man squarely in the eyes, he said: +“Mr. Evans, I’ll give up the run on one condition.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” inquired Evans eagerly.</p> +<p>“If you will sign the pledge, work steadily, and +give your wages to your family as you should +do.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it!” shouted Evans, not a whit shame-facedly.</p> +<p>“No, you won’t,” announced Forgan. “Fairbanks, +kindness is kindness, but business is business. +If you drop this run, it goes to the next +extra on the list according to routine.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span></p> +<p>“Bah, you’re all down on me!” flared out +Evans, and left the place in a rage.</p> +<p>“It would do no good, Fairbanks, to help that +man,” observed Dave Adams. “He would sign +anything to secure a personal advantage and never +keep his word. He squanders all his money and +won’t last long in the Great Northern, I can tell +you.”</p> +<p>Ralph went outside as he heard a whistle down +the rails. Evans was standing near a switch.</p> +<p>“Some kind of a plot, eh, you and your +friend?” he sneered at Ralph.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Evans,” +replied Ralph.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, you do. Forgan is partial to you. +The others don’t like me because I’m a crack man +in my line. One word, though; I’ll pay you off +for this some time or other,” and Evans left the +spot shaking his fist at Ralph menacingly.</p> +<p>“One of the bad kind,” mused Ralph, looking +after the fellow, “not at all fit for duty half the +time. Here comes one of the good kind,” he +added as a freight engine with a long train of +cars attached steamed up at the roundhouse. “It’s +my run, Mr. Griscom.”</p> +<p>“That’s famous news,” cried old John Griscom, +genuinely pleased. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></p> +<p>“Good evening, Mr. Cooper,” said Ralph, as +the fireman leaped from the cab.</p> +<p>“Hello,” responded the latter. “You got the +run? Well, it’s a good man in a good man’s +place.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” said Griscom. “None better. +In to report, Sam? Good-bye. Shovel in the +coal, lad,” the speaker directed Ralph. “It’s a +bad night for railroading, and we’ll have a hard +run to Dover.”</p> +<p>Ralph applied himself to his duties at once. He +opened the fire door, and as the ruddy glow +illuminated his face he was a picture pleasant to +behold.</p> +<p>Muscular, healthy, in love with his work, +friendly, earnest and accommodating, Ralph Fairbanks +was a favorite with every fair-minded railroad +man on the Great Northern who knew him.</p> +<p>Ralph had lived at Stanley Junction nearly all +of his life. His early experiences in railroading +have been related in the first volume of the present +series, entitled “Ralph of the Roundhouse.”</p> +<p>Ralph’s father had been one of the pioneers +who helped to build the Great Northern. When +he died, however, it was found that the twenty +thousand dollars’ worth of stock in the road he +was supposed to own had mysteriously disappeared. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></p> +<p>Further, his home was mortgaged to old +Gasper Farrington, a wealthy magnate of the +village. This person seemed to have but one object +in life; to drive the widow Fairbanks and +her son from Stanley Junction.</p> +<p>Ralph one day overheard Farrington threaten +to foreclose a mortgage, and the youth suddenly +realized his responsibilities. Leaving school, he +secured a job in the roundhouse at Stanley Junction. +Here, notwithstanding the plots, hatred and +malice of a worthless, good-for-nothing fellow +named Ike Slump, whose place he took, Ralph +made fine progress. He saved the railroad shops +from wholesale destruction, by assisting John +Griscom to run an engine into the flames and +drive a car of powder out of the way. For this +brave deed Ralph secured the friendship of the +master mechanic of the road and was promoted +to the position of junior leverman.</p> +<p>In the second volume of this series, entitled +“Ralph in the Switch Tower,” another vivid +phase of his ability and merit has been depicted. +He rendered signal service in saving a special +from disaster and prevented a treasure train from +being looted by thieves.</p> +<p>Among the thieves was his old-time enemy, Ike +Slump, and a crony of his named Mort Bemis. +They had been hired by Farrington to harass +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +Ralph in every way possible. Ralph had searched +for the motive to the old man’s animosity.</p> +<p>He learned that Farrington had appropriated +his father’s railroad stock on an illegal technicality, +and that the mortgage on their homestead had +once been paid by Mr. Fairbanks.</p> +<p>Once knowing this, Ralph undertook the task +of proving it. It required some clever work to +unmask the villainous miser, but Ralph succeeded, +and Farrington, to escape facing disgrace, left the +town, ostensibly for Europe.</p> +<p>In unmasking the old man Ralph was assisted +by one Van Sherwin, a poor boy whom he had +befriended. Van and a former partner of Gasper +Farrington, named Farwell Gibson, had secured +a charter to build a short line railroad near Dover, +in which project Ralph was very much interested.</p> +<p>As has been said, Ralph had now been a fireman +for two months, but heretofore employed in +yard service only.</p> +<p>“It’s the chance of my life,” he cried cheerily, +as he piled in the coal, “and what a famous partner +is dear, bluff, honest old John Griscom!”</p> +<p>“Won’t have me for a partner long, lad,” replied +the veteran engineer with a slight sigh, as he +moved the lever.</p> +<p>“Why not, Mr. Griscom?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Eyes giving out. Had to drop the Daylight +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +Express. I’m going down the ladder, you are +going up the ladder. Stick to your principles, lad, +for they are good ones, as I well know, and you’ll +surely reach the top.”</p> +<p>“I hope so.” said Ralph.</p> +<p>The locomotive gave a sharp signal whistle, +and the slow freight started on its night run for +Dover.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_LANDSLIDE' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_LANDSLIDE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE LANDSLIDE</h3> +</div> +<p>“Trouble ahead!”</p> +<p>“What’s that, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“And danger. Quick! slow down, or we’re in +for a wreck.”</p> +<p>Ralph Fairbanks spoke with suddenness. As +he did so he leaped past the engineer in a flash, +clearing the open window space at the side.</p> +<p>Two minutes previous the old engineer had +asked him to go out on the locomotive to adjust +some fault in the air gauge. Ralph had just attended +to this when he made a startling discovery.</p> +<p>In an instant he was in action and landed on +the floor of the cab. He sprang to his own side +of the engine, and leaning far out peered keenly +ahead.</p> +<p>They were now in a deep cut which ended a +steep climb, and the engine had full steam on and +was making fairly good speed.</p> +<p>“My bad eyes—” began Griscom, and then he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +quivered in every nerve, for a tremendous shock +nearly sent him off his seat.</p> +<p>“Just in time,” cried Ralph, and then he held +his breath.</p> +<p>Slowing down, the train had come to a crashing +halt. The locomotive reared upon its forward +wheels and then settled back on a slant, creaking +at every joint. Ralph had swung the air lever or +there would have been a catastrophe.</p> +<p>“What was it?” gasped Griscom, clearing his +old eyes and peering ahead, but Ralph was gone. +Seizing a lantern, he had jumped to the ground +and was at the front of the locomotive now. The +engineer shut off all steam after sounding the +danger signal, a series of several sharp whistles, +and quickly joined his assistant.</p> +<p>In front of the locomotive, obstructing the rails +completely, was a great mass of dirt, gravel and +rocks.</p> +<p>“A landslide,” spoke Griscom, glancing up one +steep side of the cut.</p> +<p>“If we had struck that big rock full force,” +observed Ralph, “it would have been a bad +wreck.”</p> +<p>“You saved us just in time,” cried the old +engineer. “I’ve often wondered if some day +there wouldn’t be just such a drop as this of some +of these overhanging cliffs. Company ought to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +see to it. It’s been a fierce rain all the evening, +perhaps that loosened the mass.”</p> +<p>“Hardly,” said Ralph thoughtfully, and then, +inspecting a glazed piece of paper with some +printing on it he had just picked up, he looked +queerly at his companion.</p> +<p>“Give them the trouble signal in the caboose, +please, Mr. Griscom,” said the young fireman. +“I think I had better get back there at once. Have +you a revolver?”</p> +<p>“Always carry one,” responded Griscom.</p> +<p>“Keep it handy, then.”</p> +<p>“Eh!” cried the engineer with a stare. “What +you getting at, lad?”</p> +<p>“That is no landslide,” replied Ralph, pointing +at the obstruction.</p> +<p>“What is it then?”</p> +<p>“Train wreckers—or worse,” declared Ralph +promptly. “There is no time to lose, Mr. Griscom,” +he continued in rapid tones.</p> +<p>“Of course, if not an accident, there was a +purpose in it,” muttered Griscom, reaching into +his tool box for a weapon, “but what makes you +think it wasn’t an accident?”</p> +<p>Ralph did not reply, for he was gone. Springing +across the coal heaped up in the tender, he +climbed to the top of the first freight car and +started on a swift run the length of the train. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span></p> +<p>The young fireman was considerably excited. +He would not have been a spirited, wide-awake +boy had he been otherwise. The paper he had +found among the debris of the obstruction on the +rails had an ominous sentence across it, namely, +“<i>Handle With Care, Dynamite</i>.”</p> +<p>This, taken in connection with what had at +first startled him, made Ralph feel pretty sure +that he had not missed his guess in attributing the +landslide to some agency outside of nature.</p> +<p>While adjusting the air gauge Ralph had noticed +a flare ahead, then a lantern light up the side +of the embankment, and then, in the blaze of a +wild flash of lightning, he had witnessed the +descent of a great tearing, tossing mass, landing +in the railroad cut.</p> +<p>“It can mean only a hold-up,” theorized Ralph. +“Yes, I am quite right.”</p> +<p>He slowed down in his wild dash over the car +tops, and proceeded with caution. Down at the +end of the train he saw lights that he knew did +not belong to the train hands.</p> +<p>Ralph neared the caboose and then dropped +flat to the top of the car he was on. Peering past +its edge, he made out a wagon, half-a-dozen men, +and the train hands backed to the side of the cut +and held captive there by two of the strangers, +who menaced them with revolvers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>Then two others of the marauding gang took +crowbars from the wagon, and one, carrying a +lantern, proceeded along the side of the cars inspecting +the freight cards.</p> +<p>“They must know of some valuable goods on +the train,” reflected Ralph.</p> +<p>It was an ideal spot for a train robbery, between +two stations, and no train was due for +several hours.</p> +<p>Ralph was in a quandary as to his best course +of procedure. For a moment he considered going +for Griscom and arming himself with a bar of +rod.</p> +<p>“It would be six to two and we would get the +worst of it,” he decided. “There is only one thing +to do—get back to Brocton. It’s less than a mile. +Can I make it before these fellows get away with +their plunder? Good! a patent coupler.”</p> +<p>The boy fireman had crept to the end of the +car next to the caboose. Glancing down, he discovered +that the couplings were operated by a +lever bar. Otherwise, he could never have forced +up the coupling pin.</p> +<p>The cars were on a sharp incline, in fact, one of +the steepest on the road. Ralph relied on simple +gravity to escape the robbers and hasten for relief.</p> +<p>“There’s some one!”</p> +<p>Careful as Ralph was, he was discovered. A +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +voice rang out in warning. Then with a quick, +bold snap, Ralph lifted the coupler and the pin +shot out. He sprang to the forward platform of +the caboose. As the car began to recede, he +dashed through its open door.</p> +<p>“Just in time. Whew!” ejaculated Ralph, +“those fellows are desperate men and doing this +in true, wild western style.”</p> +<p>The caboose, once started, began a rapid backward +rush. Ralph feared that its momentum +might carry the car from the track.</p> +<p>A curve turned, and the lights of Brocton were +in sight. Before the runaway caboose slowed +down entirely it must have gone fully three-quarters +of a mile.</p> +<p>Ralph jumped from the car, and ran down the +tracks at his best speed. He was breathless as he +reached the little depot. It was dark and deserted, +but opposite it was the one business street +of the town.</p> +<p>Ralph left the tracks finally and made a dash +for the open entrance of the general store of the +village. The usual crowd of loiterers was gathered +there.</p> +<p>“Hello! what’s this?” cried the proprietor, as +the young fireman rushed wildly into the store.</p> +<p>“Fireman on the Dover freight,” explained +Ralph breathlessly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>“What’s the trouble—a wreck?”</p> +<p>“No, a hold-up. Men! get weapons, a handcar, +if there is one here, and we may head off the +robbers.”</p> +<p>It took some urging to get that slow crowd +into action, but finally half-a-dozen men armed +with shotguns were running down the tracks following +Ralph’s lead.</p> +<p>It was a steep climb and several fell behind, +out of breath. One big fellow kept pace with +Ralph.</p> +<p>“There they are,” spoke the latter as they +rounded a curve.</p> +<p>Lights showed in the near distance. A flash of +lightning momentarily revealed a stirring scene. +The robbers were removing packages from a car +they had broken into, and these they were loading +into their wagon at the side of the train.</p> +<p>“Hurry up, hurry up!” Ralph’s companion +shouted back to his comrades. “Now, then, for +a dash, and we’ll bag those rogues, plunder, rig +and all.”</p> +<p>“Wait,” ordered Ralph sharply.</p> +<p>He was too late. The impetuous villager was +greatly excited and he ran ahead and fired off his +gun, two of the others following his example.</p> +<p>Ralph was very sorry for this, for almost instantly +the robbers took the alarm and all lights +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +near the caboose were extinguished. The echo of +rapid orders reached the ears of the relief party. +Fairly upon the scene, a flash of lightning showed +the wagon being driven rapidly up a road leading +from the cut.</p> +<p>“Look out for yourselves,” suggested Ralph. +“Those men are armed.”</p> +<p>“So are we, now!” sharply sounded the voice +of one of the men from Brocton, and another +flash of lightning showed the enemy still in view.</p> +<p>“Up the road after them!” came a second +order.</p> +<p>Ralph ran up to the side of the caboose.</p> +<p>“All safe?” he inquired anxiously.</p> +<p>“All but one of us,” responded the conductor.</p> +<p>Ralph lit a lantern, noticing one of the train +hands lying on the ground motionless.</p> +<p>“He’s a fighter, Tom is,” said the conductor. +“He resisted and grappled with one of the robbers, +and another of them knocked him senseless.”</p> +<p>“What’s this in his hand?” inquired Ralph. +“Oh, I see—a cap. Snatched it from the head of +his assailant, I suppose. Hark! they are shooting +up there.”</p> +<p>Shots rang out along the cut road. In a few +minutes, however, the men from Brocton reappeared +in the cut. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></p> +<p>“No use wasting our lives recklessly,” said one +of them. “They have bullets, we only small shot. +The wagon got away. We’ll hurry back to Brocton, +get a regular posse armed with rifles, and +search the country for the rascals.”</p> +<p>“What’s the damage?” inquired Ralph of the +conductor, going to the side of the car that had +been broken open.</p> +<p>“Pretty big, I should say,” responded the conductor. +“That car had a consignment of valuable +silks from Brown & Banks, in the city, and they +piled a fair load of it into their wagon. You have +saved a wholesale plundering of the car.”</p> +<p>The men from Brocton departed. Ralph helped +the train crew revive the poor fellow who had +been knocked insensible. They carried him into +the caboose, applied cold water to his head, and +soon had him restored to consciousness.</p> +<p>“Fix the red lights,” ordered the conductor to +a brakeman, “and then hurry to Brocton and have +them telegraph the train dispatcher. What’s the +trouble ahead, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>Ralph explained. Shovels and crowbars were +brought from the caboose, and two of the train +crew accompanied him back to the locomotive.</p> +<p>Ralph thought of the cap he had stuck in his +pocket. He looked it over carefully in the light +of the lantern he carried. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></p> +<p>On the leather band inside of the cap were two +initials in red ink—“I. S.”</p> +<p>“Ike Slump,” murmured Ralph.</p> +<p>An old-time enemy had appeared on the scene, +and the young fireman of the Great Northern +knew that he would have to keep a sharp lookout +or there would be more trouble.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_EVERYBODYS_FRIEND' id='CHAPTER_III_EVERYBODYS_FRIEND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>EVERYBODY’S FRIEND</h3> +</div> +<p>“Stand back there, you fellows!”</p> +<p>“Scatter, boys—it’s Ralph Fairbanks!”</p> +<p>It was two days after the landslide near Brocton. +The young fireman had just left the roundhouse +at Stanley Junction in a decidedly pleasant +mood. His cheering thoughts were, however, +rudely disturbed by a spectacle that at once appealed +to his manly nature.</p> +<p>Ralph, making a short cut for home, had come +across a farmer’s wagon standing in an alley at the +side of a cheap hotel. The place was a resort for +dissolute, good-for-nothing railway employes, +and one of its victims was now seated, or rather +propped up, on the seat of the wagon in question.</p> +<p>He was a big, loutish boy, and had apparently +come into town with a load to deliver. The +wagon was filled with bags of apples. Around +the vehicle was gathered a crowd of boys. Each +one of them had his pockets bulging with the +fruit stolen from one of the bags in the wagon. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>Standing near by, Jim Evans in their midst, +was an idle crowd of railroad men, enjoying and +commenting on the scene.</p> +<p>The farmer’s boy was seemingly asleep or unconscious. +He had been set up on the seat by the +mob, and one side of his face blackened up. Apples +stuck all over the harness of the horses and on +every available part of the vehicle. A big board +lying across the bags had chalked upon it, “Take +One.”</p> +<p>The crowd was just about to start this spectacle +through the public streets of Stanley Junction +when Ralph appeared. The young fireman +brushed them aside quickly, removed the adornments +from the horses and wagon, sprang to the +vehicle, threw the sign overboard, and, lifting up +the unconscious driver, placed him out of view +under the wagon seat. As he did so, Ralph +noticed the taint of liquor on the breath of the +country lad.</p> +<p>“Too bad,” he murmured to himself. “This +doesn’t look right—more like a piece of malice or +mischief. Stand back, there!”</p> +<p>Ralph took up the reins, and also seized the +whip. Many of the crowd he had known as school +chums, and most of them drew back shamefacedly +as he appeared.</p> +<p>There were four or five regular young loafers, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +however, who led the mob. Among them Ralph +recognized Ted Evans, a son of the fireman he +had encountered at the roundhouse two days +previous. With him was a fellow named Hemp +Gaston, an old associate of Mort Bemis.</p> +<p>“Hold on, there!” sang out Gaston, grabbing +the bridles of the horses. “What you spoiling +our fun for?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” added Ted Evans, springing to the +wagon step and seizing Ralph’s arm. “Get off +that wagon, or we’ll pull you off.”</p> +<p>Ralph swung the fellow free of the vehicle +with a vigorous push.</p> +<p>“See here, you interfere with my boy and I’ll +take a hand in this affair myself,” growled Jim +Evans, advancing from the crowd of men.</p> +<p>“You’ll whip me first, if you do,” answered one +of them. “This is a boys’ squabble, Jim Evans, +and don’t you forget it.”</p> +<p>“Humph! he struck my boy.”</p> +<p>“Then let them fight it out.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” shouted young Evans angrily, “come +down here and show that you are no coward.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Ralph promptly. “There’s +one for you!”</p> +<p>Ralph Fairbanks had acted in a flash on an +impulse. He had leaped from the wagon, dealt +young Evans one blow and sent him half-stunned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +to the ground. Regaining the wagon he drove +quickly into the street before his astonished +enemies could act any further.</p> +<p>“Poor fellow,” said Ralph, looking at the lad +in the wagon. “Now, what am I ever going to do +with him?”</p> +<p>Ralph reflected for a moment or two. Then +he started in the direction of home. He was +sleepy and tired out, and he realized that the +present episode might interfere with some of his +plans for the day, but he was a whole-hearted, +sympathetic boy and could not resist the promptings +of his generous nature.</p> +<p>The young fireman soon reached the pretty +little cottage that was his home, so recently rescued +from the sordid clutches of old Gasper Farrington. +He halted the team in front of the place +and entered the house at once.</p> +<p>“Here I am, mother,” he said cheerily.</p> +<p>Mrs. Fairbanks greeted him with a smile of +glad welcome.</p> +<p>“I was quite anxious about you when I heard +of the wreck, Ralph,” she said with solicitude. +He had not been home since that happening.</p> +<p>“It was not a wreck, mother,” corrected Ralph. +Then he briefly recited the incidents of the hold-up.</p> +<p>“It seems as though you were destined to meet +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +with all kinds of danger in your railroad life,” +said the widow. “You were delayed considerably.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ralph, “we had to remove the +landslide debris. That took us six hours and +threw us off our schedule, so we had to lay over +at Dover all day yesterday. One pleasant thing, +though.”</p> +<p>“What is that, Ralph?”</p> +<p>“The master mechanic congratulated me this +morning on what he called, ‘saving the train.’”</p> +<p>“Which you certainly did, Ralph. Why, whose +wagon is that in front of the house?” inquired +Mrs. Fairbanks, observing the vehicle outside for +the first time.</p> +<p>Ralph explained the circumstances of his rescue +of the vehicle to his mother.</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with the farmer’s +boy?” she inquired.</p> +<p>“I want to bring him in the house until he +recovers.”</p> +<p>“Very well, I will make up a bed on the lounge +for him,” said the woman. “It is too bad, poor +fellow! and shameful—the mischief of those men +at the hotel.”</p> +<p>Ralph carried the farmer’s boy into the house. +Then he ate his breakfast. After the meal was +finished, he glanced at his watch. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>“I shall have to lose a little sleep, mother,” he +said. “I am anxious to help the poor fellow out, +and I think I see a way to do it.”</p> +<p>The young fireman had noticed a small blank +book under the cushion of the wagon seat. He now +inspected it for the first time. All of its written +pages were crossed out except one. This contained +a list of names of storekeepers in Stanley +Junction.</p> +<p>Ralph drove to the store first named in the list. +Within two hours he had delivered all of the +apples. It seemed that the storekeepers named +in the account book ordered certain fruits and +vegetables regularly from the owner of the team, +the farmer himself coming to town to collect for +the same twice each month.</p> +<p>When Ralph got back home he unhitched the +horses, tied them up near the woodshed, and fed +them from a bag of grain he found under the +wagon seat.</p> +<p>“What is this, I wonder?” he said, discovering +a small flat parcel under the wagon seat. The +package resembled a store purchase of some kind, +so, for safe keeping, Ralph placed it inside the +shed.</p> +<p>His mother had gone to visit a sick neighbor. +The farmer boy was sleeping heavily.</p> +<p>“Wake me before the boy leaves,” he wrote on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +a card, leaving this for his mother on the kitchen +table. Then, pretty well tired out, Ralph went to +bed.</p> +<p>It was late in the afternoon when he awoke. +He went down stairs and glanced into the sitting +room.</p> +<p>“Why, mother,” he exclaimed, “where is the +farmer boy?”</p> +<p>“He left two hours ago, Ralph.”</p> +<p>“Is that so? Then why didn’t you wake me +up? I left a card for you on the kitchen table.”</p> +<p>“I did not find it,” said the widow, and then a +search revealed the card where the wind had +blown it under the stove.</p> +<p>“What did the boy say?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“He told me his name was Zeph Dallas. I +talked to him about his misfortunes of the morning, +and he broke down and cried. Then he went +out to the wagon. He found an account book +there, and said you must have delivered his load +for him, and that he would never forget your +kindness.”</p> +<p>“There was a package in the wagon,” said +Ralph.</p> +<p>“He spoke of that, and said some one must +have stolen it.”</p> +<p>“You are sure he didn’t find it later?” inquired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +Ralph. “It was in the woodshed, where I placed +it for safe keeping.”</p> +<p>Ralph went out to the shed, and found the +package where he had left it. He returned to the +house with it, ate a hurried meal, and hastened +down town. He learned that Zeph had called at +several stores. The farmer boy appeared to have +discovered Ralph’s interest in his behalf, and had +driven home.</p> +<p>“I wonder what there is in the package?” +mused Ralph, when he again reached the cottage. +“I had better open it and find out.”</p> +<p>The young fireman was quite startled as he untied +the parcel and glanced at its contents. The +package contained two bolts of silk, and the tags +on them bore the name of the firm which, Ralph +had learned at Dover, had shipped the goods +stolen from the slow freight two nights previous.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_AN_OLDTIME_ENEMY' id='CHAPTER_IV_AN_OLDTIME_ENEMY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>AN OLD-TIME ENEMY</h3> +</div> +<p>“New engine, lad?”</p> +<p>“Not at all, Mr. Griscom, as you well know,” +answered Ralph.</p> +<p>The veteran engineer chuckled, but he continued +looking over the locomotive with admiring +eyes.</p> +<p>The young fireman had come to work early +that afternoon. The roundhouse men were careless +and he decided to show them what “elbow +grease” and industry could do. In an hour he +had the old freight locomotive looking indeed like +a new engine.</p> +<p>They steamed out of the roundhouse and were +soon at the head of their freight train.</p> +<p>“I wish I had a little time to spare,” said +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Half-an-hour before we have to leave, you +know, lad,” said Griscom. “What’s troubling +you?”</p> +<p>“I wanted to see Bob Adair, the road detective.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span></p> +<p>“About the silk robbery?” inquired the engineer +with interest.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Something new?”</p> +<p>“Considerable, I think.”</p> +<p>“You might find him in the depot offices. Run +down and see. I’ll attend to things here.”</p> +<p>“Thanks, Mr. Griscom.”</p> +<p>Ralph hurried away from the freight train. +He wished to report about the discovery of the +silk, and hunt up Zeph Dallas at once.</p> +<p>“I hardly believe the farmer boy a thief,” +mused Ralph, “but he must explain his possession +of that silk.”</p> +<p>The young fireman did not find Adair at the +depot, and came back to the engine to discover +Jim Evans lounging in the cab.</p> +<p>“Been helping Griscom out,” grinned the man.</p> +<p>“Well, get out, now,” growled Griscom. “Time +to start up. There’s the signal from the conductor. +That man has been hanging around the +engine ever since you left,” the old engineer continued +to Ralph, “and he is too good-natured to +suit me.”</p> +<p>“Nothing out of order,” reported the youth, +looking about the cab.</p> +<p>“Now, lad, for a run on time,” said Griscom. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +“This run has been late a good deal, and I don’t +want to get a bad name. When I ran the Daylight +Express it was my pride and boast that we +were always on time to the minute.”</p> +<p>They made good time out of Stanley Junction +to Afton. Ten miles beyond, however, there was +a jolt, a slide and difficult progress on a bit of upgrade +rails.</p> +<p>So serious was the difficulty that Griscom +stopped the train and got out to investigate. He +returned to the cab with a set, grim face.</p> +<p>“Grease,” he reported; “some one has been +tampering with the rails. Spite work, too.”</p> +<p>There was fully an hour’s delay, but a liberal +application of sand to the rails helped them out. +Five miles later on the locomotive began to puff +and jerk. With full steam on, the engine did only +half duty.</p> +<p>“Water gauge all right,” said Ralph. “I don’t +understand it.”</p> +<p>“I do,” said Griscom, “and I can tell it in two +words—Jim Evans.”</p> +<p>“Why, what do you mean, Mr. Griscom?”</p> +<p>“He didn’t come into the cab for nothing. Yes, +we are victims of the old trick—soap in the water +and the valves are clogged.”</p> +<p>“What are we going to do about it?” inquired +Ralph anxiously. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span></p> +<p>“Pump out the water at the next tank and take +a new supply on.”</p> +<p>There was a further delay of nearly two hours. +Once more they started up. Ten miles from +Dover, a few seconds after Ralph had thrown in +coal, a terrible explosion threw the fire cover open +and singed and burned both engineer and fireman.</p> +<p>Griscom looked angry, for the fire now needed +mending.</p> +<p>“Lad,” he said grimly, “these tricks are done +to scare you and delay the train.”</p> +<p>“I am not scared one particle,” retorted Ralph, +“only this strikes me as a dangerous piece of mischief—putting +explosives in among the coal.”</p> +<p>“Jim Evans did it,” positively asserted Griscom. +“That’s what he sneaked into the cab for, and he +has confederates along the line.”</p> +<p>Ralph said nothing but he resolved to call +Evans to account when he returned to Stanley +Junction.</p> +<p>They were over an hour late on the run. Returning +to Stanley Junction, they were delayed by +a wreck and the time record was bad at both ends +of the line.</p> +<p>“I don’t like it,” said Griscom.</p> +<p>“We’ll mend it, Mr. Griscom,” declared the +young fireman, and he did not go home when they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +reached Stanley Junction, but proceeded at once +to the home of Jim Evans.</p> +<p>Ralph knocked at the open door, but no one +answered the summons and he stepped to the door +of the sitting room.</p> +<p>“Any one here?” he called out through the +house.</p> +<p>“Eh? oh—no,” answered a muffled voice, and +a man in the adjoining room got up quickly and +fairly ran out through the rear door.</p> +<p>“That’s queer,” commented Ralph. “That man +actually ran away from me.”</p> +<p>“Ma has gone after pa,” lisped a little urchin +in the kitchen. “Man wants to see him. What +for funny man run away?”</p> +<p>Ralph hurried past the infantile questioner and +after the object of his curiosity.</p> +<p>“Yes, the man did look funny, for a fact,” said +Ralph. “He was disguised. There he is. Hey, +there! whoever you are, a word with you.”</p> +<p>He was now in close pursuit of a scurrying +figure. The object of his curiosity turned to look +at him, stumbled, and went headlong into a ditch.</p> +<p>Ralph came to the spot. The man lay groaning +where he had fallen.</p> +<p>“Help me,” he muttered—“I’m nearly +stunned.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span></p> +<p>“Why!” exclaimed Ralph as he assisted the +man to his feet, “it is Gasper Farrington.”</p> +<p>It was the village magnate, disguised. He +stood regarding Ralph with savage eyes.</p> +<p>“I thought you had gone to Europe, Mr. Farrington,” +said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Did you? Well, I haven’t,” growled Farrington, +nursing a bruise on his face.</p> +<p>“Are you going to stay in Stanley Junction, +then?”</p> +<p>“None of your business.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, it is,” retorted Ralph quickly. “You +owe us thousands of dollars, and we want it.”</p> +<p>“You’ll collect by law, then. I’ll never give you +a cent willingly.”</p> +<p>Ralph regarded the man thoughtfully for a +minute or two.</p> +<p>“Mr. Farrington,” he said, “I have come to the +conclusion that you are trying to make me more +trouble. This man Evans is up to mischief, and +I believe that you have incited him to it.”</p> +<p>The magnate was silent, regarding Ralph with +menacing eyes.</p> +<p>“I warn you that it won’t pay, and that you +won’t succeed,” continued Ralph. “What do you +hope to accomplish by persecuting me?”</p> +<p>The old man glanced all about him. Then he +spoke out. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” he said, “I give you one last +chance—get out of Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>“Why should I?” demanded Ralph.</p> +<p>“Because you have humiliated me and we can’t +live in the same town together, that’s why.”</p> +<p>“You deserved humiliation,” responded Ralph +steadily.</p> +<p>“All right, take your own view of the case. I +will settle your claim for five thousand dollars +and pay you the money at once, if you will leave +Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>“We will not take one cent less than the full +twenty thousand dollars due us,” announced +Ralph staunchly, “and I shall not leave Stanley +Junction as long as my mother wants to live +here.”</p> +<p>“Then,” said Gasper Farrington, venomously, +as he walked from the spot, “look out for yourself.”</p> +<p>Ralph went back to the Evans home, but found +only the little child there. He concluded he +would not wait for Evans that evening. The +discovery of his old-time enemy, Farrington, had +been enlightening.</p> +<p>“I will have a talk with mother about this,” he +mused.</p> +<p>When Ralph reached home a surprise greeted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +him. The little parlor was lighted up, indicating +a visitor. He glanced in through the open windows.</p> +<p>The visitor was Zeph Dallas, the farmer boy.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V_ON_SPECIAL_DUTY' id='CHAPTER_V_ON_SPECIAL_DUTY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>ON SPECIAL DUTY</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph entered the house glad of an opportunity +to interview the farmer boy, who had been +in his thoughts considerably during the day.</p> +<p>“Mr. Dallas, this is my son, Ralph,” said Mrs. +Fairbanks, as the young fireman came into the +parlor.</p> +<p>The visitor arose from his chair in an awkward, +embarrassed fashion. He flushed and stammered +as he grasped Ralph’s extended hand.</p> +<p>“Brought you a sack of potatoes and some +apples,” he said. “Neighbor gave me a lift in his +wagon.”</p> +<p>“Is that so?” returned Ralph with a friendly +smile. “Well, Mr. Dallas, I am very glad to see +you.”</p> +<p>“Gladder than you were last time, I reckon,” +said Zeph. “Say, I—I want to say I am ashamed +of myself, and I want to thank you for all you +did for me. It’s made me your friend for life, +so I came to ask a favor of you.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>This was rather a queer way of putting the +case, thought Ralph, and the fellow blundered on.</p> +<p>“You see, Mr. Ames, that’s the man who hired +me, found out about my doings down here at +Stanley Junction, and he has set me adrift.”</p> +<p>“That is too bad,” observed Ralph.</p> +<p>“No, it ain’t, for I deserve better work,” dissented +Zeph. “They say you’re dreadfully smart +and everybody’s friend, and I want you to help +me get where I want to get.”</p> +<p>“All right, I am willing to try to assist you.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know exactly which I had better do,” +proceeded Zeph—“become a chief of police or a +railroad conductor. Of course, the man who +speaks quickest and will pay the most money gets +me.”</p> +<p>Ralph concealed a smile, for Zeph was entirely +in earnest.</p> +<p>“Well, you see,” remarked the young fireman, +“it is somewhat difficult to get just the position +you want without some experience.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” declared the farmer boy +confidently. “I’ve thought it all out. I once +watched a conductor go through a train. Why, +it’s no work at all. I could do it easily. And as +to being a detective I’ve read lots of books on the +subject, and I’ve even got some disguises I made +up, in my satchel here.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span></p> +<p>“Oh, brought your satchel, too, did you?” observed +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Why, yes, I thought maybe you’d house +me for a day or two till I closed a contract with +somebody.”</p> +<p>The fellow was so simple-minded that Mrs. +Fairbanks pitied him, and, observing this, Ralph +said:</p> +<p>“You are welcome, Zeph, and I will later talk +over with you the prospects of a situation.”</p> +<p>The visitor was soon completely at home. He +ate a hearty supper, and, after the meal, took some +home-made disguises from his satchel. The poor +fellow strutted around proudly as he put these +on in turn.</p> +<p>“Old peddler,” he announced, donning a skull +cap, a white beard made out of rope, and a big +pair of goggles. “Tramp,” and he put on a +ragged coat and a torn cap, and acted out the +appearance of a typical tramp quite naturally. +There were several other representations, but all +so crude and funny that Ralph with difficulty +restrained his merriment.</p> +<p>“How will it do?” inquired Zeph, at the conclusion +of the performance.</p> +<p>“You have got the elements of the profession +in mind,” said Ralph guardedly, “but there is the +practical end of the business to learn.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></p> +<p>Then Ralph seriously and earnestly told his +visitor the real facts of the case. He devoted a +full hour to correcting Zeph’s wrong impressions +of detective and railroad work. By the time +he got through, Zeph’s face was glum.</p> +<p>“Why, if what you say is true,” he remarked +dejectedly, “I’m next to being good for nothing.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” said Ralph, “don’t you be discouraged +at all. You have the starting point of every +ambition—an idea. I myself do not think much +of the detective line for one as young as you are. +As to railroading, I can tell you one fact.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” interrogated Zeph dreamily.</p> +<p>“You must begin at the bottom of the ladder +and take one step at a time—slow steps, sure +steps, to reach the top.”</p> +<p>“You’re a fireman, aren’t you?” asked Zeph, +admiringly.</p> +<p>Ralph answered that he was, and this led to his +relating to the curious and interested Zeph the +story of his career from roundhouse worker and +switch tower man to the present position.</p> +<p>“It’s fascinating, ain’t it?” said Zeph, with a +long-drawn breath, when Ralph concluded his recital. +“I reckon I’ll give up the detective idea. +Can you help me get a position in the roundhouse?”</p> +<p>“I am willing to try,” assented Ralph. “You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +are strong and used to hard work, and that means +a good deal in the roundhouse service.”</p> +<p>Ralph suggested a stroll before bedtime. Zeph +was glad for the exercise. Once they were outside, +Ralph broached a subject he had been thinking +over all the evening.</p> +<p>“Zeph,” he said, “I want to ask you a very +important question.”</p> +<p>“What is that?”</p> +<p>“You remember the day I kept your team for +you?”</p> +<p>“I’ll never forget it.”</p> +<p>“You missed a package that had been under the +feed bags when you came to leave town?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and that’s why I am here,” said Zeph. +“Old Ames was almost ready to discharge me for +letting those men at the hotel give me drink I had +never tasted before and getting in that fix you +found me in, and for losing some of the apples, +but when he found out that I had lost that package, +he was nearly wild.”</p> +<p>“Was there something so valuable in it, then?”</p> +<p>“I dunno. I only know I was told to be sure I +kept it hidden and safe till it was delivered to a +fellow named Evans in town here.”</p> +<p>“Jim Evans?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s the full name.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked pretty serious. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></p> +<p>“You see, old Ames himself didn’t send the +package,” went on Zeph. “It was brought to the +house by a fellow who had hired a team from +Ames one day last week. Dunno who he is, +dunno where he lives, but I can describe him, if +you are interested.”</p> +<p>“I am interested, very much so,” assented +Ralph.</p> +<p>Zeph went on to describe the person he had +alluded to. By the time he had concluded, it was +evident to Ralph that the sender of the package +was Ike Slump.</p> +<p>The young fireman took Zeph back to the house +but did not enter it himself.</p> +<p>“I will be back soon, Zeph,” he said, “I have +some business down town.”</p> +<p>Ralph went at once to the home of Bob Adair.</p> +<p>“Want to see me, Fairbanks?” questioned the +brisk, wide-awake railroad detective, as Ralph +was shown into the room where he was busily +engaged in packing a satchel.</p> +<p>“Yes, Mr. Adair, about the silk robbery.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that mystery,” nodded the detective. “I +spent two days on it, and didn’t find a clew.”</p> +<p>“I had one, but failed to find you,” explained +Ralph. “I’ll tell you all about it now.”</p> +<p>“Quick work, then, Fairbanks,” went on Adair, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +“for I’m due for a special to the city. Big case +from the General Superintendent.”</p> +<p>Ralph rapidly related all he had learned. Adair +listened intently. He reflected for a moment or +two after the young fireman had finished his recital. +Then he said:</p> +<p>“Fairbanks, this is of great importance, but I +can’t neglect the city case. You helped me on +another similar case once.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Also aided me in running down those switch +tower wreckers.”</p> +<p>Ralph nodded.</p> +<p>“Good work, and you did nobly in those affairs. +Let me think. Yes, I’ll do it! Here, I want you +to go straight to the Assistant Superintendent at +Afton.”</p> +<p>“You mean to-night?”</p> +<p>“Right away. I will give you a letter. No, +hold on, I’ve got a better plan.”</p> +<p>Again Adair consulted his watch. Bustlingly +he hurried through with his preparations for departure. +Then he left the house, swung down +the street briskly, and, Ralph accompanying him, +proceeded to the railroad depot.</p> +<p>He wrote out a long telegram and handed it to +the night operator. Then he came back to Ralph.</p> +<p>“See here, Fairbanks,” he remarked. “I’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +fixed this thing as I want it, and you are one of +the few persons I would trust in a matter like +this.”</p> +<p>“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Adair.”</p> +<p>“I know your ability from past experience. It +won’t do to neglect following this clew to the silk +robbers. I have wired the assistant superintendent +for an official request that you be detailed +on special duty in my department. Wait here for +the reply. Then start out on the trail of those +thieves, and report to me day after to-morrow, +when I shall return to Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said Ralph, “I may be able to accomplish +something.”</p> +<p>“I think you will, judging from your present +success in assisting me,” said Adair.</p> +<p>Ralph had to wait nearly an hour after Adair +had left on a special. Then a reply came to the +telegram. The operator, as instructed by Adair, +handed the message to Ralph. It read:</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“Fairbanks, freight fireman, detailed for special +work in another department.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“It’s all right,” said Ralph to himself, as he +started homewards. “Now to trace down Ike +Slump and the other train robbers.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI_ZEPH' id='CHAPTER_VI_ZEPH'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>ZEPH</h3> +</div> +<p>The young fireman reported at the roundhouse +early in the morning, showing the telegram to Jim +Forgan, but not until the foreman had got out of +sight and hearing of the other men in the place.</p> +<p>“H’m!” commented Forgan laconically, “I +don’t like this.”</p> +<p>“Indeed, Mr. Forgan?” smiled Ralph.</p> +<p>“I don’t, and that’s the truth of it—for two +reasons.”</p> +<p>“What are they, Mr. Forgan?”</p> +<p>“First, it interrupts a regular run for you.”</p> +<p>“But I may not be away two days.”</p> +<p>“Next, it gives that Jim Evans a chance to take +your place, and I don’t trust the man.”</p> +<p>“Neither do I,” said Ralph pointedly, “and I +may have something important to tell you about +him when I return.”</p> +<p>Ralph found Zeph industriously chopping +kindling wood when he got back home again. The +young fireman went into the house, explained his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +new employment to his mother, and then called to +Zeph.</p> +<p>“You wanted some work, Zeph,” he said to the +farmer boy.</p> +<p>“Sure, I do,” cried Zeph with unction.</p> +<p>“Very well, I think I am authorized to offer +you a dollar a day.”</p> +<p>“Steady job?” inquired Zeph eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, it may not last, but it is in the railroad +service, and may lead to your further employment.”</p> +<p>“Good,” commented Zeph. “What do they +want me to do—engineer?”</p> +<p>“Scarcely, Zeph,” said Ralph, smiling. “I +simply want you to take me back to the Ames +farm and direct me about the locality.”</p> +<p>Zeph looked disappointed.</p> +<p>“Why, what’s that kind of work got to do with +railroading?” he said.</p> +<p>“You shall know later.”</p> +<p>“All right. You’re too smart to make any mistakes +and too friendly to do anything but good +for me, so I’m your man.”</p> +<p>“Very well. First, then, tell me the location of +the Ames farm.”</p> +<p>Zeph did this, and Ralph ascertained that it +was about five miles west of Brocton.</p> +<p>Ralph secured some money, and in an hour he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +and Zeph stepped aboard the cab of a locomotive +attached to a load of empties due to run down the +line in a few minutes.</p> +<p>They reached Brocton about noon. Ralph proceeded +down the tracks towards the railroad cut +which had been the scene of the landslide.</p> +<p>He turned off at the wagon road and soon, with +his companion, was started westward in the direction +of the Ames farm.</p> +<p>“Zeph,” he said, “did you hear anything of a +train robbery here the other night?”</p> +<p>No, Zeph had not heard of it. Then Ralph +questioned him closely as to the night Ames had +loaned his wagon to strangers and gained a few +more particulars relating to the silk robbers.</p> +<p>“There is the Ames farm,” reported Zeph at +last.</p> +<p>Ralph had already planned out what he would +do, and proceeded to instruct his assistant as to +his share in the affair.</p> +<p>“Zeph,” he said, “I do not wish to be seen by +Ames, nor must he know that you came here with +a stranger.”</p> +<p>“Am I to see him?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ralph, taking a package from +under his coat.</p> +<p>“Why, that’s the package I lost!” cried Zeph.</p> +<p>“The same.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span></p> +<p>“And you had it all the time?”</p> +<p>“I did, Zeph, yes. No mystery about it—I +simply don’t care to explain to you anything about +it till a little later on.”</p> +<p>“All right.”</p> +<p>“I want you to take it and go up to the farmhouse. +I will keep out of sight. You go to Ames +and tell him it was returned to you, and you want +to give it back to the person it belongs to with a +message.”</p> +<p>“Whose message?”</p> +<p>“Nobody’s,” answered Ralph, “but you need +not say that.”</p> +<p>“What shall I say, then?”</p> +<p>“Tell him you want to advise the person who +sent the parcel that it isn’t safe to send such goods +to any one at the present time.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Zeph. “Suppose Ames tells +me where to find the fellow who sent the package?”</p> +<p>“Come back and report to me.”</p> +<p>Zeph started for the farmhouse. Ralph +watched him enter it, the package in his hand. He +came out in a very few minutes without the +parcel.</p> +<p>He was rather glum-faced when he rejoined +Ralph. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span></p> +<p>“Say,” he observed, “I’ve found out nothing, +and old Ames took the package away from me.”</p> +<p>“What did he say?” asked the young fireman.</p> +<p>“He told me he would see that it was returned +to the person who sent it.”</p> +<p>“That delays matters,” thought Ralph, “and I +don’t know whether Ames will take it back to the +silk thieves, or wait for some of them to visit +him.”</p> +<p>Then the young fireman formed a sudden resolution. +He regarded his companion thoughtfully, +and said:</p> +<p>“Zeph, I am going to trust you with what is +known as an official secret in the railroad line.”</p> +<p>The farmer boy looked pleased and interested.</p> +<p>“I believe you are too square and friendly to +betray that secret.”</p> +<p>“Try me, and see!” cried Zeph with ardor.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Ralph, “there was a silk robbery +of the Dover night freight last week, the train I +am fireman on. From what you have told me, I +feel sure that the thieves hired their rig from +Ames. That package you had was part of the +stolen plunder. I am acting for the road detective +of the Great Northern, and I must locate those +robbers.”</p> +<p>“Then,” cried Zeph delightedly, “I am helping +you do detective work.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span></p> +<p>“Yes, Zeph, genuine detective work.”</p> +<p>“Oh! how I wish I had my disguises here!”</p> +<p>“You are of more use to me as you are, because +the thieves know you worked for Ames, and they +seem to trust him.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” said Zeph thoughtfully. “What +you going to do?”</p> +<p>“I want to locate the thieves,” responded Ralph. +“You must know the district about here pretty +well. Can’t you think of any spot where they +would be likely to hide?”</p> +<p>“None in particular. But I know every foot of +the woods, swamps and creek. If the men you +are looking for are anywhere in the neighborhood, +I am sure we will find a trace of them.”</p> +<p>“You pilot the way, then, Zeph. Go with +caution if you find any traces of the men, for I +am sure that at least two of the party know me.”</p> +<p>For three hours they made a tour of the district, +taking in nearly four miles to the south. +The swamp lands they could not traverse. Finally +they came out of the woods almost directly on a +town.</p> +<p>“Why,” said Ralph in some surprise, “here is +Millville, the next station to Brocton.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” nodded Zeph. “I hardly think +those fellows are in the woods. We have made a +pretty thorough search.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></p> +<p>“There’s the swamp and the high cliffs we +haven’t visited,” said Ralph. “I suppose you are +hungry?”</p> +<p>“Moderately,” answered Zeph.</p> +<p>“Then we will go and have something to eat. +I have a friend just on the edge of Millville, who +keeps a very unique restaurant.”</p> +<p>Ralph smiled pleasantly, for the restaurant in +question was quite a feature with railroad men.</p> +<p>Two lines of railroad crossed at Millville, a +great deal of switching was done outside of the +town, and there was a shanty there to shelter the +men.</p> +<p>A little off from the junction was a very queer-looking +house, if it could be called such. Its main +structure was an old freight car, to which there +had been additions made from time to time. +Across its front was a sign reading, “Limpy Joe’s +Railroad Restaurant.”</p> +<p>“Ever taken a meal here?” inquired Ralph, as +they approached the place.</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“Ever heard of Limpy Joe?”</p> +<p>“Don’t think I have.”</p> +<p>“Then,” said Ralph, “I am going to introduce +you to the most interesting boy you ever met.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII_LIMPY_JOES_RAILROAD_RESTAURANT' id='CHAPTER_VII_LIMPY_JOES_RAILROAD_RESTAURANT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>LIMPY JOE’S RAILROAD RESTAURANT</h3> +</div> +<p>Zeph Dallas stared about him in profound +bewilderment and interest as Ralph led the way +towards Limpy Joe’s Railroad Restaurant.</p> +<p>It was certainly an odd-appearing place. Additions +had been built onto the freight car until +the same were longer than the original structure.</p> +<p>A square of about two hundred feet was enclosed +by a barbed wire fence, and this space was +quite as interesting as the restaurant building.</p> +<p>There was a rude shack, which seemed to +answer for a barn, a haystack beside it, and a +well-appearing vegetable garden. Then, in one +corner of the yard, was a heap of old lumber, +stone, brick, doors, window sash, in fact, it looked +as if some one had been gathering all the unmated +parts of various houses he could find.</p> +<p>The restaurant was neatly painted a regular, +dark-red freight-car color outside. Into it many +windows had been cut, and a glance through the +open doorway showed an interior scrupulously +neat and clean. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>“Tell me about it,” said Zeph. “Limpy Joe—who +is he? Does he run the place alone?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ralph. “He is an orphan, and +was hurt by the cars a few years ago. The railroad +settled with him for two hundred dollars, an +old freight car and a free pass for life over the +road, including, Limpy Joe stipulated, locomotives +and cabooses.”</p> +<p>“Wish I had that,” said Zeph—“I’d be riding +all the time.”</p> +<p>“You would soon get tired of it,” Ralph asserted. +“Well, Joe invested part of his money in +a horse and wagon, located in that old freight car, +which the company moved here for him from a +wreck in the creek, and became a squatter on that +little patch of ground. Then the restaurant idea +came along, and the railroad hands encouraged +him. Before that, however, Joe had driven all +over the country, picking up old lumber and the +like, and the result is the place as you see it.”</p> +<p>“Well, he must be an ambitious, industrious +fellow.”</p> +<p>“He is,” affirmed Ralph, “and everybody likes +him. He’s ready at any time of the night to get +up and give a tired-out railroad hand a hot cup +of coffee or a lunch. His meals are famous, too, +for he is a fine cook.”</p> +<p>“Hello, Ralph Fairbanks,” piped a happy little +voice as Ralph and Zeph entered the restaurant. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span></p> +<p>Ralph shook hands with the speaker, a boy +hobbling about the place on a crutch.</p> +<p>“What’s it going to be?” asked Limpy Joe, +“full dinner or a lunch?”</p> +<p>“Both, best you’ve got,” smiled Ralph. “The +railroad is paying for this.”</p> +<p>“That so? Then we’ll reduce the rates. Railroad +has been too good to me to overcharge the +company.”</p> +<p>“This is my friend, Zeph Dallas,” introduced +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Glad to know you,” said Joe. “Sit down at +the counter, fellows, and I’ll soon have you +served.”</p> +<p>“Well, well,” said Zeph, staring around the +place one way, then the other, and then repeating +the performance. “This strikes me.”</p> +<p>“Interesting to you, is it?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“It’s wonderful. Fixed this up all alone out of +odds and ends? I tell you, I’d like to be a partner +in a business like this.”</p> +<p>“Want a partner here, Joe?” called out Ralph +to his friend in a jocular way.</p> +<p>“I want a helper,” answered the cripple, busy +among the shining cooking ware on a kitchen +stove at one end of the restaurant.</p> +<p>“Mean that?” asked Zeph.</p> +<p>“I do. I have some new plans I want to carry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +out, and I need some one to attend to the place +half of the time.”</p> +<p>Again Zeph glanced all about the place.</p> +<p>“Say, it fascinates me,” he observed to Ralph. +“Upon my word, I believe I’ll come to work here +when I get through with this work for you.”</p> +<p>“Tell you what,” said Limpy Joe with a shrewd +glance at Zeph, as he placed the smoking dishes +before his customers. “I’ll make it worth the +while of an honest, active fellow to come in here +with me. I have some grand ideas.”</p> +<p>“You had some good ones when you fitted up +the place,” declared Zeph.</p> +<p>“You think it over. I like your looks,” continued +Joe. “I’m in earnest, and I might make it +a partnership after a while.”</p> +<p>The boys ate a hearty meal, and the young fireman +paid for it.</p> +<p>“Business good, Joe?” he inquired, as they were +about to leave.</p> +<p>“Famous. I’ve got some new customers, too. +Don’t know who they are.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?”</p> +<p>“I don’t, for a fact.”</p> +<p>“That sounds puzzling,” observed Ralph.</p> +<p>“Well, it’s considerable of a puzzle to me—all +except the double pay I get,” responded Joe. “For +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +nearly a week I’ve had a funny order. One dark +night some one pushed up a window here and +threw in a card. It contained instructions and a +ten-dollar bill.”</p> +<p>“That’s pretty mysterious,” said the interested +Zeph.</p> +<p>“The card told me that if I wanted to continue +a good trade, I would say nothing about it, but +every night at dark drive to a certain point in the +timber yonder with a basket containing a good +solid day’s feed for half-a-dozen men.”</p> +<p>“Well, well,” murmured Zeph, while Ralph +gave quite a start, but remained silent, though +strictly attentive.</p> +<p>“Well, I have acted on orders given, and +haven’t said a word about it to anybody but you, +Ralph. The reason I tell you is, because I think +you are interested in some of the persons who +are buying meals from me in this strange way. +It’s all right for me to speak out before your +friend here?”</p> +<p>“Oh, certainly,” assented Ralph.</p> +<p>“Well, Ike Slump is one of the party in the +woods, and Mort Bemis is another.”</p> +<p>“I guessed that the moment you began your +story,” said Ralph, “and I am looking for those +very persons.”</p> +<p>“I thought you would be interested. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +are wanted for that attempted treasure-train robbery, +aren’t they?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and for a more recent occurrence,” +answered Ralph—“the looting of the Dover +freight the other night.”</p> +<p>“I never thought of that, though I should have +done so,” said Joe. “The way I know that Slump +and Bemis are in the woods yonder, is that one +night I had a breakdown, and was delayed a little, +and saw them come for the food basket where I +had left it.”</p> +<p>Ralph’s mind was soon made up. He told Joe +all about their plans.</p> +<p>“You’ve got to help us out, Joe,” he added.</p> +<p>“You mean take you up into the woods in the +wagon to-night?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Say,” said Joe, his shrewd eyes sparkling with +excitement, “I’ll do it in fine style. Ask no questions. +I’ve got a plan. I’ll have another breakdown, +not a sham one, this time. I’ll have you +two well covered up in the wagon box, and you +can lie there until some one comes after the +basket.”</p> +<p>“Good,” approved Ralph, “you are a genuine +friend, Joe.”</p> +<p>Ralph and Zeph had to wait around the restaurant +all the afternoon. There was only an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +occasional customer, and Joe had plenty of time +to spare. He took a rare delight in showing his +friends his treasures, as he called them.</p> +<p>About dusk Joe got the food supply ready for +the party in the woods. He hitched up the horse +to a wagon, arranged some blankets and hay in +the bottom of the vehicle, so that his friends could +hide themselves, and soon all was ready for the +drive into the timber.</p> +<p>Ralph managed to look out as they proceeded +into the woods. The wagon was driven about a +mile. Then Joe got out and set the basket under +a tree.</p> +<p>A little distance from it he got out again, took +off a wheel, left it lying on the ground, unhitched +the horse, and rode away on the back of the +animal. The vehicle, to a casual observer, would +suggest the appearance of a genuine breakdown.</p> +<p>“Now, Zeph,” said Ralph as both arranged +their coverings so they could view tree and basket +clearly, “no rash moves.”</p> +<p>“If anybody comes, what then?” inquired the +farmer boy.</p> +<p>“We shall follow them, but with great caution. +Keep close to me, so that I can give you special +instructions, if it becomes necessary.”</p> +<p>“Good,” said Zeph. “That will be soon, for +there they are!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></p> +<p>Two figures had appeared at the tree. One took +up the basket, the other glanced around stealthily. +Ralph recognized both of them, even in the dim +twilight, at some distance away. One was Ike +Slump, the other his old-time crony and accomplice, +Mort Bemis.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_HIDDEN_PLUNDER' id='CHAPTER_VIII_THE_HIDDEN_PLUNDER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE HIDDEN PLUNDER</h3> +</div> +<p>“That’s the fellow who brought the package +of silk to old Ames,” whispered Zeph, staring +hard from under covert at Slump.</p> +<p>“Yes, I recognize him,” responded Ralph in +quite as guarded a tone. “Quiet, now, Zeph.”</p> +<p>Ike Slump and Mort Bemis continued to linger +at the tree. They were looking at the wagon and +beyond it.</p> +<p>“Say,” spoke the former to his companion, +“what’s wrong?”</p> +<p>“How wrong?” inquired Mort.</p> +<p>“Why, some way our plans appear to have +slipped a cog. There’s the wagon broken down +and the boy has gone with the horse. Two of our +men were to stop him, you know, and keep him +here while we used the wagon.”</p> +<p>“Maybe they’re behind time. What’s the matter +with our holding the boy till they come?”</p> +<p>“The very thing,” responded Ike, and, leaving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +the basket where it was, he and Mort ran after +Limpy Joe and the horse.</p> +<p>“Get out of here, quick,” ordered Ralph to +Zeph. “If we don’t, we shall probably be carried +into the camp of the enemy.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t that just exactly the place that you +want to reach?” inquired the farmer boy coolly.</p> +<p>“Not in this way. Out with you, and into the +bushes. Don’t delay, Zeph, drop flat, some one +else is coming.”</p> +<p>It was a wonder they were not discovered, for +almost immediately two men came running towards +the spot. They were doubtless the persons +Ike Slump had referred to, for they gave a series +of signal whistles, responded to by their youthful +accomplices, who, a minute later, came into view +leading the horse of which Limpy Joe was astride.</p> +<p>“We were late,” panted one of the men.</p> +<p>“Should think you were,” retorted Ike Slump. +“This boy nearly got away. Say, if you wasn’t +a cripple,” he continued to the young restaurant +keeper, “I’d give you something for whacking me +with that crutch of yours.”</p> +<p>“I’d whack you again, if it would do any good,” +said the plucky fellow. “You’re a nice crowd, +you are, bothering me this way after I’ve probably +saved you from starvation the last week.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, sonny,” drawled out one of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +the men. “We paid you for what you’ve done for +us, and we will pay you still better for simply +coming to our camp and staying there a prisoner, +until we use that rig of yours for a few hours.”</p> +<p>“If you wanted to borrow the rig, why didn’t +you do so in a decent fashion?” demanded Joe +indignantly.</p> +<p>“You keep quiet, now,” advised the man who +carried on the conversation. “We know our business. +Here, Slump, you and Mort help get this +wheel on the wagon and hitch up the horse.”</p> +<p>They forced Joe into the wagon bottom and +proceeded to get ready for a drive into the woods.</p> +<p>“Bet Joe is wondering how we came to get out +of that wagon,” observed Zeph to Ralph.</p> +<p>“Don’t talk,” said Ralph. “Now, when they +start away, I will follow, you remain here.”</p> +<p>“Right here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, so that I may find you when I come back, +and so that you can follow the wagon when it +comes out of the woods again if I am not on +hand.”</p> +<p>“You think they are going to move some of +their plunder in the wagon?”</p> +<p>“Exactly,” replied the young fireman.</p> +<p>“Well, so do I. They won’t get far with it, +though, if I am after them,” boasted Zeph. +“Wish I had a detective star and some weapons.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span></p> +<p>“The safest way to do is to follow them until +they get near a town or settlement, and then go +for assistance and arrest them,” advised Ralph. +“Now, then, Zeph, make no false moves.”</p> +<p>“No, I will follow your orders strictly,” +pledged the farmer boy.</p> +<p>The basket was lifted into the wagon by Ike, +who, with Mort, led the horse through the intricate +timber and brushwood. Progress was +difficult and they proceeded slowly. As soon as +it was safe to do so, Ralph left Zeph. The two +men had taken up the trail of the wagon, guarding +its rear so that Joe could not escape.</p> +<p>Ralph kept sight of them for half-an-hour and +was led deeper and deeper into the woods. These +lined the railroad cut, and he wondered that the +gang of robbers had dared to camp so near to the +recent scene of their thieving operations.</p> +<p>At last the young fireman was following only +two men, for he could no longer see the wagon.</p> +<p>“Perhaps they have left Ike and Bemis to go +ahead with the wagon and they are reaching the +camp by a short cut,” reflected Ralph. “Why, +no,” he suddenly exclaimed, as the men turned +aside to take a new path. “These are not the +same men at all who were with the wagon. I am +off the trail, I am following some one else.”</p> +<p>Ralph made this discovery with some surprise. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +Certainly he had got mixed up in cautiously trailing +the enemy at a distance. He wondered if the +two men he was now following belonged to Ike +Slump’s crowd.</p> +<p>“I must assume they do,” ruminated Ralph, “at +least for the present. They are bound for some +point in the woods, of course, and I shall soon +know their destination.”</p> +<p>The two men proceeded for over a mile. They +commenced an ascent where the cliffs lining the +railroad cut began. The place was thick with +underbrush and quite rocky in places, wild and +desolate in the extreme, and the path they pursued +so tortuous and winding that Ralph at length lost +sight of them.</p> +<p>“Where have they disappeared to?” he asked +himself, bending his ear, keeping a sharp lookout, +and with difficulty penetrating the worst jungle +of bushes and stunted trees he had yet encountered. +“I hear voices.”</p> +<p>These guided Ralph, and he followed their indication. +At last he came to a halt near an open +space, where the men he was following had +stopped.</p> +<p>“Here we are, Ames,” were the first distinct +words that Ralph heard spoken.</p> +<p>“Why, one of these men must be the farmer +that Zeph worked for,” decided Ralph. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>“All right, you’re safe enough up here. Got +the plunder here, have you?” was asked.</p> +<p>“Yes. I will show you the exact spot, and you +come here after we have got the bulk of the stuff +to a new hiding place, take it as you can, dispose +of it, and keep us in ready money until we feel +safe to ship our goods to some distant city and +realize on them.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do just that,” was replied. “What are +you leaving here for?”</p> +<p>“Adair, the road detective, is after us, we +understand, and this is too dangerously near the +railroad.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” replied the person Ralph supposed +to be Ames. “All right, I’ll not miss on my end +of the case. Only, don’t send any more packages +of the silk to friends. The one Slump sent might +have got you into trouble.”</p> +<p>“I never knew he did it at the time,” was responded. +“I raised a big row when I found out. +You see, Evans, the man he sent it to, is in with +us in a way, and is a particular friend of Ike +Slump, but it was a big risk to send him goods +that might be traced right back to us. Safe hiding +place, eh?”</p> +<p>The speaker had proceeded to some bushes +guarding the entrance to a cave-like depression in +the dirt, gravel and rocks. He re-appeared with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +some packages for his companion. Then both +went away from the spot.</p> +<p>“Why,” said Ralph, with considerable satisfaction, +“this is the hiding place of the plunder. I +am in possession, and what am I going to do +about it?”</p> +<p>The discovery had come about so easily that +the young fireman could scarcely plan out a next +intelligent move all in a moment.</p> +<p>“Ames is an accomplice of the thieves,” he +decided, “who are going to use Joe’s wagon to +remove the bulk of this plunder. They will soon +be here. What had I better do—what can I do?”</p> +<p>Ralph went in among the bushes as the men +had done. He took a glance at a great heap of +packages lying in a depression in the rocks. Then +he advanced a few steps towards the edge of the +cliff.</p> +<p>Ralph looked down fully two hundred feet into +the railroad cut. This was almost the spot where +the landslide had stopped the Dover night freight. +The main tracks were clear now, but on a gravel +pit siding were several cars.</p> +<p>“Why,” exclaimed Ralph suddenly, “if I only +have the time to do it in, I have got the whole +affair right in my own hands.”</p> +<p>A plan to deprive the railroad thieves of their +booty had come into the mind of the young fireman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +Ralph filled his arms with the packages of +silk, advanced to the edge of the cliff, threw them +over, and continued his operation until he had removed +the last parcel from its hiding place.</p> +<p>“Something more to do yet,” he told himself, +when this task was completed. “When the thieves +discover that their plunder is gone, they may +surmise that it disappeared this way. Can I make +a safe descent?”</p> +<p>Ralph had a hard time getting down into the +railroad cut. Once there, he hastily threw the silk +packages into a half-filled gravel car, with a +shovel covered them all over with sand and +gravel, and then started on a run for Brocton.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX_A_SUSPICIOUS_PROCEEDING' id='CHAPTER_IX_A_SUSPICIOUS_PROCEEDING'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>A SUSPICIOUS PROCEEDING</h3> +</div> +<p>“Mr. Griscom, this is life!”</p> +<p>Ralph Fairbanks spoke with all the ardor of a +lively, ambitious boy in love with the work in +hand. He sat in the cab of the locomotive that +drew the Limited Mail, and he almost felt as if +he owned the splendid engine, the finest in the +service of the Great Northern.</p> +<p>Two weeks had passed by since the young fireman +had baffled the railroad thieves. Ralph had +made brief work of his special duty for Adair, the +road detective, and there had come to him a reward +for doing his duty that was beyond his fondest +expectations. This was a promotion that most +beginners in his line would not have earned in any +such brief space of time. The recovery of the +stolen silk, however, had made Bob Adair a better +friend than ever. The road detective had influence, +and Ralph was promoted to the proud position +of fireman of the Limited Mail.</p> +<p>This was his first trip in the passenger service, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +and naturally Ralph was anxious and excited. +Griscom had been made engineer, his eyes having +mended, and Ralph was very glad that the veteran +railroader would continue as his partner.</p> +<p>Regarding the silk robbery, that was now ancient +history, but for several days the occurrence +had been one of interest all along the line. Adair +had made public the circumstances of the case, +and Ralph became quite a hero.</p> +<p>The night he had managed to get the plunder +into the gravel car he had instantly secured assistance +at Brocton. The valuable goods were +guarded all night, and a party of men made a +search for the thieves, but they had taken the +alarm and had escaped.</p> +<p>Zeph Dallas had gone back to Millville with +Limpy Joe, and went to work there. A further +search was made for Ike Slump, Mort Bemis and +their accomplices, but they could not be found. +Jim Evans had been discharged from the railroad +service. Nothing more was heard of Gasper Farrington, +and it seemed to Ralph as if at last his +enemies had been fully routed and there was nothing +but a clear track ahead.</p> +<p>“It feels as if I was beginning life all over +again,” Ralph had told his mother that morning. +“Fireman of the Limited Mail—just think of it, +mother! one of the best positions on the road.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span></p> +<p>Ralph decided that the position demanded very +honorable treatment, and he looked neat and quite +dressed up, even in his working clothes, as he +now sat in the engine cab.</p> +<p>Griscom proceeded to give him lots of suggestions +and information regarding his new duties.</p> +<p>There had been a change in the old time +schedule of the Limited Mail. Originally it had +started from the city terminus in the early morning. +Now the run was reversed, and the train +left Stanley Junction at 10:15 A.M.</p> +<p>Ralph proceeded to get everything in order for +the prospective run, but everything was so handy, +it was a pleasure to contemplate his duties.</p> +<p>Just before train time a boy came running up +to the engine. He was an old schoolmate and a +neighbor.</p> +<p>“Ralph! Ralph!” he called breathlessly to the +young fireman. “Your mother sent me with a +letter that she got at the post-office.”</p> +<p>“For me? Thank you, Ned,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>He glanced at the address. The handwriting +was unfamiliar. There was no time left to inspect +the enclosure, so Ralph slipped the letter in his +pocket and proceeded to attend to the fire.</p> +<p>He quite forgot the letter after that, finding +the duties of a first-class fireman to be extremely +arduous. There was plenty of coal to shovel, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +he was pretty well tired out when they reached +the city terminus.</p> +<p>“There, lad,” said Griscom proudly, as they +steamed into the depot on time to a second. “This +makes me feel like old times once more.”</p> +<p>There was a wait of four hours in the city, +during which period the train hands were at liberty +to spend their time as they chose. Griscom +took Ralph to a neat little hotel, where they had +a meal and the privileges of a reading room. It +was there that Ralph suddenly remembered the +letter sent to him that morning by his mother.</p> +<p>As he opened it he was somewhat puzzled, for +the signature was strange to him. The missive +stated that the writer “was acting for a former +resident of Stanley Junction who wished to settle +up certain obligations, if a satisfactory arrangement +could be made.” Further the writer, as +agent of the party in question, would meet Ralph +at a certain hotel at a certain time and impart to +him his instructions.</p> +<p>The young fireman was about to consult Griscom +as to this mysterious missive, but found the +old engineer engaged in conversation with some +fellow railroaders, and, leaving the place, he proceeded +to the hotel named in the letter.</p> +<p>He was an hour ahead of the time appointed in +the communication and waited patiently for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +developments, thinking a good deal and wondering +what would come of the affair.</p> +<p>Finally a man came into the place, acting as if +he was looking for somebody. He was an under-sized +person with a mean and crafty face. He +glanced at Ralph, hesitated somewhat, and then +advanced towards him.</p> +<p>“Is your name Fairbanks?” he questioned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ralph promptly.</p> +<p>“Wrote you a letter.”</p> +<p>“I received one, yes,” said Ralph. “May I ask +its meaning?”</p> +<p>“Well, there is nothing gained by beating about +the bush. I represent, as an attorney, Mr. Gasper +Farrington.”</p> +<p>“I thought that when I read your letter,” said +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Then we understand each other,” pursued the +attorney. “Now then, see here, Farrington wants +to do the square thing by you.”</p> +<p>“He ought to,” answered Ralph. “He owes +us twenty thousand dollars and he has got to pay +it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, you can undoubtedly collect it in +time,” admitted the man.</p> +<p>“But why all this mystery?” asked Ralph +abruptly. “In an important matter like this, it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +appears to me some regular attorney might consult +our attorneys at Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>“Farrington won’t do that. He don’t feel the +kindest in the world towards your people. Here +is his simple proposition: This affair is to be +settled up quietly between the parties directly interested. +I am to give you certain papers for +your mother to sign. You get them attended to. +You will be later advised where and when to deliver +them and get your money.”</p> +<p>“Twenty thousand dollars?” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>Ralph did not like the looks of things, but he +kept his own counsel, and simply said:</p> +<p>“Very well, give me the documents you speak +of and I will act upon them as my mother decides.”</p> +<p>“And keep the business strictly to yourselves.”</p> +<p>This looked reasonable to Ralph. He knew +that Farrington felt deeply the disgrace already +attached to his name for past misdeeds of which +he had been guilty.</p> +<p>“We have no desire to humiliate Mr. Farrington +any further,” he said. “We simply insist upon +our rights. This strikes me as a mysterious and +uncalled-for method of settling up a claim purely +business-like in its character.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span></p> +<p>“That is the way of old Farrington, you know,” +suggested the man, with a coarse laugh.</p> +<p>“Yes, he seems to be given to dark ways,” said +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Then it is all arranged?” questioned the “lawyer” +eagerly.</p> +<p>“So far as it can be arranged for the time being.”</p> +<p>“Very well, you shall hear from us in a few +days.”</p> +<p>Ralph left the hotel with one fixed conviction +in his mind—that old Gasper Farrington was up +to some new scheme and that it would be wise to +look out for him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_X_THE_SPECIAL' id='CHAPTER_X_THE_SPECIAL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>THE SPECIAL</h3> +</div> +<p>Within a week the young fireman of the +Limited Mail was in full swing as a trusted and +valued employe of the Great Northern. Engineer +Griscom had got the time schedule down to a +system of which he was proud. They made successful +runs without a break or accident, and +Ralph loved the life for its variety, experience +and promise of sure promotion.</p> +<p>The documents given to him for his mother by +the agent of Gasper Farrington in the city were +apparently all regular and business-like. They +covered receipt for twenty thousand dollars, designating +certain numbered bonds indicated, but one +phrase which exonerated the village magnate +from blame or crooked dealing in the affair Ralph +did not at all like. He believed that there was +some specious scheme under this matter and he +awaited developments.</p> +<p>One blustering night he and Griscom had just +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +run the engine into the roundhouse, when Tim +Forgan, the foreman, came hastening towards +them, a paper fluttering in his hand and accompanied +by a young fellow about twenty years of +age. The latter was handsome and manly-looking, +very well dressed, and Ralph liked him on sight.</p> +<p>“The very men,” spoke Forgan, showing an +unusual excitement of manner. “Griscom, Fairbanks, +let me introduce you to Mr. Trevor.”</p> +<p>Engineer and fireman bowed, but the young +man insisted on shaking hands cordially with his +new acquaintances.</p> +<p>“Glad to meet you, gentlemen,” he said briskly. +“I have heard nothing but regrets as to your absence +and praises for your ability in the railroad +line from Forgan here. Tell your story, Mr. Forgan. +You know time is money to me, just at +present,” and the speaker consulted an elegant +timepiece in a hurried, anxious way.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s just this,” said Forgan. “Mr. +Trevor, who is a nephew of the president of the +road, came to me with a telegram directing us to +send him through to the city on the quickest time +on record.”</p> +<p>“A special, eh?” said Griscom, eyeing the +young man speculatively.</p> +<p>“About that, only there is no time to waste in +making up a train, and he inclines to riding on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +the locomotive. The train dispatcher will give +clear tracks to terminus. We were just picking +out an engine when you arrived. How is it, +Griscom?”</p> +<p>“You mean, will we undertake the job?” inquired +the veteran engineer in his practical, +matter-of-fact way.</p> +<p>“Exactly,” nodded Trevor eagerly.</p> +<p>“After a hard double run?” insinuated +Griscom.</p> +<p>“That’s so; it isn’t right to ask them, Forgan. +Give me some other engine.”</p> +<p>“Won’t you wait till I answer?” demanded +Griscom. “Yes, we will, and glad to show you +the courtesy. Is that right, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” replied Ralph. “Is it a matter of +a great deal of urgency, Mr. Trevor?”</p> +<p>“Particularly so. I have come five hundred +miles on other roads on specials. I must connect +with a train in the city at a certain time, or I miss +Europe and important business.”</p> +<p>Old Griscom took out his greasy, well-worn +train schedule. He looked it over and pointing +to the regular time made, said:</p> +<p>“We can discount that exactly seventy-two +minutes.”</p> +<p>“And that will bring me to terminus exactly on +time,” said the young man brightly. “Do it, my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +friends, and you shall have a hundred dollars between +you.”</p> +<p>“That isn’t at all necessary”—began Griscom.</p> +<p>“I beg pardon, but in this case it is,” broke in +Trevor. “It’s all arranged. Thanks. I will put +on a rain coat, and if you will stow me in some +corner of the tender I shall enjoy the run.”</p> +<p>Forgan bustled about. Through the call boy +of the roundhouse Ralph sent word to his mother +of the extra trip. Then he worked like a beaver +on the locomotive. Trevor watched him in a +pleased and admiring way.</p> +<p>They ran the locomotive out on the turn table. +Griscom consulted his watch, talked a few +moments with Forgan, and said to Ralph:</p> +<p>“Tracks clear in twelve minutes, lad. Just +time enough to get a bite at the nearest restaurant.”</p> +<p>When they returned, Trevor stood near the +engine glancing all around him in a very animated +way.</p> +<p>“Looking for Forgan?” inquired the old engineer.</p> +<p>“Oh, no. I was wondering where a fellow +disappeared to who was hanging around the +tender a few minutes ago. He and a companion +have been following me ever since I arrived.”</p> +<p>“Then they have given up the job,” observed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +Griscom, glancing keenly about. “Why should +they follow you, Mr. Trevor?”</p> +<p>“That I cannot tell. Probably thought I +looked prosperous, and were bent on waylaying +me. Anyhow, they kept close to me down the +tracks from the depot. Ready?”</p> +<p>“In precisely one minute. There is the Dover +Accommodation now,” announced the engineer, +as a headlight came around a curve. “All right. +We’ll have to coal up at the limits. Then we will +make you a comfortable seat, Mr. Trevor.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you give yourselves any concern about +me,” replied Trevor. “I am used to railroad life.”</p> +<p>They coaled up at the limits, but did not stop +for water, the tank being three-quarters full. +Ralph made tests of air valve and water pump, +shook down the furnace, and the locomotive +quivered under high-steam pressure as they +started on their special run.</p> +<p>A flagman shouted something at them as they +passed a switch.</p> +<p>“What was he saying?” inquired Griscom.</p> +<p>“I couldn’t hear him,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Thought he pointed at the engine—at the cow-catcher,” +remarked Trevor.</p> +<p>“Everything all right there,” assured Ralph, +and in the brisk action of the hour the circumstance +was forgotten. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span></p> +<p>Twenty, thirty, forty miles made, and as they +slowed down Griscom turned to Trevor, a proud +glitter in his eye.</p> +<p>“How is that, sir?” he inquired.</p> +<p>“Famous!” cried the young man cheerily. +“Badly shaken up, and this seat up here is rather +bumpy, but I enjoy it, just the same. Going to +stop?”</p> +<p>“Yes, crossing. Only for half-a-minute, +though.”</p> +<p>The engine halted on regular signal. Griscom +got down and ran about a bit, explaining that he +was subject to cramps when seated long in one +position. Two men came up to the locomotive.</p> +<p>“Give us a lift?” demanded one of them.</p> +<p>“Couldn’t do it, partner,” responded Ralph. +“Under special orders.”</p> +<p>“Plenty of room up there on the tender.”</p> +<p>“Not for you,” answered the young fireman.</p> +<p>Both men regarded Trevor very keenly. Then +they disappeared in the darkness. Ralph got the +signal from the crossing’s switch tower to go +ahead.</p> +<p>“Mr. Griscom,” he called out from his window.</p> +<p>“Why, where is he?—I don’t see him,” said +Trevor in surprise. “I saw him out there not a +minute ago.”</p> +<p>Ralph jumped to the ground in amazement. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +Nowhere in sight was Griscom; nowhere within +hearing either, it seemed. Like the two rough +fellows who had just approached the engine, Griscom +has disappeared.</p> +<p>“Why, this is mysterious,” declared the young +fireman in an anxious tone of concern. “Where +can he have disappeared to?”</p> +<p>“I don’t like the looks of things,” spoke Trevor. +“Something is wrong, Fairbanks,” he continued. +“Look ahead there—I just saw a man on the cowcatcher.”</p> +<p>Now Ralph was more than mystified, he was +alarmed. He seized a rod and jumped again to the +ground. Sure enough, on the cowcatcher sat a +man, huddled up comfortably.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded Ralph, keeping his +distance and eyeing the intruder suspiciously.</p> +<p>“Call me a tramp, if you like,” laughed the +fellow.</p> +<p>“You must get off of that cowcatcher.”</p> +<p>“Who says so?”</p> +<p>“I do—against the rules. Come, move on.”</p> +<p>“You try to put me off, youngster,” drawled +the fellow, with an ugly look in his eyes, “and I’ll +use this,” and he drew a revolver from his pocket. +“I want a free ride, and I intend to have it.”</p> +<p>“Will you make me stop at the tower to get +you put off?” threatened Ralph. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>“You won’t. There’s no one there but the +towerman, and he can’t leave duty, and you won’t +stop because you’re on a fast run. Take it easy, +sonny. I don’t weigh much, and I won’t hurt +your old locomotive.”</p> +<p>Ralph could do nothing better than submit to +the imposition for the time being. He returned +to the cab. His face was quite anxious. He +called again to Griscom.</p> +<p>“I can’t understand it,” he said. “What can +have befallen him? Keep a close watch here for +a few minutes, will you?” he asked of his passenger.</p> +<p>Ralph took a lantern and ran down the tracks, +flashed the light across the empty freights lining +the tracks, and returned to the locomotive more +anxious than ever.</p> +<p>“I can’t think what to do, Mr. Trevor,” he +said.</p> +<p>The young man consulted his watch nervously.</p> +<p>“Tell you, Fairbanks, we mustn’t lose time. +You can’t find your partner. Run to the tower +and have the man there telegraph the circumstances +and get someone to look for Griscom. +We will have to run on without him.”</p> +<p>“Without Griscom!” cried Ralph. “Why, we +cannot possibly secure a substitute this side of +Dover.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></p> +<p>“Don’t need one—you know how to run an +engine, don’t you?”</p> +<p>“In a fashion, probably, but I am worried about +Mr. Griscom.”</p> +<p>“The towerman can attend to that. I don’t +want to appear selfish, Fairbanks, but you must +get this special through on time or get to some +point where we can find another engineer.”</p> +<p>“I don’t like it,” said Ralph. “Without a fireman, +too.”</p> +<p>“I’ll attend to that department,” said Trevor, +briskly throwing off his coat. “Now then, the +tower, your word to the operator there, and make +up for lost time, Fairbanks, if you want to earn +that hundred dollars.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI_KIDNAPPED' id='CHAPTER_XI_KIDNAPPED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>KIDNAPPED</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph climbed to the engineer’s seat with +many misgivings and very anxious concerning his +missing partner. He knew how to run an engine, +for the young fireman had watched Griscom at his +duties, had studied every separate piece of machinery +thoroughly, and more than once had relieved +the veteran engineer for brief periods of +time between stations.</p> +<p>“That was all well enough on a regular run,” +thought Ralph, “but a special is a different thing.”</p> +<p>Then, coming to the switch tower, he called +up to the operator there, who was at the open +window. He explained hurriedly about the disappearance +of Griscom. He also asked the towerman +to telegraph ahead to Dover for a substitute +engineer. The operator said he would have some +men come down from the first station back on the +route on a handcar to search for the missing rail-roader. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></p> +<p>“Man on your cowcatcher there,” he called +down as Ralph started up the engine.</p> +<p>“No time to bother with him now. Let him +ride to Dover, if he wants to,” advised Trevor. +“Now, Fairbanks, you to the throttle, me to the +furnace. Just give me a word of direction when +I need it, won’t you?”</p> +<p>But for his anxiety concerning his missing partner, +the young fireman would have enjoyed the +run of the next two hours immensely. There was +a clear track—he had only to look out for signals. +He was entirely familiar with the route, and +Trevor proved a capable, practical assistant.</p> +<p>“Don’t look much like the man who left a +palace car to step into a locomotive at Stanley +Junction, eh?” laughed the young man, reeking +with perspiration, and greasy and grimed. +“How do I do—all right?”</p> +<p>“You must have had experience in the fireman +line,” submitted Ralph.</p> +<p>“Why, yes,” acknowledged Trevor. “My uncle +made me work in a roundhouse for a year. Once +I believe I could run an engine, but I’ve forgotten +a good deal. Fairbanks, look ahead!”</p> +<p>There was no occasion for the warning. Already +the young fireman had discovered what his +companion announced. As the locomotive glided +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +around a sharp curve a great glare confronted +them.</p> +<p>Not two hundred yards ahead was a mass of +flames shooting skywards. The bridge crossing +a creek that was located at this part of the route +was on fire.</p> +<p>Ralph started to slow down. Then, discerning +the impossibility of doing so this side of the burning +structure, he set full speed.</p> +<p>“It’s make or break,” he said, in a kind of +gasp.</p> +<p>“Put her through—take the risk,” ordered +Trevor sharply.</p> +<p>Swish! crackle! crash!—it was an eventful +moment in the career of the young fireman. There +was a blinding glow, a rain of fire swayed +through the locomotive cab, then, just as they +cleared the bridge, the structure went down to +midstream.</p> +<p>“We must get this news to Dover quick,” said +Ralph, applying himself anew to lever and +throttle. “We have ten minutes to make up +then.”</p> +<p>Clink!—snap!—a terrific jar shook the locomotive. +Contrary to signal given at the nearest +switch ahead, the engine veered to a siding.</p> +<p>“What does this mean?” demanded Trevor +sharply. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span></p> +<p>“Mischief—malice, perhaps,” said Ralph quickly. +“Freights ahead—we shall have to stop.”</p> +<p>“Don’t do it,” directed Trevor. “Drive into +them and push them ahead to the main line again. +I’ll stand all damage.”</p> +<p>“They are empties, I noticed them on the afternoon +run,” said the young fireman. “Mr. Trevor, +all this complication, all these happenings are +suspicious. We will have to slow down to the +freights.”</p> +<p>“Slow down entirely,” growled a sudden voice. +“Do it, or I’ll have it done by my partner, who is +aboard all right.”</p> +<p>Both Ralph and Trevor turned sharply. Standing +on the coal of the tender was a man. He was +dripping with water, and in one hand held a +revolver.</p> +<p>“No delay, Fairbanks,” he cautioned sternly. +“We’ve taken too much trouble to miss this last +chance to get you and your passenger.”</p> +<p>Ralph stopped the engine. Then calmly, but +with a certain sense of peril and defeat, he faced +the man.</p> +<p>“Where did you come from?” demanded +Trevor in amazement.</p> +<p>“Only from inside the water tank,” responded +the stranger coolly. “Been there since we left +Stanley Junction.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span></p> +<p>“Why, you are one of the fellows who were +following me at the depot!” cried Trevor.</p> +<p>“Correct, boss,” chuckled the stranger. “Here’s +my partner,” he announced, as the man Ralph +had discovered on the cowcatcher appeared at the +side of the cab. “We’ll relieve you two now,” +continued the speaker to Ralph and Trevor. +“Move back on that coal. We’ll try a bit of engineering +ourselves.”</p> +<p>“See here, my man,” called out Trevor sharply. +“What is the object of all this?”</p> +<p>“Object?” grinned the man. “You’ll know +later. Important, for it took four men on the +route, lots of inquiring before you came to Stanley +Junction, two of us here now, others waiting +for us somewhere else, to get you dead right.”</p> +<p>“Me!” exclaimed Trevor in amazement. “You +mean me?”</p> +<p>“Nobody else.”</p> +<p>“Why, how are you interested in me?”</p> +<p>“You’ll know soon.”</p> +<p>“But––”</p> +<p>“Stand back, do as we say, or we’ll use force,” +declared the speaker gruffly.</p> +<p>His companion guarded Ralph and Trevor +while he took the engineer’s seat. He reversed +the engine, ran back to the main tracks, from +there, first setting a switch, onto a spur, and, after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +following this for nearly a mile, shut off steam +and the locomotive came to a stop.</p> +<p>Then the fellow applied a whistle to his lips. +Several men approached the engine. He consulted +with them, and came back to Ralph carrying +a piece of rope.</p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” he said, “we’ll have to tie you +for safe keeping for a while.”</p> +<p>“Won’t you explain this?” inquired Trevor, in +a troubled way. “See here, men, I am due in the +city. I will pay you handsomely to let us proceed +on our trip.”</p> +<p>“How much?” inquired the man who had acted +as engineer.</p> +<p>“I have several hundred dollars with me.”</p> +<p>“Not enough,” retorted the man. “We want +several thousand, seeing you are worth it.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t a thousand dollars in the world,” +declared Trevor.</p> +<p>“You are worth twenty thousand,” insisted the +man confidently. “We’ll prove it to you a little +later. Here,” to his companion, “tie Fairbanks, +leave the letter with him, and let us get out of this +before anybody is missed.”</p> +<p>“One word,” said Ralph. “Are you people responsible +for the disappearance of Mr. Griscom?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” said the man. “He’s all safe and +sound—only out of the way of mischief for a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +spell. One other word, Fairbanks, we didn’t fire +the bridge.”</p> +<p>Trevor looked the picture of distress and uncertainty +as he was forced from the locomotive +cab.</p> +<p>“You people will regret this high-handed outrage,” +he cried. “My uncle is president of the +Great Northern.”</p> +<p>“That is just exactly why you are worth twenty +thousand dollars,” coolly announced the man who +had acted as engineer. “Plain and square, gentlemen, +kindly call this a bit of kidnapping scientifically +worked at some care and expense. You +come with us. Fairbanks will do the rest. Got +him tied up?” to his companion. “All right, now +put the letter in his pocket.”</p> +<p>And, leaving the young fireman bound and +helpless on the floor of the cab, the men with +Trevor left the scene.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII_THE_RAILROAD_PRESIDENT' id='CHAPTER_XII_THE_RAILROAD_PRESIDENT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>THE RAILROAD PRESIDENT</h3> +</div> +<p>The young fireman had a good deal to think +of as he lay in the locomotive cab, unable to help +himself in any way. All the smooth sailing of +the past week was remembered in strong contrast +to the anxieties of the present moment.</p> +<p>Ralph had not recognized any of the crowd +who had appeared about the engine during the +evening. The leader, however, seemed to know +his name. This inclined Ralph to the belief that +some one of the party did know him, and naturally +he thought of Ike Slump and his associates.</p> +<p>“They are desperate men, whoever they are,” +he decided, “and they must have planned out this +scheme to perfection to keep track of Mr. Trevor +and follow us up along the line. That man in +the water tank is a daring fellow. He must have +had a pleasant time in there. It was an original +move, anyhow.”</p> +<p>It was in vain that Ralph endeavored to release +himself. He was stoutly tied. All he could do +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +was to wriggle about and wonder how soon he +would be set free by his captors or discovered by +others.</p> +<p>It must have been fully three hours before there +was any break in the monotony of his situation. +Ralph heard some one whistling a tune and +approaching rapidly. Soon a man appeared on +the cab step, looked Ralph over coolly, and observed:</p> +<p>“Tired of waiting for me, kid?”</p> +<p>“Naturally,” responded Ralph. “Are you going +to set me free?”</p> +<p>“That’s the orders, seeing that our party is safe +at a distance. Got enough steam on to run the +engine?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Ralph. “There was full pressure +when you people stopped us, and the steam +lasts about six hours.”</p> +<p>“All right. You will have a great story to tell +the railroad folks, eh? Don’t forget the letter we +put in your pocket. There you are. Now then, +go about your business and don’t say we did not +treat you like a gentleman. Oh—ooh! What’s +this?”</p> +<p>The man had cut the ropes that held Ralph +captive, and carelessly swung to the step. In a +flash the young fireman was on his mettle. +Springing to his feet, Ralph snatched at a hooked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +rod. Reaching out, he caught the man by the +coat collar and pulled him back flat across the cab +floor where he had just lain.</p> +<p>“You lie still, or I shall use harsh measures,” +declared Ralph, springing upon his captive and +menacing him with the rod. “Hold up your +hands, folded, and let me tie you.”</p> +<p>“Well, I guess not!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you shall!” cried Ralph.</p> +<p>In a second the situation changed. The man +was much stronger than his opponent. He managed +to throw Ralph off, and got to his knees. +The young fireman decided, as the fellow reached +for a weapon, to strike out with the iron rod. It +landed heavily on the man’s temple, and he fell +back senseless on the coal of the tender with a +groan.</p> +<p>Ralph securely tied his captive. Then he reversed +the lever and opened the throttle. In a +minute he was speeding back over the spur the +way the locomotive had come four hours previous.</p> +<p>“We have one of the kidnappers, at least,” he +said with satisfaction. “Ah, there is some one at +the bridge,” he added, as he ran down the main +tracks.</p> +<p>Signals of danger were set on both sides of the +creek, and Ralph could make out men in the distance +moving about. He was soon on the scene. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></p> +<p>A track-walker had discovered the burning +bridge and had summoned assistance.</p> +<p>There was only one thing to do with the locomotive, +to run on to Dover, and this Ralph did at +once. He reported the occurrences of the evening +to the assistant superintendent, whom he +found getting a wrecking crew together.</p> +<p>“Well, this is a serious and amazing piece of +business,” commented that official. “Here, men,” +he called to his assistants on the wrecking car, +“fetch this fellow into the shanty yonder.”</p> +<p>The man Ralph had knocked down in the locomotive +cab had recovered consciousness. He was +brought into the shanty and questioned, but was +sullen and silent.</p> +<p>“Won’t tell anything, eh?” said the assistant +superintendent.</p> +<p>“The letter says all there is to say,” remarked +the captive coolly, “but that twenty thousand +dollars will never find young Trevor if you keep +me a prisoner.”</p> +<p>“A prisoner safe and tight you shall be,” declared +the railroad official with determination. +“Take him to the town jail, men,” he added. “I +must wire for the president of the road at once, +and to Adair at Stanley Junction. What’s your +plan, Fairbanks?” he asked of Ralph. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p>“I hardly know,” responded the young fireman. +“I don’t see that I can be of any assistance here.”</p> +<p>The letter the kidnappers had left with Ralph +was terse and clear as to its directions. The +writer demanded twenty thousand dollars for the +return of young Trevor, and indicated how his +friends might get in correspondence with his +captors through an advertisement in the city +newspapers.</p> +<p>“The wrecking car is going to the bridge, Fairbanks,” +said the official. “You can cross the +creek some way and use a handcar, if they have +one. Tell the men there I say so. As to your +prisoner, I will see that he is taken care of.”</p> +<p>It was just daylight when Ralph reached the +switch tower where Griscom had disappeared. +The towerman had just been relieved from duty, +and met Ralph with eager welcome as he was +approaching the place.</p> +<p>“Glad to see you,” he said. “We just found +Griscom.”</p> +<p>“Where is he?” inquired Ralph quickly.</p> +<p>“In the tower, all safe and comfortable now, +but he had a hard time of it lying all night in a +freight car, gagged and tied. He is fighting mad, +don’t understand the affair, and worried to death +about you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I am all right,” said Ralph. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></p> +<p>“I see you are. But what has happened, anyhow? +You’ll want to tell Griscom, won’t you? +Well, I’ll go back with you to hear your story, +too.”</p> +<p>It was an interesting scene, the meeting of the +engineer and the young fireman. Griscom fretted +and fumed over the mishaps to his pet locomotive. +He was furious at the gang who had worked out +such mischief.</p> +<p>“I’ll wire my resignation when we reach Stanley +Junction,” he declared. “I’ll do no more railroad +work until I find those scoundrels and rescue +young Trevor.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be rash, Mr. Griscom,” advised Ralph. +“The railroad detective force will soon be on the +trail. The nephew of a railroad president doesn’t +disappear in this fashion every day in the year.”</p> +<p>When they got back to Stanley Junction they +were interviewed at once by Bob Adair. Both +were worn out with double duty and got to bed as +quickly as possible.</p> +<p>Ralph reported at the roundhouse late in the +afternoon, but learned that there would be no +through trains out until a temporary bridge was +erected over the creek near Dover.</p> +<p>He returned to the house, and was pleased with +the thought of having a social evening at home +and a good night’s rest. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>It was shortly after dark, and Ralph was reading +a book in the cozy sitting room of the home +cottage, when the door bell rang.</p> +<p>The young fireman answered the summons. A +stranger stood at the threshold. He was a dignified, +well-dressed gentleman, but seemed to be +laboring under some severe mental strain, for he +acted nervous and agitated.</p> +<p>“Mr. Fairbanks—Ralph Fairbanks?” he inquired +in a tone of voice that quivered slightly.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied the young fireman.</p> +<p>“I am very anxious to have a talk with you,” +said the stranger hurriedly. “I have been down +the line, and have just arrived at Stanley Junction. +My name is Grant, Robert Grant, and I am the +president of the Great Northern Railroad.”</p> +<p>“Come in, sir,” said Ralph cordially, deeply +impressed with welcoming so important a visitor, +but maintaining his usual manly pose. He +showed the official into the house and introduced +him to his mother.</p> +<p>Mr. Grant was soon in the midst of his story. +He had been for many hours at Dover trying to +discover a trace of his missing nephew, and had +signally failed.</p> +<p>“Mr. Adair, the road detective, advised me to +see you,” said Mr. Grant, “for you saw the men +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +who captured my nephew. Would you know +them again?”</p> +<p>“Some of them,” responded Ralph.</p> +<p>“Very well, then. I ask you as a special favor +to return with me to Dover and assist me in my +task.”</p> +<p>“I will do so gladly,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>One hour later a special conveyed the president +of the Great Northern and Ralph Fairbanks down +the line to Dover.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_SHORT_LINE_RAILWAY' id='CHAPTER_XIII_THE_SHORT_LINE_RAILWAY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>THE SHORT LINE RAILWAY</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph attracted a good deal of attention when +he arrived at Dover, and fully realized the honor +of being treated as a companion by the president +of the great railroad of which he was an employe. +Mr. Grant was pleasant and friendly. +He learned Ralph’s story, and discussed railroad +experience in a way that was enlightening and +encouraging to the young fireman.</p> +<p>“About these kidnappers,” he said, “I will never +give them a dollar, but I will spend all I have to +rescue my nephew. It is needless to say that you +shall be richly rewarded if you assist me successfully.”</p> +<p>“I will do my best, sir,” pledged Ralph.</p> +<p>At Dover they were met by Adair. They went +into the depot and sat down on a bench in a remote +corner.</p> +<p>“I have not discovered the kidnappers nor the +faintest clew to them, Mr. Grant,” said Adair.</p> +<p>The railroad president sighed deeply. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +showed in his face and manner the care and +anxiety he was suffering.</p> +<p>“Can you suggest anything, Fairbanks?” continued +Adair. “You know the district fairly well. +What is your idea about these men?”</p> +<p>Ralph astonished his companions by suddenly +arising to his feet and hurrying towards a boy +who had just entered the depot and had taken up +a pen and a telegraph pad on the counter outside +the ticket office.</p> +<p>It was Van Sherwin, the old-time friend of +Ralph, and pleasure at recognizing him had +caused the young fireman to act on an impulse.</p> +<p>“Why, Van!” he cried, “I am glad to see you.”</p> +<p>“Eh?” spoke the other. “Ralph! well, the gladness +is mutual,” and the pair shook hands cordially.</p> +<p>“What brought you here?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“Came down from headquarters in the timber +on important business,” replied Van. “Just sending +a telegram.”</p> +<p>“Why!” almost shouted Ralph, glancing at the +blank upon which his friend had just written a +name, “to Mr. Grant, to the president of the +Great Northern!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Van. “Does that startle +you?”</p> +<p>“It does. What are you wiring him for?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></p> +<p>“About his nephew, Dudley Trevor.”</p> +<p>Ralph was fairly taken off his feet, as the saying +goes. He grasped Van’s arm excitedly.</p> +<p>“See here, Van Sherwin,” he cried. “What +do you know of Mr. Trevor?”</p> +<p>“Only that he is at our headquarters with a +broken arm, and he sent me here to wire his uncle +the fact.”</p> +<p>Ralph was delighted. He could scarcely credit +the glad news. He led Van up to the railroad +president and the road detective with the words:</p> +<p>“Gentlemen, I am very happy to tell you that +Mr. Trevor is in safe hands, and my friend here +will explain. Van Sherwin, this is Mr. Grant, +the president of the Great Northern.”</p> +<p>Van nodded in his crisp, off-hand way to Adair, +whom he knew, and took off his cap to his dignified +companion.</p> +<p>His story was to his auditors most remarkable +and exciting, but to Van only the narration of a +perfectly natural occurrence. Early that morning +there had come into “headquarters,” as Van +termed it, a young man in an almost exhausted +condition. His attire was all torn with brambles +and bushes and one arm was broken.</p> +<p>“He told us his name, and said that he had +escaped from kidnappers. Mr. Gibson attended to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +his arm, and sent me to Dover here to telegraph +to you, sir,” explained Van to the railroad president.</p> +<p>Mr. Grant was so glad and excited he could not +sit still.</p> +<p>“Take me to him at once!” he cried. “My dear +lad, you have brought happy news to me.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about going to see him,” said +Van. “It is over twenty miles away in the +woods.”</p> +<p>“Allow me to explain, Mr. Grant,” said Adair. +“Between here and Wilmer is a wild, wooded +stretch of land known as The Barrens.”</p> +<p>“I know of it,” nodded Mr. Grant. “The Great +Northern once surveyed two miles into the section, +but abandoned the route as impracticable. There +are only about twenty houses in the district, and +the difficulties of clearing and grading were discouraging.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Adair, “it appears that a man +named Farwell Gibson secured a charter to build +a short line through The Barrens from Wilmer +across the desolate tract to connect with the Midland +Central.”</p> +<p>“I heard of that, too,” nodded the railroad +president.</p> +<p>“This Gibson is an odd genius. He has been +working for two years on his scheme, terming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +the road the Dover & Springfield Short Line. +Just half way across The Barrens he has a house, +which he calls ‘headquarters.’ He is an erratic +hermit, and adopted this boy here, Van Sherwin, +who has been helping him. Every day, the law +requires, he must do some grading work on the +prospective railroad line. This he has done, and +you would be surprised to know the progress they +have made.”</p> +<p>“Especially lately,” said Van, with sparkling +eyes. “Even you, Ralph, would be astonished. +Mrs. Gibson got some money recently—five +thousand dollars from old Gasper Farrington—and +we have hired a lot of men. Oh, that railroad +is going through, and don’t you forget it.”</p> +<p>“We realized our mistake after this Gibson got +hold of the franchise,” said Mr. Grant. “Once +the road is built, it practically dominates passenger +and freight business north and south.”</p> +<p>“That is right,” said Van, “for it becomes a +bee-line, saving twenty to thirty miles distance, +besides opening up a new district. Well, sir, your +nephew is now at our headquarters. To reach +the place you will have to get a very heavy wagon +and go pretty slow and sure, for there are no +roads.”</p> +<p>“I must go at all hazards,” cried the railroad +president insistently, “and you, my friends, must +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +accompany me,” he added to Adair and Ralph. +“Why, those villains from whom my nephew +escaped may undertake to recapture him.”</p> +<p>A little later the party, in charge of a sturdy +fellow driving a strong team of horses attached +to a heavy wagon, started out under the direction +of Van Sherwin.</p> +<p>The district was a wild jungle, interspersed +with sweeps of hill and dales, and numerous +creeks. Finally they reached a hill surmounted +by a dense grove of trees. A road led up here to +a rambling log house.</p> +<p>Here and on the other side of the hill a ten-foot +avenue was visible, neat and clean. The +brush had been cleared away, the ground leveled, +here and there some rudely cut ties set in place, +and for an extended stretch there was a presentable +graded roadbed.</p> +<p>As they drove up to the cabin the railroad president +almost forgot his nephew from interest in his +surroundings. Across the front of the building +was a sign reading: “Headquarters of the Dover +& Springfield Short Line Railroad.” To the +south there was a singular sight presented. Some +twenty men and boys were working on a roadbed, +which had been cut for over two miles. A telegraph +wire ran from the building over the tops +of trees, and Ralph was fairly astonished at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +progress made since he had first visited Farwell +Gibson in this place.</p> +<p>“Come in,” said Van, as Mr. Grant alighted +from the wagon.</p> +<p>“Well, this is decidedly a railroady place,” observed +the president of the Great Northern with a +faint smile.</p> +<p>One half of the rambling place was a depot and +railway offices combined. There were benches for +passengers. In one corner was a partitioned off +space, labeled: “President’s Office.” On the wall +hung a bunch of blank baggage checks, and there +was a chart of a zigzag railway line, indicating +bridges, water tanks and switch towers.</p> +<p>“Mr. Gibson,” called out Van to a man seated +at a desk, “this is Mr. Grant, the president of the +Great Northern.”</p> +<p>“Eh? what! My dear sir, I am glad to see +you,” said the eccentric hermit. “You came about +your nephew, I presume? Take the gentleman to +his room, Van,” directed Farwell. “I am something +of a doctor and he is resting quite comfortably.”</p> +<p>Mr. Gibson greeted Ralph very cordially. When +Van returned, he insisted on the young fireman +inspecting the work on the railroad.</p> +<p>“Does that look like business?” he inquired, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +they proceeded down the roadbed. “We have ten +men and eight boys working for us.”</p> +<p>“Eight boys—where did they come from?” inquired +Ralph.</p> +<p>“An orphan asylum burned down and we engaged +to care for them,” replied Van.</p> +<p>“But what are they doing in those trees?”</p> +<p>“Stringing a telegraph wire. We expect within +a month to have the telegraph through to Springfield, +and later to Dover.”</p> +<p>“Why, Van,” said Ralph, “it seems incredible, +the progress you have made.”</p> +<p>“That five thousand dollars we made old Farrington +pay Mrs. Gibson was a great help,” replied +Van. “We have quite a construction crew +here now. I help Mrs. Gibson do the cooking, +and we get on famously.”</p> +<p>Mr. Grant was with his nephew for over an +hour. Then Ralph was sent for, and Trevor +welcomed him with a glad smile. The young man +described how he had been taken to a lonely building +in the woods, how he had escaped from his +enemies, breaking his arm in a runaway flight, and +telling Ralph that he intended to remain where he +was for a month, to which his uncle had agreed.</p> +<p>“Confidentially, Fairbanks,” he said, “I have +taken a great interest in this Short Cut Railroad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +scheme, and as soon as I am well I am coming to +see you at Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>“Regarding this railroad?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Exactly,” responded Trevor. “I see a great +future in it. I shall not go to Europe. There +is a practical business chance here, and I intend +to help Mr. Gibson get the enterprise through.”</p> +<p>“It will take a lot of money,” suggested Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes,” assented Trevor, “and I know how to +raise it. In fact, I have almost agreed to market +one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of bonds of +the Dover & Springfield Short Line Railroad, and +I want you to help me do it.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV_A_RAILROAD_STRIKE' id='CHAPTER_XIV_A_RAILROAD_STRIKE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>A RAILROAD STRIKE</h3> +</div> +<p>“It’s a bad outlook, lad,” said old John +Griscom.</p> +<p>The veteran engineer was serious and anxious +as he pronounced the words. He and Ralph were +proceeding down the tracks beyond the round-house, +just returned from their regular run from +the city.</p> +<p>“It’s a strike, is it?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Worse than a strike,” replied Griscom. “The +railroad men’s union is in a squabble among themselves +and a fight is on. That means trouble and +damage all around.”</p> +<p>It was two weeks after the kidnapping of young +Trevor, and affairs had subsided to regular +routine for the engineer and fireman of the Limited +Mail. The president of the Great Northern +had sent a check for one hundred dollars to Ralph, +which he divided with Griscom, both making up +twenty-five dollars for Van Sherwin. From the +actions of their superiors they knew that their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +being in close touch with Mr. Grant had helped +them considerably, and both felt secure and contented +in their positions, when a new disturbing +element appeared.</p> +<p>For several days there had been trouble on both +the Great Northern and the Midland Central. As +Ralph understood it, the discharge of an irresponsible +engineer on the latter line of railroad had +led to a demand for his reinstatement. This the +railway officials refused. A strike was at once +ordered.</p> +<p>Two days later a man named Delmay, a strike +agent, came to Stanley Junction. He demanded +that the men on the Great Northern engage in a +sympathetic strike until the other road was +brought to terms. The older, wiser hands laughed +at him. Jim Evans had returned to Stanley +Junction, and at once joined in a movement to +disrupt the local union by favoring the strike in +question.</p> +<p>Evans had done a good deal of swaggering and +threatening around the roundhouse that day, +Ralph had just learned, and had intimidated some +of the new hands into joining in the strike movement. +He had left word that, as men came in +from their runs, they were to report at a hall +where the strikers met and announce which side +of the contest they favored. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></p> +<p>“Here we are, lad,” said the veteran engineer, +as they started up the stairs of a building on Railroad +Street. “Don’t look very business-like, +those pails of beer going into that hall yonder and +that cloud of tobacco smoke. I wouldn’t stir a +foot, only it’s quite regular according to union +rules to call and report in a matter like this.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do, Mr. Griscom?” +asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“Short and sweet, give my sentiments and leave +these loafers to fight it out among themselves.”</p> +<p>“Include mine,” said Ralph. “I do not understand +these strike complications and I know you +do, so I shall follow your guidance.”</p> +<p>When they entered the hall they found a noisy +crowd, smoking, playing cards and lounging +about. On a platform sat Jim Evans, looking +profoundly important. He sat at a table with a +heap of papers before him. Griscom approached +him, Ralph by his side.</p> +<p>“Who’s in charge here?” demanded the old +engineer gruffly.</p> +<p>“I am,” announced Evans, in a somewhat unsteady +tone. “Head of the movement.”</p> +<p>“That so?” muttered Griscom. “Movement +can’t amount to much, then. Now then, Jim +Evans, just one word. We came here out of +courtesy to the union. We are members in good +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +standing, and we represent the majority. At the +meeting last night we voted you out as seceders. +I am authorized to inform you that from now on +no attention whatever will be paid to your crowd +here.”</p> +<p>“Is that so?” sneered Evans. “I reckon we’ll +attract some attention when we get in action. We +have started our own union. We are going to +break up the old one. Whoever comes in now to +help us holds his job. Whoever don’t, will +get downed somewhere along the line, and don’t +you forget it.”</p> +<p>“Being in the wrong,” predicted Griscom +steadily, “you won’t succeed.”</p> +<p>“Will you sign the roll?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“Nor Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“Let the lad speak for himself,” said Griscom.</p> +<p>“I know little about these complications, Mr. +Evans,” said Ralph. “I pay my dues, and we are +upheld in our positions by the central union. In +the present instance I stand by the regular men.”</p> +<p>Evans angrily picked up a sheet of paper. He +scribbled upon it hastily.</p> +<p>“Know what that means?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“We don’t, and are not at all anxious to know,” +retorted Griscom, turning to leave the hall.</p> +<p>“It means that you are blacklisted!” shouted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +Evans, rising to his feet. “As to you, Fairbanks, +I owe you one, and the time has come when I am +in power. Think twice—join us, or it will be +the worse for you.”</p> +<p>“Come on, lad,” directed Griscom.</p> +<p>“Men,” roared Evans to his mob of friends, +“those two are on the black list. Notice them +particularly, and hit hard when you strike.”</p> +<p>Ralph went home somewhat disturbed by the +episode, but not at all alarmed. He knew that +such complications were frequent among the +unions. His mother, however, was quite worried +over the affair.</p> +<p>“That fellow Evans is a bad man, and has a +personal hatred for you, Ralph,” she said. “Besides +that, as we know, he has been incited to +make you trouble by Mr. Farrington. Be careful +of yourself, my son, for I fear he may try to +do you some mischief.”</p> +<p>“I can only go on in the clear path of duty,” +said Ralph sturdily.</p> +<p>The next morning the roundhouse was in quite +a tumult. Its vicinity was picketed by the strikers. +Ralph entered the place to find Tim Forgan, +the foreman, in a state of great excitement and +worry. There were not men enough for the +regular runs.</p> +<p>“Take out your regular train,” he said to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +Griscom, “but I believe it will be annulled and new +orders issued at the city end of the line. We’re in +for trouble, I can tell you. The strikers make +some pretty bad threats, and you want to watch +every foot of the route until this strike is settled +one way or the other.”</p> +<p>“There is no other way except to oppose these +loafers boldly,” pronounced Griscom. “The +union has expelled them, and they are on the +basis of rioters.”</p> +<p>“Well, the railroad company will make some +move to protect its property,” said Forgan. “They +must give us more men, though, or we will have +to annul half the daily trains.”</p> +<p>The Limited Mail got out of the yards with +some difficulty. They had a spiked switch to look +out for, and a missile from an old building +smashed the headlight glass. At the limits a man +tossed a folded paper into the locomotive cab. It +was a poor scrawl containing direful threats to +anyone opposing the new union.</p> +<p>When they reached the terminus Griscom found +a committee of men from the central union waiting +for him. They held a consultation. Then +a messenger from the railway office came after +him. It was a busy day for the veteran rail-roader.</p> +<p>“I don’t like the looks of things,” he said to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +Ralph, as they started on the homeward run. +“The central union backs us, and the company is +bound to fight the strikers to a finish. A lot of +men are going down to take the places of the +strikers. We are carrying them on this train, and +serious trouble will begin as soon as the new +men go to work.”</p> +<p>Two days later the freight traffic of the Great +Northern was practically tied up. The situation +had become positively alarming. The strikers had +gathered strength of numbers through intimidation, +and the coming of new workers had aroused +animosity.</p> +<p>Car loads of perishable fruits and the like were +rotting in the yards, men were beaten, engines +crippled, orders mixed up, crown sheets burned +and cars smashed on open switches.</p> +<p>The Limited Mail was annulled as a regular +train, and Griscom and Ralph and all other passenger +employes placed on the irregular list. +One day a man would take out the Mail, the next +day he would be running freight empties to the +city.</p> +<p>Some cars on siding along the route had been +set on fire, and Griscom and Ralph were ordered +down the line to pick up freight strays and haul +them to the yards at Dover. It proved an unpleasant +task. Strikers annoyed them in every +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +way possible. Finally with a mixed train of +about twenty cars they arrived at Afton, and took +the sidings to gather in half-a-dozen gondolas.</p> +<p>The spot was remote from the main tracks. +Ralph had to do the coupling. He had run back, +bound on this duty in the present instance, when, +just as he reached the end of their train, three +ill-appearing men stepped into view from a dismantled +switch shanty.</p> +<p>“Drop your signaling,” spoke one of the three, +advancing menacingly towards Ralph.</p> +<p>“Hardly,” responded Ralph calmly, “seeing we +want these cars.”</p> +<p>“You don’t take them,” retorted the man, placing +himself between the halted train and the cars +beyond.</p> +<p>Ralph calmly gave the signal to the engine. +The train backed. The man had to jump quickly +out of the way. Ralph set the coupling pin, gave +a quick signal and sprang into the first empty car. +The man who had spoken to him followed him +through the opposite open doorway.</p> +<p>“Fetch him out!” cried his two companions, +running along the side of the car. “Maul him, +and send him back to Stanley Junction as a lesson +to the others.”</p> +<p>The man attempted to seize Ralph and the +latter resisted. The fellow called to his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +companions, and they sprang into the car. Ralph, +trying to reach the doorway to leap out, was +tripped up, and he fell quite heavily.</p> +<p>“Toss him out!” growled his first assailant, but +Ralph recovered himself, managed to gain his +feet, and leaped to the ground outside.</p> +<p>The three men followed. Ralph ran behind a +pile of railroad ties. His pursuers gained upon +him. He stumbled, fell flat, and they pounced +upon him.</p> +<p>“Hold on there,” suddenly spoke a new voice. +“Get back and stay back, or I’ll know the reason +why.”</p> +<p>Something whizzed through the air. It was a +heavy cudgel. Whack! whack! whack! the three +fellows retreated as their shoulders were assailed +good and hard.</p> +<p>Ralph in some surprise regarded his new +friend. He was a queer-looking old man, carrying +a formidable cudgel, and this he now brandished +recklessly in the faces of his adversaries, +beating them back step by step.</p> +<p>“Now, you mind your own business,” he +warned the men. “Pitching onto a boy—three +big loafers that you are!”</p> +<p>The men were cowards and sneaked sullenly +away. Ralph’s rescuer went back to the pile of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +ties and took up a little open memorandum book +lying there.</p> +<p>Ralph noticed that its pages bore a list of numbers, +as of cars.</p> +<p>“I am very grateful to you,” said the young +fireman.</p> +<p>“That’s all right,” responded the stranger, and +ran his eye over the cars as they passed by as if +looking at their numbers. Ralph concluded that +he had some business on the spot.</p> +<p>“Are you in the service of the railroad?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded the man—“of many railroads. +I am a professional car finder.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV_THE_RUNAWAY_TRAINS' id='CHAPTER_XV_THE_RUNAWAY_TRAINS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE RUNAWAY TRAINS</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph and his companion followed the train +till it left the siding, when the young fireman set +the switch and they stood by the side of the track +until the locomotive backed down to where they +were.</p> +<p>“Going into Dover?” inquired the man who had +rendered Ralph such signal service.</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Griscom, looking the questioner +over suspiciously, as was his custom with all +strangers recently since the strike began.</p> +<p>“Give me a lift, will you? I am through with +my work here,” observed the man. “My name is +Drury. I am a car finder.”</p> +<p>“Indeed?” said the old engineer with some interest +of manner. “I’ve heard of you fellows. +Often thought I’d like the job.”</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t, if you knew its troubles and +difficulties,” asserted Drury with a laugh, as he +climbed into the tender. “You think it’s just +riding around and asking a few questions. Why, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +say, I have spent a whole month tracing down +two strays alone.”</p> +<p>“That so?” said Griscom.</p> +<p>“Yes, it is true. You see, cars get on a line +shy of them, and they keep them purposely. Then, +again, cars are lost in wrecks, burned up, or +thrown on a siding and neglected. You would be +surprised to know how many cars disappear and +are never heard of again.”</p> +<p>This was a new phase in railroad life to Ralph, +and he was greatly interested. He plied the man +with questions, and gained a good deal of information +from him.</p> +<p>“Switch off here, Fairbanks,” ordered Griscom, +as they neared a siding.</p> +<p>“Is your name Fairbanks?” asked the carfinder +of Ralph.</p> +<p>“It is.”</p> +<p>“Heard of you,” said Drury, glancing keenly at +the young fireman. “It was down at Millville, +last week. They seem to think a good deal of +you, the railroad men there.”</p> +<p>“I hope I deserve it,” said Ralph modestly.</p> +<p>“Took a meal at a restaurant kept by a friend +of yours,” continued the carfinder.</p> +<p>“You mean Limpy Joe?”</p> +<p>“Exactly. Original little fellow—spry, handy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +and accommodating. Met another genius there—Dallas.”</p> +<p>“Zeph? Yes,” said Ralph. “He has got lots +to learn, but he has the making of a man in him.”</p> +<p>“He has. He was greatly interested in my +position. Wanted me to hire him right away. +Said he knew he could find any car that was ever +lost. I gave him a job,” and Drury smiled +queerly.</p> +<p>“What kind of a job?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Oh, you ask him when you see him,” said +Drury mysteriously. “I promised to keep it a +secret,” and he smiled again. “Good-bye, I leave +you here.”</p> +<p>“Now then,” said Griscom to his young assistant, +“orders are to run to Ridgeton and start out +in the morning picking up strays between there +and Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>When they got to Ridgeton, it had begun to +rain. It was a lonely station with a telegraph +operator, and a few houses quite a distance away. +The operator was not on duty nights since the +strike. The engine was sidetracked. They got +a meal at the nearest house, and the operator gave +them the key to the depot, where he said they +could sleep all night on the benches. This Griscom +insisted on doing, in order that they might +keep an eye on the locomotive. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></p> +<p>They sat up until about nine o’clock. Then, +tired out with a hard day’s work, both soon sank +into profound sleep. It was some time later when +both, always vigilant and easily aroused, awoke +together.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said the old engineer drowsily, “only the +ticker.”</p> +<p>“Yes, some one is telegraphing,” answered +Ralph, “but it is a hurry call.”</p> +<p>“Understand the code, do you?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered Ralph. “Quiet, please, for a +moment. Mr. Griscom, this is urgent,” and Ralph +arose and hurried to the next room, where the +instrument was located.</p> +<p>He listened to the sharp ticking of the little +machine. There was the double-hurry call. Then +came some sharp, nervous clicks.</p> +<p>“R-u-n-a-w-a-y,” he spelled out.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Griscom, springing to his +feet.</p> +<p>“J-u-s-t p-a-s-s-e-d W-i-l-m-e-r, s-i-x +f-r-e-i-g-h-t c-a-r-s. S-t-o-p t-h-e-m a-t R-i-d-g-e-t-o-n, +o-r t-h-e-y w-i-l-l m-e-e-t N-o. f-o-r-t-y-e-i-g-h-t.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked up excitedly. Griscom stood by +his side. His eyes were wide awake enough now.</p> +<p>“Repeat that message—quick, lad!” he said in +a suppressed tone. “Can you signal for repeat?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></p> +<p>Ralph did so, once more spelling out the message +as it came over the wire.</p> +<p>“No. 48?” spoke Griscom rapidly. “That is the +special passenger they have been sending out from +Stanley Junction since the strike. What is the +next station north? Act! Wire north to stop the +train.”</p> +<p>Ralph got the next station with some difficulty. +A depressing reply came. No. 48 had passed +that point.</p> +<p>“Then she’s somewhere on the thirty-mile +stretch between there and here,” said Griscom. +“Lad, it is quick action—wind blowing a hurricane, +and those freights thundering down a one +per cent. grade. Bring the lantern. Don’t lose a +moment. Hurry!”</p> +<p>Ralph took the lead, and they rushed for their +locomotive. The young fireman got a red lantern +and ran down the track, set the light, and was +back to the engine quickly.</p> +<p>“This is bad, very bad,” said Griscom. “Nothing +but this siding, ending at a big ravine, the +only track besides the main. The runaway must +have a fearful momentum on that grade. What +can we do?”</p> +<p>Ralph tested the valves. He found sufficient +steam on to run the engine. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span></p> +<p>“I can suggest only one thing, Mr. Griscom,” +he said.</p> +<p>“Out with it, lad, there is not a moment to +lose,” hurriedly directed the old engineer.</p> +<p>“Get onto the main, back down north, set the +switch here to turn the runaways onto the siding.”</p> +<p>“But suppose No. 48 gets here first?”</p> +<p>“Then we must take the risk, start south till +she reaches the danger signals, and sacrifice our +engine, that is all,” said Ralph plainly.</p> +<p>It was a moment of intense importance and +strain. In any event, unless the unexpected happened, +No. 48 or their own locomotive would be +destroyed. On the coming passenger were men, +women and children.</p> +<p>“Duty, lad,” said Griscom, in a kind of desperate +gasp. “We must not hesitate. Pile in the +black diamonds and hope for the best. If we can +reach the creek before the runaways, we can +switch them onto a spur. It means a smash into +the freights there. But anything to save the +precious lives aboard the night passenger from +Stanley Junction.”</p> +<p>They ran on slowly, then, gaining speed, got a +full head of steam on the cylinders. At a curve +the bridge lights came into view.</p> +<p>“What do you see?” demanded Griscom, his +band trembling on the throttle, wide open now. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>“She’s coming,” cried Ralph. “I caught the +glint of the bridge lights. She’s not six hundred +yards away.”</p> +<p>It was a desperate situation now. Both engineer +and fireman realized this. The backward swing +was caught, and down the course they had just +come their locomotive sped with frightful velocity.</p> +<p>It was a mad race, but they had the advantage. +One mile, two miles, three miles, the depot, down +the main, and before the engine had stopped, +Ralph was on the ground. He ran to the switch, +set it, and then both listened, watched and waited.</p> +<p>“There are the runaways,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>Yes, there they were, speeding like phantoms +over the rain-glistening steel. Nearer and nearer +they came, passed the siding, struck the switch, +ran its length, and then a crash—and the night +passenger from Stanley Junction was saved!</p> +<p>“I don’t know what the damage will be,” muttered +Griscom in a long-drawn breath of relief, +“but we have done our duty as we saw it.”</p> +<p>They got back on the siding and removed the +red lights before No. 48 arrived. The night +passenger sped tranquilly by, her train crew little +dreaming of the peril they had escaped.</p> +<p>The next afternoon, when they arrived at Stanley +Junction, the assistant superintendent of the +road highly commended their action in regard to +the runaway freights. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span></p> +<p>Ralph went home tired out from strain of +work and excitement. As he neared the house +he noticed a wagon in the yard and a horse browsing +beside it.</p> +<p>“Why,” he said, “that rig belongs to Limpy +Joe.”</p> +<p>Ralph hurried into the house. He found both +Joe and Zeph in the sitting room. They were +conversing with his mother, with whom the +cripple boy had always been a great favorite.</p> +<p>“Well, fellows, I am glad to see you,” said +Ralph heartily, “but what brought you here?”</p> +<p>“Plainly,” replied Limpy Joe—“Ike Slump.”</p> +<p>“Why, what do you mean?” inquired the young +fireman.</p> +<p>“I mean that we have been burned out,” said +Joe, “and Ike Slump did it.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI_CAR_NO_9176' id='CHAPTER_XVI_CAR_NO_9176'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>CAR NO. 9176</h3> +</div> +<p>“Burned out!” exclaimed Ralph, deeply concerned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Joe, a trifle dolefully. “Labors +of years in ashes—Limpy Joe’s Railroad Restaurant +a thing of the past.”</p> +<p>“How did it happen?”</p> +<p>“Spite work. Three nights ago, late in the +evening, Ike Slump appeared at the restaurant +and demanded a free meal. I gave it to him. +Then he demanded some money, and I refused it. +He became bold and ugly, and told us how his +crowd had it in for us, that they knew I had some +hand in helping you get that stolen plunder, and +would fix us sooner or later. He advised me to +buy them off. I sent him away. Last night we +discovered the place on fire, and it was burned to +the ground.”</p> +<p>Ralph was deeply distressed over his friend’s +misfortune. The lame fellow, however, was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +undaunted. He deplored his loss, but he was by no +means discouraged.</p> +<p>“Thankful to have the horse and wagon left,” +he said. “I can always earn a living with that. +Besides that, we saw Van Sherwin the other day. +He is getting on finely, and I think we could get +work on the Short Line Railroad. For the present, +though, I am going to stay at Stanley Junction. +I have a dozen plans for getting a little +money together. Will you try us as boarders for +a week or two, Ralph?”</p> +<p>“I answered that question a few minutes ago,” +reminded Mrs. Fairbanks, “and if you two will +sleep in the same room, you will cause no inconvenience +whatever.”</p> +<p>“And you, Zeph?” said Ralph, turning to the +farmer boy.</p> +<p>Zeph had been strangely silent. He appeared +to be trying to look very dignified and much absorbed +in thought.</p> +<p>“Oh, me?” he said now. “Why, I’m already +at work. Commence to-night. Call boy at the +roundhouse. Old one is with the strikers. Mr. +Forgan engaged me this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Why, that is fine,” said Ralph. “A start in +the right direction. Look out for the strikers, +though, Zeph.”</p> +<p>“Don’t fret about me,” advised Zeph. “I’m a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +fighter when aroused. See, here is my list to call +in the morning,” and he showed Ralph a slip of +paper containing about a dozen names.</p> +<p>Ralph read it over, and after a meal went out +with Zeph and showed him the location of the +homes of those named in the list.</p> +<p>“This job is all right,” said Zeph, as they returned +to the house, “but it is only a sort of side +line with me.”</p> +<p>“Indeed?” smiled Ralph, amused at the off-hand, +yet self-important manner of his companion.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes.”</p> +<p>“How is that?”</p> +<p>“Simply want to get into the service so as to +have the privilege of riding around on engines +when I want to. It sort of introduces me, you +see.”</p> +<p>“What do you want to ride around on engines +for?” asked Ralph. “You can’t afford to waste +your time that way.”</p> +<p>“Waste my time? waste my time?” repeated +Zeph. “Huh, guess you don’t know what you’re +talking about! I’m on the trail of a big fortune.”</p> +<p>“You don’t say so.”</p> +<p>“I do. Ralph Fairbanks, I’ll let you into the +secret. You’ve been a good friend to me, and +you shall help me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span></p> +<p>“What ridiculous nonsense are you talking, +Zeph?”</p> +<p>“You’ll see whether it’s nonsense or not when +some day I walk in on you with a fortune. Now, +this is on the dead quiet, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“Oh, sure,” laughed Ralph.</p> +<p>“Very well. I met a fellow the other day, who +is a car finder.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Drury, you mean?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“How did you know?” questioned Zeph in surprise.</p> +<p>“He told me he had met you, and agreed with +me that you were a pretty fair kind of a fellow.”</p> +<p>“Did he?” said Zeph, very much pleased at the +double compliment. “Well, I got interested in +his business and he finally gave me a—a—well +a job, you might call it.”</p> +<p>“Salary big, Zeph?”</p> +<p>“No salary at all,” responded Zeph. “It’s a +partnership deal. If I find certain property, I +am to have a big reward to divide with him.”</p> +<p>“What kind of property?”</p> +<p>“Diamonds.”</p> +<p>“Oh, going digging for them?”</p> +<p>“Don’t make fun of me, Fairbanks,” said Zeph +in a slightly offended tone. “This is a fair and +square business proposition. About five years ago +a car was lost, presumably on the Great Northern. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +At least, it can be traced no farther than the +terminus of the Midland Central, where it was +switched onto this line here. There all trace of it +was lost.”</p> +<p>“Valuable freight aboard?”</p> +<p>“No, on the contrary, it was empty, but, all the +same, between sealed boards and the rough ones +a pocketbook containing a lot of valuable diamonds +was hidden.”</p> +<p>“Who by?”</p> +<p>“A traveling jewelry salesman named Isaacs.”</p> +<p>“What did he hide it there for?”</p> +<p>“He had to. You see, he was on another railroad +line and crossing some tracks when some +footpads assaulted him. He managed to escape +and got into the empty car I told you about. +Then he heard them coming to search for him, +and hid the diamonds in a break of the boards at +one side of the car.”</p> +<p>“I see.”</p> +<p>“They dragged him out, beat him into insensibility +and stole all his money. He woke up in a +hospital a month later, after a siege of fever. The +first thing he thought of was the diamonds and the +car. He had taken particular pains to note the +number of the car.”</p> +<p>“What was it, may I ask?”</p> +<p>“Confidentially?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>“Of course.”</p> +<p>“It belonged to the Southern Air Line Road, +and its number was 9176.”</p> +<p>“Why, you are telling a very interesting story,” +declared Ralph, now really interested in the same. +“He searched for the car, of course?”</p> +<p>“At once. He telegraphed everywhere; he advertised; +he employed detectives. It was no use. +During the month of his illness, car No. 9176 had +disappeared.”</p> +<p>“That looks mysterious.”</p> +<p>“The car finder says not at all. Such things +happen frequently. But it went somewhere, +didn’t it? It may be lying on some old siding, +in some creek after a wreck, stolen by gravel pit +men, or in service still on some line. One thing +is sure, if in existence still, it must be on one of +four railroad lines, and the Great Northern is +one of those roads.”</p> +<p>“What do you propose to do?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Go over every one of those lines carefully.”</p> +<p>“But Mr. Drury has done that already, has he +not?”</p> +<p>“What of it? A first search doesn’t always +bring results. He has given me full details as to +the car, and, according to the records, it was lost +on the Great Northern. In a day or two I am +going to have a look at the transfer records at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +Dover. Then I am going to look up the trainmen +who probably hauled the car. Oh, I have a theory +and a plan. If I find the car I shall be almost +rich.”</p> +<p>“Not a bad prospect, Zeph,” said Ralph, “but +if I were you I would stick at regular work and +make the search for that car a secondary matter.”</p> +<p>“You’ll remember it and help me out if you +can?” asked Zeph.</p> +<p>“Surely I will,” and Ralph made a note of the +number of the car in his memorandum book.</p> +<p>When the young fireman arose the next morning, +he found Zeph seated on the front porch +lounging back in an easy chair and his face all +bandaged up. Mrs. Fairbanks stood near by, regarding +her guest solicitously.</p> +<p>“Why, what is the matter, Zeph?” inquired +Ralph in profound surprise.</p> +<p>“Whipped four men, that’s all,” answered +Zeph with a smile that was almost ghastly, for his +lips were all cut and swollen up, one eye disfigured +and two teeth gone. “I went on my rounds this +morning. I made sure to wake up the fellows on +call, and one of them threatened to kill me if I +ever came to his door again with that ‘fog-horn +holler’ of mine, as he called it. The night watch-man +said he’d arrest me for disturbing the peace. +I didn’t mind that. Then I ran across four +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +strikers. They wanted me to join them. I refused, +and—that’s all, except that I’ll bet they +are worse off than I am, if it was four to one.”</p> +<p>“Going to keep right on at your job?” inquired +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Am I?” cried the undaunted Zeph. “Well, if +anything would make me it would be this attack +on me. Tell you, Fairbanks, hot times are coming. +Forgan was on duty all night, and he told +me this morning to advise you to be extra cautious +in coming to work. The strikers are in an ugly +mood, and they are going to make a bold break +to smash up things to-day, they threaten.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” sighed Ralph, “affairs must come to a +crisis sooner or later, I fear. Duty is plain, +though. I shall stick to Griscom, and Griscom +insists that he will stick to the road.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Fairbanks looked anxious and frightened. +Turning to enter the house, the young fireman +started violently and his mother and Zeph uttered +exclamations of excitement.</p> +<p>A terrific explosion had rent the air. Its echoes +rang out far and wide, and its source seemed to be +the railroad depot.</p> +<p>“Oh, Ralph! what does that mean?” cried +Mrs. Fairbanks.</p> +<p>“I fear,” said Ralph seriously, “the strikers are +rioting and the trouble has begun.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII_UNDER_SEALED_ORDERS' id='CHAPTER_XVII_UNDER_SEALED_ORDERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>UNDER SEALED ORDERS</h3> +</div> +<p>The young fireman was soon headed for the +railroad yards. A good many people were +bound hurriedly in the same direction, for the +explosion had aroused the town.</p> +<p>As he neared the place, he could hear considerable +shouting. He came to the tracks at a point +where there was a switch shanty. The man on +duty looked worried and scared.</p> +<p>“What is the trouble?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“The strikers have blown up a freight car with +dynamite,” replied the flagman. “They have +threatened me, old and feeble as I am. I’m afraid +I’ll have to lay off till this trouble is over.”</p> +<p>In the distance Ralph saw the mere skeleton of +a freight car. It was in flames, and a number of +men were pushing other cars from its vicinity to +prevent them from catching on fire. A man +tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, Ralph +recognized one of the strikers.</p> +<p>“See here, Fairbanks,” he said, “I’m of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +decent sort, as you know, but I think our position +is right.”</p> +<p>“Does that look like it?” demanded the young +fireman, pointing to the burning car.</p> +<p>“I’m not responsible for that,” said the man, +“and I can’t prevent the hot-headed ones from +violence. I know you won’t join us, but I’m just +friendly enough to give you a warning. Don’t go +on duty to-day.”</p> +<p>“I certainly shall, if I am needed,” replied +Ralph. “Your union is in bad hands, and can’t +last.”</p> +<p>The man shrugged his shoulders and Ralph +passed on his way. A piece of coal came whizzing +through the air a few minutes later from the +vicinity of a crowd of loiterers. It knocked off +the young fireman’s cap. He picked it up and +walked slowly on.</p> +<p>When he came to the roundhouse, he found +the doors shut. Most of the windows in the +place were broken in. Several target rods near +by lay on the ground, and at a glance Ralph saw +that considerable damage had been wrought during +the night.</p> +<p>“There must be a crisis soon,” he said, and +went to the roundhouse door. Before he was admitted +several stones rained about him, thrown +from behind a pile of ties. Inside, Ralph found +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +Griscom and several others among the older engineers +and firemen. All hands looked serious, +the foreman particularly so.</p> +<p>“Glad you came,” said Forgan. “There’s bad +trouble brewing. The strike has reached the +danger point. We can’t run any regulars from +the depot and won’t try to to-day, but the Limited +Mail must go to terminus. Griscom is ready for +the run; are you? The regular engineer and fireman +say they won’t risk their lives.”</p> +<p>“I did not see the train anywhere,” observed +Ralph.</p> +<p>“There is to be no regular train, only one postal +and one express car. They will back down here +in half-an-hour from the limits. Here is a wire +for you. Came early this morning.”</p> +<p>With some surprise Ralph read a brief telegram. +It came from the headquarters of the +Great Northern in the city, was signed by the +president of the road, and read:</p> +<p>“Come to my office immediately on reaching +terminus.”</p> +<p>Ralph showed this to Griscom. The situation +was discussed by the men in the roundhouse, and +the time passed by until a sharp whistle announced +the arrival of the Limited Mail. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span></p> +<p>As Griscom and Ralph went outside to relieve +those temporarily in charge of the locomotive, +they were pelted from several points with pieces +of dirt, iron and coal. A crowd surged up to the +engine. Then a startling thing occurred that dispersed +them more quickly than they had gathered.</p> +<p>As if by magic there appeared on the platforms +of the two coaches fully a dozen guards armed +with rifles. The train now proceeded on its way +without molestation. At the limits the guards +left it to protect other railroad property.</p> +<p>The only trouble experienced during the run +was between Afton and Dover, when some missiles +were thrown and two switches found spiked. +When they reached the city, Ralph tidied up and +went to see the president of the road.</p> +<p>Mr. Grant received him with a pleasant smile, +beckoned him to a comfortable seat, and, closing +the door of his private office, said:</p> +<p>“Fairbanks, we think a good deal of you, and +I know you deserve that favorable opinion. There +are many trusted and reliable men in our service, +but they do not think as quickly as you do. You +are familiar with people at Stanley Junction, and +on that account I wish you to do an important +service for us.”</p> +<p>“I shall be pleased to,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“It is this: Some one is working against us, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +some one is undermining us. We now believe +that the sympathetic strike, as it is called, is more +the result of some plot than a genuine sentiment +of unionism. A man named Delmay, from the +Midland Central, and a man named Evans, a +discharged employe of our road, are at the head +of the movement. Both are persons of bad record +in every way.”</p> +<p>“I know that,” murmured Ralph.</p> +<p>“We believe that these men are hired to promote +the strike.”</p> +<p>“Why, by whom, Mr. Grant?” inquired Ralph +in considerable surprise.</p> +<p>“That we wish you to find out. All we suspect +is that some outside party is inciting them to the +strike to carry out some selfish personal ends. +You must find out who he is. You must discover +his motives.”</p> +<p>Ralph was perplexed. He could not understand +the situation at all.</p> +<p>“I will do all I can in the line you suggest, sir,” +he said, “although I hardly know where to begin.”</p> +<p>“You will find a way to make your investigation,” +declared the president of the Great Northern. +“I rely a great deal upon your ability already +displayed in ferreting out mysteries, and on your +good, solid, common sense in going to work cautiously +and intelligently on a proposition. You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +can tell Forgan you are relieved on special service +and wire me personally when you make any +discoveries.”</p> +<p>Ralph arose to leave the room.</p> +<p>“Wait a moment,” continued Mr. Grant, taking +up an envelope. “I wish you to hand this to +Griscom. The Limited Mail will not make any +return trip to-night. Instead, a special will be +ready for you. You need mention this to no one. +That envelope contains sealed orders and is not +to be opened until you start on your trip. The +superintendent of the road will see you leave and +will give you all further instructions needed.”</p> +<p>There was a certain air of mystery to this +situation that perplexed Ralph. He reported to +Griscom, who took the letter with a curious +smile.</p> +<p>“Must be something extra going on down the +road,” he observed. “Wonder what? Start after +dark, too. Hello, I say—the pay car.”</p> +<p>They had come to the depot to observe an engine, +two cars attached, and the superintendent +standing on the platform conversing with a man +attired in the garb of a fireman.</p> +<p>The latter was a sturdy man of middle age, one +of the best firemen on the road, as Ralph knew. +He nodded to Griscom and Ralph, while the +superintendent said: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></p> +<p>“Fairbanks, this man will relieve you on the +run.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked surprised.</p> +<p>“Why,” he said, “then I am not to go on this +trip?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” answered the official with a grim +smile,—“that is, if you are willing, but it must +be as a passenger.”</p> +<p>Ralph glanced at the passenger coach. Inside +were half-a-dozen guards.</p> +<p>“Not in there,” replied the superintendent, +“We want you to occupy the pay car here. Everything +is ready for you.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Come on, then.”</p> +<p>The superintendent unlocked the heavy rear +door of the pay car, led the way to the tightly +sealed front compartment, and there Ralph found +a table, chair, cot, a pail of drinking water and +some eatables.</p> +<p>“You can make yourself comfortable,” said the +official. “There will probably be no trouble, but +if there is, operate this wire.”</p> +<p>The speaker pointed to a wire running parallel +with the bell rope to both ends of the train. On +the table lay a rifle. The only openings in the +car were small grated windows at either end.</p> +<p>The official left the car, locking in Ralph. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +young fireman observed a small safe at one end +of the car.</p> +<p>“Probably contains a good many thousands of +dollars,” he reflected. “Well, here is a newspaper, +and I shall try to pass the time comfortably.”</p> +<p>By getting on a chair and peering through the +front ventilator, Ralph could obtain a fair view +of the locomotive. The train started up, and +made good time the first thirty miles. Then +Ralph knew from a halt and considerable switching +that they were off the main rails.</p> +<p>“Why,” he said, peering through the grating, +“they have switched onto the old cut-off between +Dover and Afton.”</p> +<p>That had really occurred, as the young fireman +learned later. The officials of the road, it appeared, +feared most an attack between those two +points, and the sealed orders had directed Griscom +to take the old, unused route, making a long +circuit to the main line again.</p> +<p>Ralph remembered going over this route once—rusted +rails, sinking roadbed, watery wastes at +places flooding the tracks. He kept at the grating +most of the time now, wondering if Griscom +could pilot them through in safety.</p> +<p>Finally there was a whistle as if in response to +a signal, then a sudden stop and then a terrible +jar. Ralph ran to the rear grating. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span></p> +<p>“Why,” he cried, “the guard car has been detached, +there are Mr. Griscom and the engineer +in the ditch, and the locomotive and pay car running +away.”</p> +<p>He could look along the tracks and observe all +this. Engineer and fireman had apparently been +knocked from the cab. Some one was on the rear +platform of the pay car, a man who was now +clambering to its roof. The guards ran out of +the detached coach and fired after the stolen train, +but were too late.</p> +<p>Rapidly the train sped along. Ralph ran to the +front grating. The locomotive was in strange +hands and the tender crowded with strange men.</p> +<p>“It’s a plain case,” said Ralph. “These men have +succeeded in stealing the pay car, and that little +safe in the corner is what they are after.”</p> +<p>The train ran on through a desolate waste, then +across a trestle built over a swampy stretch of +land. At its center there was a jog, a rattle, the +tracks gave way, and almost with a crash, the +train came to a halt.</p> +<p>It took some time to get righted again, and the +train proceeded very slowly. Ralph had done a +good deal of thinking. He knew that soon the +robbers would reach some spot where they would +attack the pay car.</p> +<p>“I must defeat their purpose,” he said to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +himself. “I can’t let myself out, but—the safe! A +good idea.”</p> +<p>Ralph settled upon a plan of action. He was +busily engaged during the next half hour. When +the train came to a final stop, there was an active +scene about it.</p> +<p>Half-a-dozen men, securing tools from the +locomotive, started to break in the door of the +pay car. In this they soon succeeded.</p> +<p>They went inside. The safe was the object of +all their plotting and planning, but the safe was +gone, and Ralph Fairbanks was nowhere in the +pay car.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_STRIKE_LEADER' id='CHAPTER_XVIII_THE_STRIKE_LEADER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>THE STRIKE LEADER</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph felt that he had done a decidedly timely +and clever act in outwitting the train robbers. He +had left the car almost as it stopped, and under +the cover of the dark night had gained the +shelter of the timber lining the track.</p> +<p>The young fireman waited until the men came +rushing out of the car. They were dismayed and +furious, and, leaving them in a noisy and excited +consultation, Ralph started back towards the +trestle work.</p> +<p>“They won’t get the safe, that is sure,” said +the young railroader in tones of great satisfaction, +as he hurried along in the pelting storm. “They +will scarcely pursue me. It is pretty certain, +however, that they will be pursued, and I may +meet an engine before I reach Dover.”</p> +<p>Just as he neared the end of the trestle Ralph +saw at some distance the glint of a headlight. It +was unsteady, indicating the uncertain character +of the roadbed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></p> +<p>“About two miles away,” decided the young +fireman. “I must manage to stop them.”</p> +<p>With considerable difficulty, Ralph secured +sufficient dry wood and leaves in among some +bushes to start a fire between the rails and soon +had a brisk blaze going. The headlight came +nearer and nearer. A locomotive halted. Ralph +ran up to the cab.</p> +<p>It contained Griscom, the city fireman and two +men armed with rifles. The old engineer peered +keenly at the figure, quickly springing to the step +of the engine.</p> +<p>“You, lad?” he cried heartily. “I’m glad of +that. Where is the train?”</p> +<p>“About two miles further on beyond the +trestle.”</p> +<p>“And the pay car?”</p> +<p>“The robbers were in possession when I left +them.”</p> +<p>“Then they will get away with the safe!” cried +the engineer excitedly.</p> +<p>“Hardly,” observed Ralph, with a smile.</p> +<p>“Eh, lad, what do you mean?”</p> +<p>“What I say. Truth is, I saw what was coming. +There was only one thing to do. There +were tools in the car. I sawed a hole through +the floor of the car, rolled the safe to it, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +dumped it through. It went between two rotten +ties, and lies in the swamp—safe.”</p> +<p>With a shout of delight old John Griscom +slapped his young assistant admiringly on the +shoulder.</p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” he cried, “you’re a jewel! Mate,” +to the fireman, “this is glad news.”</p> +<p>“It is, indeed,” said his companion. “I +wouldn’t like the record of losing that safe. Can +you locate the spot, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“It may take some trouble,” answered Ralph. +“The best thing to do is to get a wrecking car +here; meantime, the trestle should be guarded.”</p> +<p>They ran on and up to the spot where the +stolen train was halted, but found the vicinity +deserted. It seemed that whatever the robbers +had guessed out as to the mystery of the safe, +they did not consider there was any chance of +recovering it.</p> +<p>The two men armed with rifles remained at +the trestle, while the others took the stolen pay +car back to Dover. Once there, Griscom kept the +wires busy for a time. About daylight a wrecking +crew was made up. Ralph accompanied them to +the scene of the attempted robbery.</p> +<p>He could fairly estimate the locality of the +sunken safe, and some abrasions of the ties finally +indicated the exact spot where the safe had gone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +through into the water below. It was grappled +for, found, and before noon that day the pay car +train arrived at Stanley Junction with the safe +aboard.</p> +<p>Affairs at the terminal town were still in an unsettled +condition. The presence of armed guards +prevented wholesale attacks on the railroad +property, but there were many assaults on workmen +at lonely spots, switches tampered with and +shanty windows broken in.</p> +<p>Ralph reported to Tim Forgan and then went +home. He went to sleep at once, awoke refreshed +about the middle of the afternoon, and then told +his mother all the occurrences of that day and the +preceding one.</p> +<p>While Mrs. Fairbanks was pleased at the confidence +reposed in her son by the railroad authorities, +she was considerably worried at the +constant turmoil and dangers of the present railroad +situation. Ralph, however, assured her that +he would take care of himself, and left the house +trying to form some plan to follow out the instructions +of the president of the Great Northern.</p> +<p>He could not go among the strikers, and without +doing so, or sending a spy among them, it +would be difficult to ascertain their motives and +projects. Coming around a street corner, the +young fireman halted abruptly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p> +<p>A procession of strikers was coming down the +street. They were a noisy, turbulent mob, +cheered on by like rowdyish sympathizers lining +the pavements.</p> +<p>“Why, impossible!” exclaimed Ralph, as he +noticed by the side of Jim Evans, the leader of the +crowd, his young friend, Zeph Dallas.</p> +<p>The latter seemed to share the excitement of +the paraders. He acted as if he gloried in being +a striker, and the familiar way Evans treated him +indicated that the latter regarded him as a +genuine, first-class recruit.</p> +<p>Zeph caught Ralph’s eye and then looked +quickly away. The young fireman was dreadfully +disappointed in the farmer boy. He went at once +to the roundhouse, where the foreman told him +that Zeph had deserted the afternoon previous.</p> +<p>“I don’t understand it,” said Forgan. “The lad +seemed to hate the strikers for attacking him the +other night. I suppose, though, it’s with him like +a good many others—there’s lots of ‘relief money’ +being given out, and that’s the bait that catches +them.”</p> +<p>“I must manage to see Zeph,” mused Ralph. +“I declare, I can hardly believe he is really on +their side. I wonder how near I dare venture to +the headquarters of that mob.”</p> +<p>The young fireman went to the vicinity of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +hall occupied by the strikers, but he did not meet +Zeph. Then Ralph proceeded to the business +portion of Stanley Junction. He visited the bank +and several other leading local business institutions. +He made a great many inquiries and he +felt that he was on the edge of some important +discoveries.</p> +<p>When he got home he found Zeph sitting on +the porch, smiling as ever. Ralph nodded seriously +to him. Zeph grinned outright.</p> +<p>“What’s that kind of a welcome for, eh?” he +demanded.</p> +<p>“Sorry to see you in the ranks of the strikers +to-day, Zeph,” observed Ralph.</p> +<p>“Ought to be glad.”</p> +<p>“What?”</p> +<p>“I suppose a fellow is free to follow out his +convictions, isn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Certainly.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m following out mine,” declared +Zeph—“the conviction that of all the mean rascals +in this burg, Jim Evans is the meanest. See here, +Fairbanks, have you lost your wits? Do you +really for one minute suppose I sympathize with +those fellows?”</p> +<p>“You seemed pretty close to Evans.”</p> +<p>“Grand!” chuckled Zeph. “That’s just what I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +was working for. See here, I made up my mind +that those fellows were up to more mischief than +what they have already done. I concluded there +was something under the surface of this pretended +strike. I wanted to find out. I have.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked very much interested now. He +began to see the light.</p> +<p>“Go on, Zeph,” he said.</p> +<p>“Well, I found out just what I suspected—some +one is furnishing the strikers with money, and lots +of it.”</p> +<p>“Do you know who it is?”</p> +<p>“I don’t, but I do know one thing: every day +Evans goes to the office of a certain lawyer in +town here. They have a long consultation. +Evans always comes away very much satisfied +and with more money.”</p> +<p>“What’s the lawyer’s name, Zeph?” inquired +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Bartlett.”</p> +<p>Just then they were called in to supper by Mrs. +Fairbanks. Ralph was silent and thoughtful during +most of the meal.</p> +<p>The young fireman had learned that afternoon +that a stranger named Bartlett had been buying +up all the stock of the railroad he could secure. +The man was not in good repute at Stanley Junction. +He had come there only the week previous, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +Ralph was told, and occupied a mean little room +in the main office building of the town.</p> +<p>After supper Ralph strolled down town. He +entered the building in question and ascended its +stairs. He knew the occupants of most of the +offices, and finally located a room which contained +a light but had no sign on the door.</p> +<p>Footsteps ascending the stairs caused the young +fireman to draw back into the shadow. A man +came into view and knocked noisily at the closed +door.</p> +<p>“Here I am, Bartlett,” said the fellow, lurching +about in an unsteady way.</p> +<p>“I see you are,” responded the man inside the +room, “primed for work, too, it seems to me.”</p> +<p>Ralph could not repress some excitement. The +man Bartlett he instantly recognized as the person +who had delivered to him in the city the papers +from Gasper Farrington. His visitor he knew to +be a discharged telegraph operator of the Great +Northern.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the latter, as the door closed on +him, “I’m ready for work, so bring on your wire-tapping +scheme soon as you like.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX_THE_WIRE_TAPPERS' id='CHAPTER_XIX_THE_WIRE_TAPPERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>THE WIRE TAPPERS</h3> +</div> +<p>When the door of the office that Ralph was +watching closed again and was locked, the young +fireman approached the room. He was very sure +that some important move against the railroad +was meditated by the two men he had just seen, +and he was anxious to overhear their conversation +if possible.</p> +<p>To his intense satisfaction Ralph found that a +coal box rested under the clouded-glass window +of the office looking into the hallway. This window +was down from the top some inches. Ralph +clambered up on the coal box, got to the side of +the window, fixed his eye at a small space where +the glass was broken, and prepared to listen to the +words of the two men he had in view.</p> +<p>Both sat in chairs now. Bartlett looked brisk +and pleased; the ex-telegraph operator was unkempt, +rather sullen, and acted like a man under +orders on some unpleasant duty. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></p> +<p>“Well, Morris,” said the former, “all ready, are +you? Tools and wire in that bag?”</p> +<p>“Batteries and all, complete outfit,” responded +the other. “What’s the programme?”</p> +<p>“You haven’t mentioned about my employing +you to any one?”</p> +<p>“Certainly not.”</p> +<p>“And have arranged to stay away from town +for several days?”</p> +<p>“A week, if you like, at ten dollars a day you +promised me,” answered Morris.</p> +<p>“Very good. Let me see. There’s a train +about 10 o’clock.”</p> +<p>“There is, if the strikers will let it run out,” +said Morris.</p> +<p>“Oh, they will. I have arranged all that,” +chuckled Bartlett. “They’ll even help it on, knowing +I’m aboard.”</p> +<p>“That so?” muttered Morris. “You must have +a pull somewhere.”</p> +<p>“I have, or at least money has, and I control +the money,” grinned Bartlett. “You are to come +with me down the line about twenty miles. You’ll +be told then about this special job.”</p> +<p>Bartlett got up and bustled about. He packed +a great many papers in a satchel, and finally announced +that they had better be starting for the +depot. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></p> +<p>“Any little by-play you see on the train,” said +Bartlett, “help along, mind you.”</p> +<p>“Why, what do you mean?” inquired Morris.</p> +<p>“You’ll see when we get there,” replied Bartlett +enigmatically.</p> +<p>When they reached the depot the two men got +aboard the one passenger coach of the night accommodation. +There was a combination express +car ahead. Ralph went to the messenger in charge +and arranged to have free access to do as he +desired.</p> +<p>When the train started up, he opened the rear +door of the car and commanded a clear view into +the passenger coach. The men he was watching +sat side by side, engaged in conversation. There +were only a few passengers aboard.</p> +<p>Ralph kept his eye on the two men. He noticed +that Bartlett consulted his watch frequently and +glanced as often from the car window. Finally, +when the brakeman was out on the rear platform +and the conductor at the front of the coach, the +young fireman saw Bartlett quickly draw a small +screwdriver from his pocket. Hiding its handle +in his palm and letting the blade run along one +finger, he dropped his arm down the seat rail into +the middle of the aisle.</p> +<p>Morris watched towards the rear platform, +Bartlett kept his eye on the conductor. His hand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +worked against the floor of the car. Finally he +drew up his arm, put the screwdriver in his pocket +and once more resumed his watch on the outside +landscape.</p> +<p>There was a sharp signal, and the train gave a +jerk. Bartlett arose to his feet. The next instant +he fell flat headlong, and lay apparently insensible +on the floor of the coach.</p> +<p>The conductor ran outside. The train started +up again. Ralph, from the open doorway, heard +the engineer shout back something about a false +signal, presumably the work of the strikers. The +train proceeded on its way.</p> +<p>It was not until then, as he re-entered the coach, +that the conductor became aware of the prostrate +man on the floor and Morris and other passengers +gathering around him in excitement and solicitude. +Ralph ventured across the platform near +to the door of the passenger coach.</p> +<p>Bartlett, seemingly unconscious, was lifted to +a seat. He soon opened his eyes, but feigned intense +pain in his side, and acted the injured man +to perfection. He began to explain, pointing to +the floor. The conductor investigated. Ralph +saw him draw a long brass screw into sight.</p> +<p>“A clever game,” murmured the young fireman. +“What a rascal the fellow is! He is laying +the foundation for a damage suit.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>Morris made himself busy, taking the names +of witnesses. When the train stopped, Bartlett +had to be almost lifted from the coach. Ralph +alighted, too, and kept in the shadow. As soon as +the train left, Bartlett was able to walk about +unassisted.</p> +<p>The little town they had arrived at was dark +and silent, and the two men met no one as they +proceeded down its principal street. Then they +turned to the south and walked a distance of +about a mile. There was a kind of a grove lining +the railroad. At its center they reached a lonely +hut.</p> +<p>“Open up, there!” shouted Bartlett, pounding +on its door with a stick he had picked up.</p> +<p>A light soon showed through the cracks of the +board shutters.</p> +<p>“Who is there?” demanded a voice from the +inside.</p> +<p>“Bartlett.”</p> +<p>“All right—come in.”</p> +<p>“Gasper Farrington,” murmured Ralph, as he +recognized the occupant of the hut.</p> +<p>It was the magnate of Stanley Junction, still +disguised, just as he had been the last night Ralph +had seen him at the home of Jim Evans. The +three men disappeared within the house. Ralph +approached and went cautiously about the place. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +He could not find a single point where he could +look into the hut.</p> +<p>The young fireman felt that it was very important +that he should learn what was going on +within the house. He at length discovered a way +of gaining access to at least one part of it. This +was at the rear where a high stack of old hay +stood. It almost touched the hut, and its top was +very near to a sashless aperture in the attic.</p> +<p>Ralph scaled the stack with some difficulty and +reached its top. In another moment he was +inside the attic. It was low, the rafters were few +and far between, and, as he crept over these, they +began to sway and creak in an alarming way.</p> +<p>“This won’t do at all,” murmured the youth in +some dismay, for it seemed that one more movement +would carry down the entire ceiling below. +He tried to retreat. There was a great cracking +sound, and before he could help himself the young +fireman went sprawling into the room below in +the midst of a shower of plaster and laths.</p> +<p>“Hello!” shouted Bartlett, jumping up from a +chair in consternation.</p> +<p>“I should say so,” exclaimed Morris, dodging +about out of the way of falling bits of plaster +from the ceiling.</p> +<p>“A spy!” cried Farrington, “a spy! Why, it’s +Ralph Fairbanks!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></p> +<p>The young fireman stood surrounded by the +three men, trying to clear his half-blinded eyes. +He was seized and hustled about, thrown into a +chair, and regained his wonted composure to find +Gasper Farrington confronting him with an angry +face.</p> +<p>“So, it’s you, is it—you, again?” spoke the +latter, gazing at Ralph with a glance full of ill +will.</p> +<p>“Yes,” responded the youth. “I can’t deny it +very well, can I?”</p> +<p>“How do you come to be up in that attic? How +long have you been there? What are you up to, +anyway?” shouted the excited Farrington.</p> +<p>“Don’t ask me any questions for I shall not +answer them,” retorted Ralph nervily. “Here I +am. Make the best of it.”</p> +<p>“See here,” said Bartlett, a deep frown on his +face. “This looks bad for us. Morris, watch +that young fellow a minute or two.”</p> +<p>He and Farrington went into the next room. +There was a low-toned consultation. When they +came back the lawyer carried a piece of rope in +his hand. It was useless for Ralph to resist, and +the three men soon had him securely bound. He +was carried into a small adjoining room, thrown +on a rude mattress, and locked in.</p> +<p>For nearly half-an-hour he could hear the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +drone of low voices in the adjoining room. Then +the door was unlocked, and Farrington came in +with a light and made sure that the captive was +securely bound.</p> +<p>“You are going to leave here, then?” asked +Bartlett.</p> +<p>“Don’t I have to?” demanded Farrington. +“This fellow has located us. I’ll take you and +Morris to the place I told you about, and move +my traps out of here early in the morning.”</p> +<p>“What are you going to do with Fairbanks?” +inquired Bartlett.</p> +<p>“I’m thinking about that,” retorted Farrington +in a grim way. “It’s the chance of a lifetime to +settle with him. You leave that to me.”</p> +<p>The speakers, shortly after this, left the hut +with Morris. Ralph found he could not release +himself, and patiently awaited developments. His +captors had left the light in the next room and +the door open, and he could see on a table the +satchel the lawyer had brought with him from +his office.</p> +<p>The sight of it caused Ralph to make renewed +efforts for freedom. He strained at his bonds +strenuously. Finally a strand gave way.</p> +<p>It was just as he began to take hope that he +might acquire his liberty before his captors +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +returned, that a sudden disaster occurred that made +the young fireman fear for his life.</p> +<p>Some more of the ceiling plastering fell. It +struck the lamp on the table, upset it, and in an +instant the room was ablaze.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX_IN_PERIL' id='CHAPTER_XX_IN_PERIL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>IN PERIL</h3> +</div> +<p>The young fireman gave a great shout of distress +and excitement as he realized that he was +in a decidedly perilous predicament. The oil of +the lamp had ignited and the hut seemed doomed.</p> +<p>Ralph tugged at his bonds in a frenzy. Another +strand of the rope gave way, then another, +and still another. He trembled with mingled surprise +and hope. Could he get free in time? It +seemed not, for the flames were spreading fast +and furiously.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a shout outside of the hut. +It was repeated, and then there came a great +crash at the door. Ralph wondered at this, for +he could think only of Farrington and his accomplices +returning to the rescue. The loud pounding +on the door, however, indicated that the persons +engaged in it had no key. There was more than +one person; Ralph ascertained this from the sound +of mingled voices.</p> +<p>Suddenly the door gave way. It was burst +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +bodily from its hinges and went crashing against +the blazing table, upsetting it. At just that +moment Ralph got one arm free. He was about +to shout for assistance when he recognized the +intruders.</p> +<p>They were Ike Slump and Mort Bemis. Both +dashed into the blazing room. One found a pail +of water and threw it in among the flames. This +subdued the blaze partially.</p> +<p>“Be quick!” cried Slump to his companion. +“Grab all you can. You have been watching the +place, and say you know where old Farrington is +likely to hide his valuables.”</p> +<p>“Right here,” replied Bemis, tearing open the +door of a cupboard. “Here’s a satchel.”</p> +<p>“And here’s another one,” said Ike Slump, +picking up the one that Bartlett had brought to +the place. “Look sharp, now. They may come +back at any moment.”</p> +<p>The two marauders ransacked the room. Ralph +refrained from calling out to them. He could +now reach his pocket knife, and just as Slump +and Bemis, pretty well singed by the flames, ran +out of the hut, he hurried to a rear door and +darted outside as well.</p> +<p>The young fireman peered around the corner +of the hut. He saw Slump and Bemis making for +the nearest timber. Ralph put after them, and as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +he gained the cover of the woods, looking back, +he made out three figures dashing towards the +blazing hut.</p> +<p>“Farrington and the others,” decided Ralph. +“This is an exciting business. Now to keep track +of Slump and Bemis. I can hardly figure out, +though, how they came to rob the hut, for Farrington +was once their friend.”</p> +<p>The precious pair of thieves scurried along +through the woods, laughing and talking gleefully +over the plunder they had secured. They must +have gone over three miles before they halted. +It was at a spot in among high bushes. Here +they had evidently been camping previously, for +there was a lot of hay on the ground, the signs +of a recent campfire, and a sort of roof of bark +overhead for shelter from rain and dew. They +sat down on the ground and Slump proceeded to +light a lantern.</p> +<p>“Your watching has amounted to something at +last, Mort,” said Slump. “Farrington went back +on us in a measly way. Why, after all we did for +him he took up with Jim Evans and others, and +even refused me a few dollars when we were in +hiding and trouble after that silk robbery. Here’s +our revenge. He’s been up to some deep game +for a week. He’ll never know who stole this +plunder.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>“Find how much of it there is,” suggested +Bemis.</p> +<p>Each took up a satchel to investigate the contents. +Ralph was intensely interested. He peered +from a safe covert near at hand.</p> +<p>“Well, well, well!” exclaimed Slump as he +opened the satchel taken from the cupboard of the +old hut. “Why, there’s a fortune here, if we can +only handle it. Bonds of the Great Northern, +stock in the Great Northern. See? some money—notes, +mortgages, deeds! This is a big find.”</p> +<p>“Same here, except the money,” reported +Bemis, investigating the documents in the satchel +brought from Stanley Junction by Bartlett. +“Mostly railroad stock in the Great Northern. +Private letters, lists of names of the strikers. +Memoranda about some wire-tapping scheme. +Say, these papers are enough to send the old +skeesicks to the penitentiary. He’ll pay a fortune +to get them back.”</p> +<p>Slump pocketed the ready cash in the satchel. +Then he was silently thoughtful for a few +moments.</p> +<p>“See here, I have my scheme,” he said finally. +“We’ll carry these satchels down to the old barge +at the creek, and hide them there. Then we’ll +block out some plan to work Farrington for their +return.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>“All right,” said Bemis. “Come ahead.”</p> +<p>They took up the satchels and started on again, +and Ralph followed them as before. They came +to a creek, and, after lining its shore for nearly +a mile, to a large roughly-made scow. Both +boarded the craft, disappeared in its hold, reappeared, +and came to the shore again.</p> +<p>“We’ll just enjoy the ready cash for the time +being,” said Slump, “and later find out a safe +way to deal with Farrington.”</p> +<p>When they had gone, Ralph went aboard the +scow. A scuttle led down into its hold. Its +cover was closed with a strong spring bolt. Ralph +drew this back and sat over the edge of the +scuttle.</p> +<p>He peered down, prepared to push the cover +clear back, when he slipped and went below head-long. +The cover fell tightly shut, and he was a +prisoner.</p> +<p>Ralph did not mind this much at the time. He +believed he could readily force up the cover in +some way when he wanted to leave the scow. He +lit some matches and proceeded to search for the +two satchels. He found them in a remote corner +of the hold.</p> +<p>It was when he prepared to leave the hold that +the young fireman discovered himself in a decided +quandary. He could barely reach the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +scuttle cover, and there was not an object in the +hold that he could use to force it open. Finally +Ralph decided that he could not hope for escape +in that direction.</p> +<p>There was a little window at one end of the +scow, but it was too small to escape by. Ralph +was compelled to accept the situation, at least until +daylight. He tried to sleep, and at dawn looked +out from the window.</p> +<p>“I will simply have to wait here until some one +passes by,” he told himself. “In the meantime, +though, Slump and Bemis may return. Can I +reach the rope holding the scow to the shore?”</p> +<p>This was secured around a tree stump. Ralph +reached with his pocket knife through the window, +and began cutting at the scow end of the +rope, which ran just above it.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the strands gave way and the +scow floated down the creek.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI_A_FRIEND_IN_NEED' id='CHAPTER_XXI_A_FRIEND_IN_NEED'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>A FRIEND IN NEED</h3> +</div> +<p>There was a sluggish current to the creek and +as soon as the scow got into midstream, it proceeded +steadily on its voyage.</p> +<p>“This is better than staying at the old mooring +place,” reasoned Ralph. “Of course, Slump and +Bemis will return there and search for the scow. +Before they do, I hope I will have drifted past +some house or settlement where I can call out for +assistance.”</p> +<p>Ralph, however, was not destined to meet with +ready relief. The scow floated along banks wild +and timbered, and, during a vigilant watch at the +little window of over two hours, he saw no human +being or habitation.</p> +<p>Finally the scow slowed up, its course became +irregular, it bumped into some obstacle, turned +around, and Ralph discovered the cause of the +stoppage. A mass of logs and other debris had +formed clear across the creek at one point. This +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +the scow lined, edging slowly along as if drawn +by some counter-current.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the craft had worked its way +into a cut-off from the creek. It floated slowly in +among a swampy wilderness of reeds and stunted +trees, came to halt at a shallow, and there remained +stationary.</p> +<p>“Why, this is worse than being in the creek,” +ruminated Ralph, with some concern. “There was +a chance of hailing some one there sooner or later, +but in this isolated spot I stand the risk of starving +to death.”</p> +<p>The young fireman was both hungry and +thirsty. He made another desperate attempt to +force the scuttle, but found it an utter impossibility. +Then he took out his pocket knife. There +was one last chance of escape in sight. If he +could cut the wood away around the bolt of the +scuttle cover, he might force it open.</p> +<p>Ralph could not work to any advantage, for the +top of the hold was fully a foot above his head. +However, patiently and hopefully he began his +task. Bit by bit, the splinters and shavings of +wood dropped about him.</p> +<p>“Too bad, that ends it,” he exclaimed suddenly, +as there was a sharp snap and the knife blade +broke in two.</p> +<p>The situation was now a very serious one. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +Ralph tried to view things calmly, but he was +considerably worried. He was somewhat encouraged, +however, a little later, as he noticed that +along the dry land lining the swampy cut-off +there were signs of a rough wagon road.</p> +<p>“All I can do now is to watch and wait,” he +declared. “I guess I will take a look over the +contents of those satchels.”</p> +<p>Once started at the task, Ralph became greatly +interested. He was amazed at what the documents +before him revealed of the plans and +villainies of old Gasper Farrington. There was +evidence enough, indeed, as Slump had said, to +send the village magnate to the penitentiary.</p> +<p>“This information will be of great value to the +railroad people,” said Ralph. “It would enable +them to at once break the strike.”</p> +<p>“Whoa!”</p> +<p>Ralph gave utterance to a cry of delight and +surprise. He ran to the little window of the +scow. Not fifty feet away was a horse and +wagon. Its driver had shouted out the word to +halt. Now he dismounted and was arranging a +part of the harness where it had come loose.</p> +<p>“Hello, there! Joe! Joe! hurry this way!” +fairly shouted Ralph.</p> +<p>“Hi, who’s that, where are you?” demanded +the person hailed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span></p> +<p>“In the scow. Ralph! Locked in! Get me +out!”</p> +<p>“I declare! It can’t be Ralph. Well! well!”</p> +<p>Nimbly as his crutches would allow him, Limpy +Joe came towards the scow. He halted as he +neared the window where he could make out the +anxious face of his friend.</p> +<p>“What are you ever doing there? How did +you get in there? Why, this is wonderful, my +finding you in this way,” cried the cripple.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you all that when I get out,” promised +Ralph. “All you have to do is to spring back the +bolt catch on the cover to the hold scuttle.”</p> +<p>“I’ll soon have you out then,” said Joe, and +with alacrity he waded into the water, got aboard +the old craft, and in another minute Ralph had +lifted himself free of his prison place.</p> +<p>“Whew! what a relief,” aspirated the young +fireman joyfully. “Joe, it is easy explaining how +I came to be here—the natural sequence of events—but +for you to be on hand to save me is marvelous.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see why,” said Joe. “I have been +coming here for the last three days.”</p> +<p>“What for?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Business, strictly.”</p> +<p>“Mother told me you had taken the horse and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +wagon and had gone off on a peddling trip,” said +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes, I sold out a lot of cheap shoes to farmers +which I got at a bargain at an auction,” explained +Joe. “Then I struck a fine new scheme. It +brought me here. I’ll explain to you later. Your +story is the one that interests me. Tell me how +you came to be in that scow, Ralph.”</p> +<p>The young fireman brought up the two satchels +from the hold of the old craft, and briefly related +to Joe the incidents of his experience with Farrington, +Slump and the others.</p> +<p>“I say, you have done a big thing in getting +those satchels,” said Joe, “and you want to place +them in safe hands at once. Come ashore, and +I’ll drive you to the nearest railroad town. You +don’t want to risk meeting any of your enemies +until you have those papers out of their reach.”</p> +<p>When they came up to the wagon, Ralph gazed +at its piled-up contents in surprise. The wagon +bottom was filled with walnuts and butternuts. +There must have been over twelve bushels of +them. On top of them was spread a lot of damp +rushes and all kinds of wild flowers, mosses and +grasses. Two large mud turtles lay under the +wagon seat.</p> +<p>“Why, what does all that layout mean?” exclaimed +Ralph, in amazement. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“That,” said little Joe, with sparkling eyes, “is +an advertising scheme. Some time ago I discovered +the finest nut grove in the timber yonder you +ever saw. I suppose I could in time have gathered +up a hundred wagon loads of them. I intend to +make a heap of money out of them. A couple of +days ago, though, I thought out a great idea. You +know Woods, the dry goods man at the Junction?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Ralph.</p> +<p>“He is a wide-awake, enterprising fellow, and +I told him of my scheme. It caught his fancy at +once. The plan was this: every week, I am to +trim up his show window with what we call ‘a +nature feature.’ We keep pace with vegetation. +This week we show a swamp outfit; next week +pumpkins and the like; the following week +autumn leaves. We work in live objects like +turtles to give motion to the scene. Do you +catch on?”</p> +<p>“It is an excellent idea and will attract lots of +attention,” declared Ralph.</p> +<p>“You bet it will,” assented his comrade with +enthusiasm. “Anyhow, my pay is fine and I expect +to work other towns in the same way. I will +show you the most artistic display window you +ever saw when I get this load of truck to town.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span></p> +<p>In about two hours they reached a railroad +station, and somewhat later Ralph caught a train +for the city. He went at once to the office of the +president of the Great Northern. There was a +long interview. As Ralph left the railroad magnate +his face was pleased and his heart light and +hopeful.</p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” said Mr. Grant, “I cannot express +my satisfaction at your discoveries. It is as we +supposed—some individual has been encouraging +the strikers. There are ample proofs among these +papers of the fact that Gasper Farrington has +hired the strikers to commit all kinds of misdeeds +to scare stockholders of the road. He has thus +been enabled to buy up their stock at a reduced +figure, to make an enormous profit when the strike +is over. He had a scheme to tap our wires and +cause further complications and trouble. Within +a week the backbone of the strike will be broken, +and we shall not forget your agency in assisting +us to win out.”</p> +<p>Ralph went back to Stanley Junction that same +day. He related all his varied adventures to his +mother that evening.</p> +<p>“One thing I discovered from those documents +in the satchels,” said Ralph. “Farrington has +transferred all his property to Bartlett so we could +not collect the money he owes us.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></p> +<p>“Then we shall lose our twenty thousand dollars +after all,” said Mrs. Fairbanks anxiously.</p> +<p>“Wait and see,” replied Ralph, with a mysterious +smile. “I am not yet through with Gasper +Farrington.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII_THE_LIMITED_MAIL' id='CHAPTER_XXII_THE_LIMITED_MAIL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>THE LIMITED MAIL</h3> +</div> +<p>“All aboard!”</p> +<p>The conductor of the Limited Mail gave the +signal cheerily. Ralph swung in from his side of +the cab on the crack locomotive of the road. Old +John Griscom gave a chuckle of delight and the +trip to the city began.</p> +<p>It was ten days after the adventure in the scow—ten +days full of activity and progress in the +railroad interests of the Great Northern. This +was the morning when old-time schedules were +resumed and every part of the machinery of the +line went back to routine.</p> +<p>“I tell you, lad, it feels good to start out with +clear tracks and the regular system again. I’m +proud of you, Fairbanks. You did up those +strikers in fine style, and it will be a long time +before we shall have any more trouble in that +line.”</p> +<p>“I hope so, Mr. Griscom,” said Ralph. “The +company seems determined to teach the strikers a +lesson.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span></p> +<p>This was true. Immediately after the visit of +Ralph to the city, the railroad people had set at +work to make the most of the evidence in their +hands. A statement of the facts they had discovered +was given to the public, a series of indictments +found against Gasper Farrington, Bartlett, +Jim Evans and others, and a vigorous prosecution +for conspiracy was begun. Among the most important +witnesses against them was Zeph Dallas. +Farrington and Bartlett disappeared. Evans and +the others were sent to jail.</p> +<p>A great revulsion in popular sentiment occurred +when the true details of the strike movement were +made known. The respectable element of the old +union had scored a great victory, and work was +resumed with many undesirable employes on the +blacklist.</p> +<p>It seemed to Ralph now as though all unfavorable +obstacles in the way of his success had been +removed. He believed that Slump and Bemis +were powerless to trouble him farther. As to +Farrington, Ralph expected at some time to see +that wily old schemer again, for the railroad was +in possession of papers of value to the discredited +railroad magnate.</p> +<p>Ralph had now become quite an expert at his +work as a fireman. There was no grumbling at +any time from the veteran engineer, for Ralph +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +had a system in his work which showed always in +even, favorable results. The locomotive was in +splendid order and a finer train never left Stanley +Junction. At many stations cheers greeted this +practical announcement of the end of the strike.</p> +<p>There was no jar nor break on the route until +they reached a station near Afton. The engine +was going very fast, when, turning a curve, Griscom +uttered a shout and turned the throttle +swiftly.</p> +<p>“Too late!” he gasped hoarsely.</p> +<p>The young fireman had seen what Griscom +saw. It was an alarming sight. At a street crossing +a baby carriage was slowly moving down an +incline. A careless nurse was at some distance +conversing with a companion. The shrill shriek +of the whistle caused her to discover the impending +disaster, but she had become too terrified to +move.</p> +<p>Ralph readily saw that speed would not be +greatly diminished by the time the locomotive +overtook the child in the baby carriage, and in a +flash he acted. He was out on the running board +and onto the cowcatcher so quickly that he seemed +fairly to fly. Grasping a bracket, the young fireman +poised for a move that meant life or death +for the imperiled child.</p> +<p>The locomotive pounded the rails and shivered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +under the pressure of the powerful air brakes. +Ralph swung far down, one hand extended. The +baby carriage had rolled directly between the rails +and stood there motionless.</p> +<p>It contained a beautiful child, who, with an +innocent smile, greeted the approaching monster +of destruction as if it were some great, pleasing +toy. Ralph’s heart was in his throat.</p> +<p>“Grab out!” yelled Griscom, fairly beside himself +with fear and suspense.</p> +<p>The young fireman’s eyes were dilated, his +whole frame trembled. Quick as lightning his hand +shot out. It met in a bunch of the clothing of the +child. He lifted; the vehicle lifted, too, for a +strap held in its occupant.</p> +<p>There was a terrific tension on the arm +of the young railroader. The lower part +of the vehicle was crunched under the cowcatcher +and the child was almost borne away with it. +Then the pressure lightened. With a great breath +of relief and joy Ralph drew the child towards +him, tangled up in the wreckage of the baby carriage.</p> +<p>The train stopped. Griscom did not say a word +as they backed down. His face was white, his +eyes startled, his breath came hard, but he gave his +intrepid young assistant a look of approbation and +devotion that thrilled Ralph to the heart. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span></p> +<p>A crowd had gathered around the distracted +nurse at the street crossing. She was hysterical +as the rescued child was placed in safety in her +arms. Other women were crying. A big policeman +arrived on the scene. Griscom gave the particulars +of the occurrence.</p> +<p>“Name, please?” said the officer to Ralph.</p> +<p>“Oh, that isn’t necessary at all,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Isn’t it? Do you know whose child that is?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“The father is Judge Graham, the richest man +in the town. Why, he’d hunt the world over to +find you. A lucky fellow you are.”</p> +<p>Ralph gave his name and the train proceeded +on its way amid the cheers of the passengers, who +had learned of the brave act of the young fireman. +When terminus was reached, a fine-looking +old lady approached the locomotive.</p> +<p>“Mr. Fairbanks,” she said to Ralph, “the passengers +desire you to accept a slight testimonial +of their appreciation of your bravery in saving +that young child.”</p> +<p>Ralph flushed modestly.</p> +<p>“This looks like being paid for doing a simple +duty,” he said, as the lady extended an envelope.</p> +<p>“Not at all, Mr. Fairbanks. It was a noble act, +and we all love you for it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span></p> +<p>“I think more of that sentiment than this +money,” declared Ralph.</p> +<p>The envelope contained fifty dollars. Griscom +told the story of the rescue all over Stanley Junction +next day, and the local newspapers made +quite an article of it.</p> +<p>The next morning Ralph had just completed +his breakfast, when his mother went to the front +door to answer the bell. She showed some one +into the parlor and told Ralph that a gentleman +wished to see him.</p> +<p>The young fireman was somewhat astonished, +upon entering the parlor, to be grasped by the +hand and almost embraced by a stranger.</p> +<p>“I am Judge Graham,” spoke the latter, in a +trembling, excited tone. “Young man, you saved +the life of my only child.”</p> +<p>“I was glad to,” said Ralph modestly.</p> +<p>The judge went on with a description of the +joy and gratitude of the mother of the child, of +his sentiments towards Ralph, and concluded with +the words:</p> +<p>“And now, Mr. Fairbanks, I wish to reward +you.”</p> +<p>“That has been done already,” said Ralph, “in +your gracious words to me.”</p> +<p>“Not at all, not at all,” declared the judge. +“Come, don’t be modest. I am a rich man.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span></p> +<p>“And I a rich mother in having so noble a son,” +spoke Mrs. Fairbanks, with deep emotion. “You +must not think of a reward, sir. He will not take +it.”</p> +<p>After a while the judge left the house, but he +did so with an insistent and significant declaration +that “he would not forget” Ralph.</p> +<p>The young fireman was surprised to see him +returning a few minutes later, in the company +of two of his own friends, Mr. Trevor, the +nephew of the president of the Great Northern, +and Van Sherwin.</p> +<p>“Well, this is a queer meeting,” cried Van +with enthusiasm, as they entered the house. “Here +we met Judge Graham, who is a great friend of +Mr. Trevor, and the very man we wished to see.”</p> +<p>This statement was soon explained. It appeared +that Mr. Trevor had fully recovered +his health, and had come to Stanley Junction with +Van to make preparations to issue and sell the +bonds of the Short Cut Railroad. The judge was +one of the friends he had intended to interview +about buying some bonds.</p> +<p>For an hour young Trevor recited to Judge +Graham the prospects of the little railway line +and their plans regarding the same. Ralph was +fascinated at his glowing descriptions of its great +future. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>Ralph’s visitors went away, but in a short time +Van returned to the cottage.</p> +<p>“I say, Ralph,” he remarked, “Judge Graham +is going to invest in those bonds.”</p> +<p>“That’s good,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“And I heard him tell Mr. Trevor to put down +an extra block of them in the name of Ralph +Fairbanks.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII_THE_PICNIC_TRAIN' id='CHAPTER_XXIII_THE_PICNIC_TRAIN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>THE PICNIC TRAIN</h3> +</div> +<p>Zeph Dallas had returned to work. His connection +with the strikers had been fully explained +to the railroad people by Ralph, and the farmer +boy was readily taken back into the service of the +company. Zeph boarded with Mrs. Fairbanks, +and Limpy Joe did, too, when he was in Stanley +Junction.</p> +<p>The enterprising Joe was winning his way famously. +His advertising scheme was a grand +success, and the nuts he gathered brought in a +good many dollars. One day he came to town +to announce that he was going to move his traps, +thanking Mrs. Fairbanks for her great kindness +to him in the past.</p> +<p>“Are you going to leave the Junction permanently, +Joe?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“I think so,” answered the cripple. “You see, I +have been up to the headquarters of the Short +Line Railroad. They can use my horse and +wagon. They offer me a good salary to cook for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +them, and the concession of running a restaurant +when their line is completed.”</p> +<p>“A good opportunity, that, Joe,” said Ralph, +“although the main prospect you mention is far +in the future, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” declared Joe. “I guess you +haven’t kept track of proceedings in The Barrens. +Their telegraph line is clear through, both ways +from headquarters now. The bonds are nearly +all sold, and they expect to begin to lay the rails +in earnest next week.”</p> +<p>“I noticed a good deal of activity at our end of +the line,” said Ralph. “I think the scheme is going +to be a success. I almost wish I was going to +work with you fellows.”</p> +<p>It was now drawing on towards late fall. For +several weeks the young fireman had not been +disturbed by his enemies. Work had gone on +smoothly. He was learning more and more every +day, and his savings amounted to quite a pretentious +sum.</p> +<p>The only outside issue that troubled Ralph was +the fact that they had not yet recovered the +twenty thousand dollars due his mother from old +Gasper Farrington. That individual had disappeared. +Ralph kept a sharp lookout, for upon +finding the magnate and bringing him to terms +depended the last chance of getting the money. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span></p> +<p>There was the last picnic of the season one day, +and Ralph had been assigned to duty to look after +things generally. He was surprised when Forgan +took him off the run of the Limited Mail.</p> +<p>“It will be a sort of vacation holiday for you, +lad,” said the roundhouse foreman. “We want +somebody reliable to look after the train, with +so many women and children aboard. You will +be boss over the engineer, fireman and the whole +train crew for the day.”</p> +<p>“Quite an important commission,” said Ralph, +“but what will the train crew say about it?”</p> +<p>“Oh, they will be glad to work with the responsibility +on somebody else. Here is the +schedule. Be careful of your running time, Fairbanks. +I wouldn’t have anything happen to the +picnic train for worlds.”</p> +<p>Ralph studied out the situation. When the +train left Stanley Junction he took a position in +the locomotive, attended to reports at all stations +they passed, and the train reached the picnic +grounds in safety and was run on the siding.</p> +<p>Ralph gave himself up to the enjoyment of a +real holiday. He knew nearly everybody on the +picnic grounds and nearly everybody there knew +him. About the middle of the afternoon a boy +living at the Junction came up to him.</p> +<p>“Say, Ralph,” he remarked, tendering the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +young fireman a note. “A fellow out in the woods +gave me this for you.”</p> +<p>Ralph took the missive, and, opening it, read +its contents with mingled surprise and suspicion. +The note ran:</p> +<p>“If R. F. wants to hear of something to his +advantage, come to the old railroad bridge right +away.”</p> +<p>There was no signature to the scrawl, but +Ralph quite naturally thought of Ike Slump and +his crowd. That did not, however, deter him +from going to keep the appointment. He cut a +stout cudgel and proceeded to the old railroad +bridge named in the note.</p> +<p>The young fireman glanced keenly about him, +but for some time did not get a view of anybody +in the vicinity. Finally from a clump of bushes +up the incline a handkerchief waved. Ralph +climbed the embankment to find himself facing +Ike Slump.</p> +<p>The latter was ragged and starved-looking. To +Ralph it appeared that the ex-roundhouse boy had +been having a decidedly hard time of it recently.</p> +<p>“You needn’t carry any stick around here,” said +Slump, sullenly. “You needn’t be afraid of me.”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” answered Ralph, “although your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +actions in the past would warrant my having a +whole battery around me.”</p> +<p>“That’s done with,” asserted Slump, quite +meekly. “Bemis is up there a little ways. You +needn’t be afraid of him, either.”</p> +<p>“What are you getting at with all this talk, +Ike?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Why, we want to be friends.”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“Because—because we’re tired of starving and +being hunted and the like,” said Slump. “You +have won out, we are beaten. We want to work +together.”</p> +<p>“I declare I don’t understand what you are +driving at,” said Ralph. “Come, Ike Slump, play +no more crafty games. It don’t pay. Be honest +and straight. What did you bring me here for?”</p> +<p>“To make some money for both of us.”</p> +<p>“In what way?”</p> +<p>“You would give a good deal to find Gasper +Farrington, wouldn’t you, now?”</p> +<p>“I certainly am anxious to locate that man, +yes,” answered Ralph frankly.</p> +<p>“All right, we know where he is.”</p> +<p>“And you are willing to make amends, I suppose, +for your past misconduct by telling me +where Farrington is to be found, so that I can +have him arrested.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span></p> +<p>“Well, I guess not!” cried Mort Bemis, coming +upon the scene. “We want pay for what we do. +We want a hundred dollars to begin with. A lot +more when you get that money he owes you.”</p> +<p>“My friends,” said Ralph, promptly turning +from the spot. “Not a cent. I don’t believe you +know how to act square. You don’t show it by +your present proposition. If you really want to be +helped, and if you are sorry for your past wrong +doing, come back to Stanley Junction, tell the +truth, take your punishment like men, and I will +be your good friend.”</p> +<p>“Well, you’re a bold one,” sneered Slump, getting +very angry. “You won’t help us out, then?”</p> +<p>“With money—on your promise? No. I shall +find Gasper Farrington finally without your aid, +and, if you have nothing further to say, I shall +return to the picnic grounds.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think you will,” said Bemis, roughly +placing himself in Ralph’s path.</p> +<p>“Why not?” inquired the young fireman calmly, +grasping his cudgel with a closer grip.</p> +<p>“Because—say, Ike, grab him, quick! If he +won’t deal with us and we can get him a prisoner, +Farrington will pay us. You know he always +wanted to get rid of him.”</p> +<p>Ralph prepared to meet the enemy squarely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +Slump and Bemis rushed towards him. Before +they could begin the fight, however, a man burst +through the underbrush whom Ralph recognized +as a Stanley Junction police officer detailed on +picnic duty.</p> +<p>“Found you, my friends, have I?” he hailed the +two fellows. “Grab one of them, Fairbanks, I’ve +got the other. I was on the lookout for them. +They stole a purse from the basket of an old lady +in the picnic grounds a few hours ago. Slump? +Bemis? Well, you are a fine pair, you are!”</p> +<p>The officer insisted on arresting them, the more +so that upon recognizing them now he suddenly +remembered that a reward had been offered for +their apprehension by the railroad company. The +crestfallen plotters were taken to the train and +locked up in one end of the express car.</p> +<p>Ralph went to them after a spell and tried to +learn something more from them, but they were +now sullen and vengeful.</p> +<p>In due time the train was backed down to the +main track, the engine detached made a run for +water, and, returning, stood some little distance +from the cars.</p> +<p>The fireman and engineer left the engine to +help their families gather up their traps and take +them aboard the train. Ralph was busy in the +cab. He was looking over the gauges when a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +sudden blow from behind stretched him insensible +on the coal of the tender.</p> +<p>As he slowly opened his eyes Ralph saw Slump +and Bemis in the cab. In some way they had +escaped, had stolen the locomotive, and were +speeding away to liberty.</p> +<p>“Just heard a whistle. It must be the Dover +Accommodation,” Slump was remarking. “Get +off and open the siding switch, Mort.”</p> +<p>This Bemis did, and the engine started up +again. Ralph thrilled at the words Slump had +spoken. He was weak and dizzy-headed, but he +made a desperate effort, staggered to his feet and +sprang from the cab.</p> +<p>Had the locomotive remained at the picnic +grounds, the train would have been switched to +the siding again until the Accommodation passed. +As it was, unwarned, the Accommodation would +crash into the train.</p> +<p>Ralph heard its whistle dangerously near. He +looked up and down the tracks. Ahead, a bridge +crossed the tracks, and near it was a framework +with leather pendants to warn freight brakemen +in the night time. Towards this Ralph ran swiftly. +Weak as he was, he managed to scale the framework, +gained its center, and sat there panting, +poised for the most desperate action of his young +career. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p> +<p>The Accommodation train came into view. +Ralph sat transfixed, knowing that he would soon +face death, but unmindful of the fact in the hope +that his action would save the lives of those +aboard the picnic train.</p> +<p>The Accommodation neared him. The young +fireman got ready to drop. He let go, crashed +past the roof of the cab, and landed between the +astonished engineer and fireman.</p> +<p>“The picnic train—on the main, stop your locomotive!” +he panted, and fainted dead away.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV_IN_THE_BARRENS' id='CHAPTER_XXIV_IN_THE_BARRENS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>IN “THE BARRENS”</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph Fairbanks had taken a terrible risk, +and had met with his first serious accident since +he had commenced his career as a young fireman. +When he next opened his eyes he was lying in his +own bed, a doctor and his mother bending solicitously +over him.</p> +<p>Slowly reason returned to him. He stared +wonderingly about him and tried to arise. A +terrible pain in his feet caused him to subside. +Then Ralph realized that he had suffered some +serious injury from his reckless drop into the +locomotive cab near the picnic grounds.</p> +<p>“What is it, doctor?” he asked faintly.</p> +<p>“A bad hurt in one arm and some ugly bruises. +It is a wonder you were not crippled for life, or +killed outright.”</p> +<p>“The train—the picnic train!” cried Ralph, +clearly remembering now the incidents of the +stolen engine. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p>“The Accommodation stopped in time to avert +a disaster,” said Mrs. Fairbanks.</p> +<p>Ralph closed his eyes with a satisfied expression +on his face. He soon sank into slumber. It was +late in the day when he awoke. Gradually his +strength came back to him, and he was able to +sit up in bed.</p> +<p>The next day he improved still more, and +within a week he was able to walk down to the +roundhouse. Forgan and all his old friends +greeted him royally.</p> +<p>“I suppose you have the nerve to think you are +going to report for duty,” observed Forgan. +“Well, you needn’t try. Orders are to sick list +you for a month’s vacation.”</p> +<p>“I will be able to work in a week,” declared +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Vacation on full pay,” continued the roundhouse +foreman.</p> +<p>Ralph had to accept the situation. He told his +mother the news, and they had a long talk over +affairs in general. The doctor advised rest and +a change of scene. The next day Van Sherwin +called on his way back to The Barrens. That +resulted in the young fireman joining him, and +his mother urged him to remain with his friends +and enjoy his vacation.</p> +<p>A recruit to the ranks of the workers of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +Short Cut Railroad presented himself as Ralph +and Van left for the depot one morning to ride +as far as Wilmer. This was Zeph Dallas.</p> +<p>“No use talking,” said the farmer boy. “I’m +lonesome here at Stanley Junction and I’m going +to join Joe.”</p> +<p>“All right,” assented Van, “if you think it wise +to leave a steady job here.”</p> +<p>“Why, you’ll soon be able to give me a better +one, won’t you?” insisted Zeph. “It just suits +me, your layout down there in The Barrens. Take +me along with you.”</p> +<p>When they reached Wilmer and left the train, +Van pointed proudly to a train of freight cars on +the Great Northern tracks loaded with rails and +ties.</p> +<p>“That’s our plunder,” he said cheerily. “Mr. +Trevor is hustling, I tell you. Why, Ralph, we +expect to have this end of the route completed +within thirty days.”</p> +<p>As they traversed the proposed railroad line, +Ralph was more and more interested in the project. +Little squads of men were busily employed +here and there grading a roadbed, and the telegraph +line was strung over the entire territory.</p> +<p>They reached the headquarters about noon. A +new sign appeared on the house, which was the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +center of the new railroad system. It was +“Gibson.”</p> +<p>A week passed by filled with great pleasure for +the young railroader. Evenings, Mr. Gibson and +his young friends discussed the progress and +prospects of the railroad. There were to be two +terminal stations and a restaurant at the Springfield +end of the route. There were only two +settlements in The Barrens, and depots were to +be erected there.</p> +<p>“We shall have quite some passenger service,” +declared Mr. Gibson, “for we shorten the travel +route for all transfer passengers as well as +freight. The Great Northern people do not at +all discourage the scheme, and the Midland +Central has agreed to give us some freight contracts. +Oh, we shall soon build up into a first-class, +thriving, little railroad enterprise.”</p> +<p>One evening a storm prevented Ralph from returning +to headquarters, so he camped in with +some workmen engaged in grading an especially +difficult part of the route. The evening was +passed very pleasantly, but just before nine +o’clock, when all had thought of retiring, a great +outcry came from the tent of the cook.</p> +<p>“I’ve got him, I’ve caught the young thief,” +shouted the cook, dragging into view a small boy +who was sobbing and trembling with grief. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p> +<p>“What’s the row?” inquired one of the workmen.</p> +<p>“Why, I’ve missed eatables for a week or more +at odd times, and I just caught this young robber +stealing a ham.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t steal it,” sobbed the detected +youngster. “I just took it. You’d take it, too, +if you was in our fix. We’re nearly starved.”</p> +<p>“Who is nearly starved?” asked Ralph, approaching +the culprit.</p> +<p>“Me and dad. We were just driven to pick up +food anywhere. You’ve got lots of it. You +needn’t miss it. Please let me go, mister.”</p> +<p>“No, the jail for you,” threatened the cook +direfully.</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t take me away from my father,” +pleaded the affrighted youngster. “He couldn’t +get along without me.”</p> +<p>“See here, cook, let me take this little fellow in +hand,” suggested Ralph.</p> +<p>“All right,” assented the cook, adding in an +undertone, “give him a good scare.”</p> +<p>Ralph took the boy to one side. His name was +Ned. His father, he said, was Amos Greenleaf, +an old railroader, crippled in an accident some +years before. He had become very poor, and they +had settled in an old house in The Barrens a few +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +miles distant. Ralph made up a basket of food +with the cook’s permission.</p> +<p>“Now then, Ned,” said Ralph, “you lead the +way to your home.”</p> +<p>“You won’t have me arrested?”</p> +<p>“Not if you have been telling me the truth.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t,” declared the young lad. “It’s +worse than I tell it. Dad is sick and has no medicine. +We have nearly starved.”</p> +<p>It was an arduous tramp to the wretched hovel +they at last reached. Ralph was shocked as he +entered it. It was almost bare of furniture, and +the poor old man who lay on a miserable cot was +thin, pale and racked with pain.</p> +<p>“I am Ralph Fairbanks, a fireman on the Great +Northern,” said the young railroader, “and I came +with your boy to see what we can do for you.”</p> +<p>“A railroader?” said Greenleaf. “I am glad to +see you. I was once in that line myself. Crippled +in a wreck. Got poor, poorer, bad to worse, and +here I am.”</p> +<p>“Too bad,” said Ralph sympathizingly. “Why +have you not asked some of your old comrades to +help you?”</p> +<p>“They are kind-hearted men, and did help me +for a time, till I became ashamed to impose on +their generosity.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p> +<p>“How were you injured, Mr. Greenleaf?” +asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“In a wreck. It was at the river just below +Big Rock. I was a brakeman. The train struck +a broken switch and three cars went into the creek. +I went with them and was crippled for life. One +of them was a car of another road and not so +high as the others, or I would have been crushed +to death.”</p> +<p>“A car of another road?” repeated Ralph with +a slight start.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“You don’t know what road it belonged to?”</p> +<p>“No. They recovered the other two cars. I +never heard what became of the foreign car. I +guess it was all smashed up.”</p> +<p>“Gondola?”</p> +<p>“No, box car.”</p> +<p>Ralph was more and more interested.</p> +<p>“When did this occur, Mr. Greenleaf?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“Five years ago.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible,” said Ralph to himself, “that +I have at last found a clew to the missing car +Zeph Dallas and that car finder are so anxious to +locate?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV_TOO_LATE' id='CHAPTER_XXV_TOO_LATE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>TOO LATE</h3> +</div> +<p>Two days later Ralph went down the line of +the little railroad to where it met the tracks of the +Great Northern. Mr. Gibson had sent him with +some instructions to the men at work there, and at +the request of the young fireman had assigned +him to work at that point.</p> +<p>This consisted in checking up the construction +supplies delivered by rail. Ralph had a motive in +coming to this terminus of the Short Line Route. +The information he had gained from the old, +crippled railroader, Amos Greenleaf, had set him +to thinking. He found Zeph Dallas working industriously, +but said nothing about his plans until +the next day.</p> +<p>At the noon hour he secured temporary leave of +absence from work for Zeph and himself, and +went to find his friend.</p> +<p>Zeph was a good deal surprised when Ralph +told him that they were to have the afternoon for +a ramble, but readily joined his comrade. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></p> +<p>“Saw some friends of yours hanging around +here yesterday,” said the farmer boy.</p> +<p>“That so?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes, Slump and Bemis. Guess they were after +work or food, and they sloped the minute they set +eyes on me. Say, where are you bound for anyway, +Ralph?”</p> +<p>“For Wilmer.”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“I want to look around the river near there. +The truth is, Zeph, I fancy I have discovered a +clew to that missing freight car.”</p> +<p>“What!” cried Zeph excitedly. “You don’t +mean car No. 9176?”</p> +<p>“I mean just that,” assented Ralph. “Here, let +us find a comfortable place to sit down, and I’ll +tell you the whole story.”</p> +<p>Ralph selected a spot by a fence lining the railroad +right of way. Then he narrated the details +of his interview with Amos Greenleaf.</p> +<p>“Say,” exclaimed Zeph, “I believe there’s something +to this. Every point seems to tally somehow +to what information the car finder gave me, don’t +you think so? Besides, in investigating the matter, +I heard about this same wreck. And five +years ago? Ralph, this is worth looking up, don’t +you think so?”</p> +<p>Zeph was fairly incoherent amid his excitement. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +He could not sit still, and arose to his feet and +began walking around restlessly.</p> +<p>“You see, it is a long time since the car disappeared,” +said Ralph, “and we may not be able +to find any trace of it. The car finder, in his +investigations, must have heard of this wreck. +Still, as you say, it is worth following up the clew, +and that is why I got a leave from work for the +afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Hello,” said Zeph, looking in among the +bushes abruptly, “some one in there? No, I don’t +see anybody now, but there was a rustling there +a minute or two ago.”</p> +<p>“Some bird or animal, probably,” said Ralph. +“Come on, Zeph, we will go to the bridge and +start on our investigations.”</p> +<p>The river near Wilmer was a broad stream. +It was quite deep and had a swift current. The +boys started down one bank, conversing and +watching out. Ralph laughed humorously after +a while.</p> +<p>“I fancy this is a kind of a blind hunt, Zeph,” +he said. “We certainly cannot expect to find that +car lying around loose.”</p> +<p>“Well, hardly, but we might find out where it +went to if we go far enough,” declared Zeph. “I +tell you, I shall never give it up now if I have to +go clear to the end of this river.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></p> +<p>They kept on until quite late in the afternoon, +but made no discoveries. They passed a little +settlement and went some distance beyond it. +Then Ralph decided to return to the railroad +camp.</p> +<p>“All right,” said Zeph, “only I quit work to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“To find that car. I say, I’m thirsty. Let us +get a drink of water at that old farm house +yonder.”</p> +<p>They went to the place in question and were +drinking from the well bucket when the apparent +owner of the place approached them.</p> +<p>“Won’t you have a cup or a glass, my lads?” +he inquired kindly.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, this is all right,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“On a tramp, are you?” continued the farmer, +evidently glad to have someone to talk to.</p> +<p>“In a way, yes,” answered Ralph, and then, +a sudden idea struck him, he added: “By the +way, you are an old resident here, I suppose?”</p> +<p>“Forty years or more.”</p> +<p>“Do you happen to remember anything of a +wreck at the bridge at Wilmer about five years +ago?”</p> +<p>“Let me see,” mused the man. “That was the +time of the big freshet. Yes, I do remember it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +faintly. It’s the freshet I remember most though. +Enough timber floated by here to build a barn. +See that old shed yonder?” and he pointed to a +low structure. “Well, I built that out of timber +I fished ashore. Lumber yard beyond Wilmer +floated into the creek, and all of us along here got +some of it.”</p> +<p>“What do you know about the wreck?” asked +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Heard about it at the time, that’s all. Sort of +connect the freshet with it. That was a great +washout,” continued the farmer. “Even sheds and +chicken coops floated by. And say, a box car, +too.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” cried Zeph, with a start as if he was +shot.</p> +<p>“Indeed?” said Ralph, with a suppressed +quiver of excitement in his tone.</p> +<p>“Yes. It went whirling by, big and heavy as +it was.”</p> +<p>“Say, Mister, you don’t know where that car +went to, do you?” inquired Zeph anxiously.</p> +<p>“Yes, I do. I know right where it is now.”</p> +<p>“You do?”</p> +<p>“Yes, old Jabez Kane, ten miles down the +creek, got it. He is using it now for a tool shed.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” again cried Zeph, trembling with suspense +and hope. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p> +<p>Ralph nudged him to be quiet. He asked a +few more questions of the farmer and they left +the place.</p> +<p>“Ralph,” cried Zeph wildly, “we’ve found it!”</p> +<p>“Maybe not,” answered the young fireman. “It +may not be the same car.”</p> +<p>“But you’re going to find out?”</p> +<p>“It’s pretty late. We had better make a day of +it to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“All right, if we can’t attend to it to-day,” said +Zeph disappointedly; and then both returned to +camp.</p> +<p>Next morning early both started for the creek +again. By proceeding across the country diagonally, +they saved some distance.</p> +<p>It was about noon when they approached a +rickety, old farmhouse which a man had told +them belonged to Jabez Kane.</p> +<p>“There it is, there it is,” cried Zeph, as they +neared it.</p> +<p>“Yes, there is an old box car in the yard near +the creek, sure enough,” said Ralph.</p> +<p>They entered the farm yard. The box of the +car they looked at sat flat on the ground. It had +been whitewashed several times, it appeared, so +they could trace no markings on it. They approached +it and stood looking it over when a man +came out of the house near by. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></p> +<p>“Hey,” he hailed, advancing upon them. +“What you trespassing for?”</p> +<p>“Are we?” inquired Ralph, with a pleasant +smile. “We mean no harm.”</p> +<p>“Dunno about that,” said the farmer suspiciously. +“Was you here last night?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” answered Ralph.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you want?”</p> +<p>“I was sort of interested in this old car,” announced +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Why so?” demanded Kane.</p> +<p>“Well, we are looking for a car that floated +down the creek here about five years ago.”</p> +<p>“For the railroad?” asked the farmer.</p> +<p>“In a way, yes, in a way, no.”</p> +<p>“Does the railroad want to take it away from +me?”</p> +<p>“Certainly not. They would like to know, +though, if it’s a car of the Southern Air Line +and numbered 9176.”</p> +<p>“You’ve got it, lad. This was just that car. +What’s the amazing interest in it all of a sudden? +Look here,” and he took them around to the other +side of the car. “Last night two boys came here; +my son saw them hanging around here. Then +they disappeared. This morning I found the car +that way.”</p> +<p>Ralph and Zeph stared in astonishment. A four-foot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +space of the boards on the outside of the car +had been torn away. At one point there was a +jagged break in the inside sheathing. In a flash +the same idea occurred to both of them.</p> +<p>“Too late!” groaned poor Zeph. “Some one +has been here and the diamonds are gone.”</p> +<p>Ralph was stupefied. He remembered the +rustling in the bushes when they were discussing +their plans the day previous. He believed that +their conversation had been overheard by some +one.</p> +<p>Ralph asked the man to send for his son, which +he did, and Ralph interrogated him closely. The +result was a sure conviction that Ike Slump and +Mort Bemis had secured the diamonds hidden in +the box car about five years previous.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVI_THE_MAD_ENGINEER' id='CHAPTER_XXVI_THE_MAD_ENGINEER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>THE MAD ENGINEER</h3> +</div> +<p>“Well, good-bye, Zeph.”</p> +<p>“Good-bye, Ralph. Another of my wild +dreams of wealth gone.”</p> +<p>“Don’t fret about it, Zeph.”</p> +<p>“How can I help it?”</p> +<p>Ralph had decided to return home. He was +now fully recuperated, and his vacation period +would expire in a few days.</p> +<p>It was the evening of the day when they had +discovered the missing box car only to find that +others had discovered it before them. Ralph had +arranged to flag a freight at the terminus of the +Short Line Route and was down at the tracks +awaiting its coming.</p> +<p>The freight arrived, Ralph clambered to the +cab, waved his hand in adieu to Zeph, and was +warmly welcomed by his friends on the engine.</p> +<p>They had proceeded only a short distance when +a boy came running down an embankment. So +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +rapid and reckless was his progress that Ralph +feared he would land under the locomotive. The +lad, however, grasped the step of the cab, and was +dragged dangerously near to the wheels. Ralph +seized him just in time and pulled him up into the +cab.</p> +<p>“Well!” commented the engineer, “it’s a good +thing we were going slow. Here, land out as you +landed in, kid.”</p> +<p>“Please don’t,” cried the boy, gazing back with +tear-filled eyes and trembling all over. “Please +let me ride with you.”</p> +<p>“Against the rules.”</p> +<p>“See, there they are!” almost shrieked the boy, +pointing to two men who came rushing down the +embankment. “Oh, don’t let them get me.”</p> +<p>“Give him a show till I learn his story,” said +Ralph to the engineer, so the latter put on steam +and the two men were outdistanced.</p> +<p>“Oh, thank you, thank you!” panted the boy, +clinging close to Ralph.</p> +<p>“Come up on the water tank,” said Ralph, “and +I’ll have a talk with you.”</p> +<p>The lad, whom the young fireman had befriended, +was a forlorn-looking being. He wore +no shoes, was hatless, and had on a coat many +sizes too large for him.</p> +<p>“Now then, what’s the trouble?” inquired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +Ralph, when they were both seated on the water +tank.</p> +<p>“Those men were pursuing me,” said the lad.</p> +<p>“What for?”</p> +<p>“I was running away from them. They are +my uncles, and they have been very wicked and +cruel to me. They want to send me to a reform +school to get rid of me, and locked me up. I ran +away this morning, but they got trace of me +again.”</p> +<p>“What is your name?”</p> +<p>“Earl Danvers. My father died and left them +my guardians. They are after the property, I +guess.”</p> +<p>“What do you propose to do?”</p> +<p>“Oh, anything to get away from them.”</p> +<p>Ralph talked for quite a while with the boy and +learned his entire history. Then he said:</p> +<p>“This is a case for a lawyer. Would you like +to come to Stanley Junction with me and have a +lawyer look into the matter for you?”</p> +<p>“No. I only want to escape from those bad +men.”</p> +<p>“That will follow. You come with me. I will +interest myself in your case and see that you are +protected.”</p> +<p>“How kind you are—you are the only friend I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +ever knew,” cried the boy, bursting into tears of +gratitude.</p> +<p>Ralph took Earl Danvers home with him when +they reached Stanley Junction. His kind-hearted +mother was at once interested in the forlorn +refugee. They managed to fit him out with some +comfortable clothing, and Ralph told him to take +a rest of a few days, when he would have him +see their lawyer and tell him his story.</p> +<p>Two days later the young fireman reported at +the roundhouse for duty, and the ensuing morning +started on a new term of service as fireman of +the Limited Mail.</p> +<p>The first trip out Griscom was engineer. Ralph +noticed that he looked pale and worried. The run +to the city was made in a way quite unusual with +the brisk and lively veteran railroader. Ralph +waited until they were on their way home from +the roundhouse that evening. Then he said:</p> +<p>“Mr. Griscom, you have not been your usual +self to-day.”</p> +<p>“That’s true, lad,” nodded the engineer gravely.</p> +<p>“Anything the matter especially?”</p> +<p>“Oh, a little extra care on my mind and under +the weather a bit besides,” sighed Griscom.</p> +<p>“Can I help you in any way?” inquired Ralph.</p> +<p>“No, lad—we must all bear our own troubles.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p> +<p>The next day Griscom did not report for duty +at train time. A man named Lyle was put on +extra duty. Ralph did not know him very well +nor did he like him much. He understood that +he was a fine engineer but that he had been +warned several times for drinking.</p> +<p>As he came into the cab, Ralph noticed that his +eyes were dull and shifty, his hands trembled and +he bore all the appearance of a man who had been +recently indulging in liquor to excess.</p> +<p>As soon as they were out on the road, Lyle +began to drink frequently from a bottle he took +out of his coat. He became more steady in his +movements, and, watching him, Ralph saw that +he understood his business thoroughly and was +duly attentive to it.</p> +<p>After the wait at the city, however, Lyle came +aboard of the locomotive in quite a muddled condition. +He was talkative and boastful now. He +began to tell of the many famous special runs he +had made, of the big salaries he had earned, and +of his general proficiency as a first-class engineer.</p> +<p>He ordered full steam on, and by the time they +were twenty miles from the city he kept the locomotive +going at top notch speed. There was a +tremendous head on the cylinders and they ran +like a racer. Frogs and target rods were passed +at a momentum that fairly frightened Ralph, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +it was a wonder to him the way the wheels ground +and bounded that they always lit on the steel.</p> +<p>Lyle took frequent drinks from the bottle, +which had been replenished. His eyes were wild, +his manner reckless, almost maniacal. As they +passed signals he would utter a fierce, ringing yell. +Ralph crowded over to him.</p> +<p>“Mr. Lyle,” he shouted, “we are ahead of +time.”</p> +<p>“Good,” roared the mad engineer, “I’m going +to make the record run of the century.”</p> +<p>“If any other train is off schedule, that is +dangerous.”</p> +<p>“Let ’em look out for themselves,” chuckled +Lyle. “Whoop! pile in the black diamonds.”</p> +<p>“Stop!” almost shrieked Ralph.</p> +<p>Of a sudden he made a fearful discovery. A +signal had called for a danger stop where the +Great Northern crossed the tracks of the Midland +Central. Unheeding the signal, Lyle had run directly +onto a siding of the latter railroad and was +traversing it at full speed.</p> +<p>“Stop, stop, I say—there’s a car ahead,” cried +Ralph.</p> +<p>Lyle gave the young fireman a violent push +backwards and forged ahead.</p> +<p>Chug! bang! A frightful sound filled the air. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +The locomotive had struck a light gondola car +squarely, lifting it from the track and throwing it +to one side a mass of wreckage. Then on, on +sped the engine. It struck the main of the Midland +Central.</p> +<p>Ralph grabbed up a shovel.</p> +<p>“Lower speed,” he cried, “or I will strike you.”</p> +<p>“Get back,” yelled Lyle, pulling a revolver from +his pocket. “Back, I say, or I’ll shoot. Whoop! +this is going.”</p> +<p>Ralph climbed to the top of the tender. He was +powerless alone to combat the engineer in his mad +fury. A plan came into his mind. The first car +attached to the tender was a blind baggage. Ralph +sprang to its roof. Then he ran back fast as he +could.</p> +<p>The young fireman lost no time, dropping from +the roof between platforms. As he reached the +first passenger coach he ran inside the car.</p> +<p>Passengers were on their feet, amazed and +alarmed at the reckless flight of the train. The +conductor and train hands were pale and frightened.</p> +<p>“What’s the trouble?” demanded the conductor, +as Ralph rushed up to him.</p> +<p>“A maniac is in charge of the train. He is +crazed with drink, and armed. Who of you will +join me in trying to overpower him?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span></p> +<p>None of the train hands shrank from duty. +They followed Ralph to the platform and thence +to the top of the forward coach. At that moment +new warnings came.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVII_A_NEW_MYSTERY' id='CHAPTER_XXVII_A_NEW_MYSTERY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>A NEW MYSTERY</h3> +</div> +<p>“Danger,” shouted Ralph. “Quick, men. Do +you see ahead there?”</p> +<p>Down the rails a red signal fuse was spluttering. +It was quite a distance away, but they would +reach it in less than sixty seconds if the present +fearful speed of the train was kept up.</p> +<p>“Hear that?” roared the conductor in a hoarse, +frightened tone.</p> +<p>Under the wheels there rang out a sharp crack, +audible even above the roar of the rushing train—a +track torpedo.</p> +<p>Ralph ran across the top of the forward car. +As he reached its front end, Lyle turning discovered +him.</p> +<p>He set up a wild yell, reached into the tender, +seized a big sledgehammer lying there and braced +back.</p> +<p>The young fireman was amazed and fairly terrified +at his movements, for Lyle began raining +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +blows on lever, throttle and everything in the way +of machinery inside of the cab.</p> +<p>Past the red light, blotting it out, sped the train, +turning a curve. Ralph anticipated a waiting or +a coming train, but, to his relief, the rails were +clear. Ahead, however, there was a great glow, +and he now understood what the warnings meant.</p> +<p>The road at this point for two miles ran +through a marshy forest, and this was all on fire. +Ralph gained the tender.</p> +<p>“Back, back!” roared Lyle, facing him, weapon +in hand. “She’s fixed to go, can’t stop her now. +Whoop!”</p> +<p>With deep concern the young fireman noted the +disabled machinery.</p> +<p>Half-way between centers, the big steel bar on +the engineer’s side of the locomotive had snapped +in two and was tearing through the cab like a +flail, at every revolution of the driver to which +it was attached.</p> +<p>Just as Ralph jumped down from the tender, +the locomotive entered the fire belt—in a minute +more the train was in the midst of a great sweeping +mass of fire. The train crew, blinded and +singed, retreated. Ralph trembled at a sense of +the terrible peril that menaced.</p> +<p>Lyle had drawn back from the lever or he +would have been annihilated. Then as the fire +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +swept into his face, he uttered a last frightful yell, +gave a spring and landed somewhere along the +side of the track.</p> +<p>The young fireman was fairly appalled. Such +a situation he had never confronted before. The +cab was ablaze in a dozen different places. The +tops of the cars behind had also ignited. Ralph +did not know what to do. Even if he could have +stopped the train, it would be destruction to do so +now.</p> +<p>Suddenly the locomotive dove through the last +fire stretch. Ahead somewhere Ralph caught the +fierce blast of a locomotive shrieking for orders. +For life or death the train must be stopped.</p> +<p>He flew towards the throttle but could not +reach it safely. The great bar threatened death. +Twice he tried to reach the throttle and drew +back in time to escape the descending bar. At a +third effort he managed to slip the latch of the +throttle, but received a fearful graze of one hand. +Then, exhausted from exertion and excitement, +the young fireman saw the locomotive slow down +not a hundred yards from a stalled train.</p> +<p>The passenger coaches were soon vacated by +the passengers, while the train crew beat out the +flames where the cars were on fire.</p> +<p>The Limited Mail made no return trip to Stanley +Junction that night. The following morning, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +however, when the swamp fire had subsided, the +train was taken back to the Great Northern and +then to terminus.</p> +<p>Lyle, the engineer, was found badly burned and +delirious in the swamp, where he would have +perished only for the water in which he landed +when he jumped from the locomotive cab. He +was taken to a hospital.</p> +<p>There was a great deal of talk about the latest +exploit of the young fireman of the Limited Mail, +and Ralph did not suffer any in the estimation of +the railroad people and his many friends.</p> +<p>One evening he came home from an interview +with a local lawyer concerning the interests of +his young friend, Earl Danvers.</p> +<p>Ralph felt quite sanguine that he could obtain +redress for Earl from his heartless relations, and +was thinking about it when he discovered his +mother pacing up and down the front walk of +the house in an agitated, anxious way.</p> +<p>“Why, mother,” said Ralph, “you look very +much distressed.”</p> +<p>“I am so, truly,” replied Mrs. Fairbanks. +“Ralph, we have met with a great loss.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean, mother?”</p> +<p>“The house has been burglarized.”</p> +<p>“When?”</p> +<p>“Some time during the past three hours. I was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +on a visit to a sick neighbor, and returned to discover +the rear door open. I went inside, and all +the papers in the cabinet and some money we had +there were gone.”</p> +<p>“The papers?” exclaimed Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes, every document concerning our claim +against Gasper Farrington is missing.”</p> +<p>“But what of Earl Danvers?” inquired Ralph. +“Was he away from home?”</p> +<p>“He was when I left, but he must have returned +during my absence.”</p> +<p>“How do you know that?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“The cap he wore when he went away I found +near the cabinet.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked serious and troubled.</p> +<p>“I hope we have not been mistaken in believing +Earl to be an honest boy,” he said, and his mother +only sighed.</p> +<p>Then Ralph began investigating. The rear +door, he found, had been forced open. All the +rooms and closets had been ransacked.</p> +<p>“This is pretty serious, mother,” he remarked.</p> +<p>Earl Danvers did not return that day. This +troubled and puzzled Ralph. He could not believe +the boy to be an accomplice of Farrington, nor +could he believe that he was the thief.</p> +<p>Next morning Ralph reported the loss to the +town marshal. When he went down the road, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +threw off a note where the men were working on +the Short Line Route at its junction with the +Great Northern. It was directed to Zeph Dallas, +and in the note Ralph asked his friend to look up +the two uncles of Earl Danvers and learn all he +could about the latter.</p> +<p>It was two nights later when Mrs. Fairbanks +announced to Ralph quite an important discovery. +In cleaning house she had noticed some words +penciled on the wall near the cabinet. They comprised +a mere scrawl, as if written under difficulty, +and ran:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em; margin-right:1.0em; '>“Earl prisoner. Two boys stealing things in +house. Get the old coat I wore.”</p> +<p>“Why, what can this mean?” said Ralph. “Earl +certainly wrote this. A prisoner? two boys? the +thieves? Get the old coat? He means the one he +wore when he came here. What can that have +to do with this business? Mother, where is the +coat?”</p> +<p>“Why, Ralph,” replied Mrs. Fairbanks, “I sold +it to a rag man last week.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_FREIGHT_THIEVES' id='CHAPTER_XXVIII_THE_FREIGHT_THIEVES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>THE FREIGHT THIEVES</h3> +</div> +<p>Two days later Zeph Dallas came to Stanley +Junction to purchase some supplies for Mr. Gibson’s +construction camp. In the evening he called +at the Fairbanks home. The farmer boy had +located the relatives of Earl Danvers, and his report +verified the story of the latter, who had disappeared +from home, and, according to his uncles, +his whereabouts was unknown to them.</p> +<p>Ralph related the story of the burglary, and +Zeph was at once interested. He believed that +some mystery of importance was attached to the +old coat. When he had gone away Ralph got to +thinking this over.</p> +<p>“Mother,” he asked, “do you know the man +to whom you sold that old coat?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes,” replied Mrs. Fairbanks. “He is +the man who goes around with an old wagon +visiting the different country towns in this district +in turn.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span></p> +<p>Ralph made some inquiries, and ascertained that +the peddler in question made his headquarters at +Dover. He resolved upon opportunity to visit +the man at a near date, although it was probable +that the coat with the rags sold with it had been +sent to some mill. A few days later Zeph came +again to Stanley Junction and Ralph told him +about the peddler.</p> +<p>For a time after this, affairs ran on smoothly +for the Limited Mail and her experienced crew, +and Ralph had settled down to a quiet enjoyment +of congenial employment when there occurred a +break in the routine that once more placed him in +a position of peril.</p> +<p>One day as he returned from the city run, the +roundhouse foreman informed him that he was to +report at the office of the master mechanic. Ralph +did not go home, but went at once to answer the +summons.</p> +<p>The master mechanic was his good friend and +received him with his usual cordiality.</p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” he said, “you are pretty well +known to the officers of the road, and favorably, +too, I suppose you know that.”</p> +<p>“It is a pleasure to have you say so,” answered +the young fireman.</p> +<p>“They seem especially to value your ability in +running down crookedness and ferreting out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +criminals,” pursued the master mechanic. “The +superintendent wired me today to have one road +detective start out on a certain case. I wired back +that Mr. Adair was engaged in a special case in +the city. The return was to relieve you of regular +duty and have you report at Afton this afternoon.”</p> +<p>Ralph nodded to indicate that he understood, +but he said:</p> +<p>“I do not like these interruptions to routine +duty, but I suppose the company knows where it +most needs a fellow.”</p> +<p>Ralph went down the road shortly after noon. +He reached Afton and reported at once to the +assistant superintendent.</p> +<p>“I have ordered a substitute fireman on the +Mail for a week, Fairbanks,” said that official. +“I think we shall engage your services for that +length of time.”</p> +<p>“Is it some particular case, sir?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“A very important case, yes. We seem to have +got rid of incompetent employes and strikers, +thanks to you and others who stood by the company +in time of trouble. There is one thing, however, +that is bothering us. It bothers every road +more or less, but we won’t have it.”</p> +<p>Ralph waited for a further explanation.</p> +<p>“Freight thieves, Fairbanks,” continued the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +official. “Some gang is regularly stealing from +the road. When, where and how it is done we +have been unable to ascertain. A train will leave +the city or the Junction, arrive at terminus, and +some valuable package will be missing. The car +seals will be all right, no one seems to have entered +the car, and yet the pilfering goes on. Will +you help us run down the thieves?”</p> +<p>“I will try,” answered Ralph. “What trains +seem to suffer most?”</p> +<p>“Always the night freights,” replied the assistant +superintendent. “Now, take your time, spare +no expense, and go to work on this problem in +your usual effective way.”</p> +<p>Ralph devoted the remainder of the day to +going up and down the road and familiarizing +himself with the various freight trains and their +schedules.</p> +<p>Just after dark he clambered into the cab of +the night freight leaving the city. It was a dark, +sleety night, for cold weather had just set in.</p> +<p>The engineer was a tried and trusty veteran in +the service. Ralph felt that he understood him, +and that he must trust him to a degree in order to +facilitate his own programme. He waited till the +fireman was busy outside on the engine, then he +spoke to the old engineer. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span></p> +<p>“Mr. Barton, I am on special duty here tonight.”</p> +<p>“That so, lad?” inquired the engineer.</p> +<p>“Yes, I suppose you know there is a good deal +of missing freight in these night runs.”</p> +<p>“I heard so,” answered Barton, “but you see +that is the business of the conductor, so I haven’t +much troubled myself about it.”</p> +<p>“Still, you don’t care to have these things occur +in your runs.”</p> +<p>“Should say not! Working on the case, Fairbanks?”</p> +<p>“Frankly, yes, Mr. Barton, and I want you to +keep it quiet, but assist me when you can. I will +be all over the train and the car tops to-night, and +wanted to explain why to you.”</p> +<p>“That’s all right, lad. Just call on me if I can +help you. Hello, you, Woods!” bawled the engineer +suddenly to a fellow who appeared near +the cab side, “what you doing there?”</p> +<p>The man slunk out of view at being addressed, +with a muttered remark that it was his own business.</p> +<p>“Don’t like that fellow—caboose look-out,” +explained Barton.</p> +<p>“I hope he did not overhear our conversation,” +spoke Ralph.</p> +<p>About mid-way of the train there was a gondola +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +oil car. It had an elevated runway so that train +hands could pass over it readily. Ralph selected +this car as a vantage point, and got aboard as the +train started on its way for Stanley Junction.</p> +<p>He was dressed as a tramp, looked the character +completely, and the false moustache he wore +effectually changed his face so that no persons +except familiar friends would easily recognize +him.</p> +<p>Ralph got down at one side of the big oil tank. +For the next hour he remained quiet. Finally, as +a brakeman passed over the platform, he climbed +up and kept track of his movements.</p> +<p>The man, however, simply passed up and down +the train and then returned to the caboose. Then +there was a stop. Ralph leaned from the car and +looked up and down the train.</p> +<p>“Why,” exclaimed Ralph suddenly, “there is +that fellow Woods working at the doors of the +cars a little ahead there.”</p> +<p>The brakeman in question now came down the +length of the train. The engine was taking water. +He halted almost opposite the car Ralph was +hiding on. Suddenly he uttered a low, sharp +whistle, and it was answered. Three men appeared +from the side of the track, spoke to him, +bounded up on to the oil car, and crouched down +so near to Ralph that he could almost touch them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span></p> +<p>Woods stood on the next track with his lantern +as if waiting for the train to start up.</p> +<p>“Cars marked,” he spoke. “I’ll flash the glim +when the coast is clear. You’ll know the cases I +told you about.”</p> +<p>There was no response. The locomotive +whistled, and the brakeman ran back to the caboose. +Ralph lay perfectly still. The three men +sat up against the railing of the car.</p> +<p>“Got the keys to the car ventilators?” asked one +of the men, finally.</p> +<p>“Sure,” was the response. “Say, fellows, we +want to be wary. This is a clever game of ours, +but I hear that the railroad company is watching +out pretty close.”</p> +<p>“Oh, they can’t reach us,” declared another +voice, “with Woods taking care of the broken +seals, and all kinds of duplicate keys, we can +puzzle them right along.”</p> +<p>Just then one of them arose to his feet. He +stumbled heavily over Ralph.</p> +<p>“Hello!” he yelled, “who is this?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIX_A_PRISONER' id='CHAPTER_XXIX_A_PRISONER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>A PRISONER</h3> +</div> +<p>The three men almost instantly confronted +Ralph, and one of them seized him, holding him +firmly.</p> +<p>Ralph quickly decided on his course of action. +He yawned in the face of the speaker and drawled +sleepily:</p> +<p>“What are you waking a fellow up for?”</p> +<p>One held Ralph, another lit a match. They +were rough, but shrewd fellows. Instantly one of +them said:</p> +<p>“Disguised!” and he pulled off Ralph’s false +moustache. “That means a spy. Fellows, how +can we tell Woods?”</p> +<p>“S—sh!” warned a companion—“no names. +Now, young fellow, who are you?”</p> +<p>But “young fellow” was gone! In a flash +Ralph comprehended that he was in a bad fix, his +usefulness on the scene gone. In a twinkling he +had jerked free from the grasp of the man who +held him, had sprung to the platform of the oil +car and thence to the roof of the next box car. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span></p> +<p>Almost immediately his recent captor was after +him. It was now for Ralph a race to the engine +and his friend Barton.</p> +<p>The running boards were covered with sleet and +as slippery as glass, yet Ralph forged ahead. He +could hear the short gasps for breath of a determined +pursuer directly behind him.</p> +<p>“Got you!” said a quick voice. Its owner +stumbled, his head struck the young fireman and +Ralph was driven from the running board.</p> +<p>He was going at such a momentum that in no +way could he check himself, but slid diagonally +across the roof of the car. There destruction +seemed to face him.</p> +<p>His pursuer had fallen flat on the running +board. Ralph dropped flat also, clutching vainly +at space. His fingers tore along the thin sheeting +of ice. He reached the edge of the car roof.</p> +<p>For one moment the young fireman clung there. +Then quick as a flash he slipped one hand down. +It was to hook his fingers into the top slide bar of +the car’s side door. The action drew back the +door about an inch. It was unlocked. Ralph +dropped his other hold lightning-quick, thrust his +hand into the interstice, pushed the door still +further back, and precipitated himself forward +across the floor of an empty box car.</p> +<p>There he lay, done up, almost terrified at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +crowding perils of the instant, marveling at his +wonderful escape from death.</p> +<p>“They must think I went clear to the ground,” +theorized Ralph. “I am safe for the present, at +least. What an adventure! And Woods is in +league with the freight thieves! That solves the +problem for the railroad company.</p> +<p>“An empty car,” he said, as he finally struggled +to his feet. “I’ll wait till the train stops again +and then run ahead to Barton. Hello!” he exclaimed +sharply, as moving about the car, his foot +came in contact with some object.</p> +<p>Ralph stood perfectly still. He could hear deep, +regular breathing, as of some one asleep. His +curiosity impelled him to investigate farther. He +took a match from his pocket, flared it, and +peered down.</p> +<p>Directly in one corner of the car lay a big, +powerful man. He was dressed in rags. His coat +was open, and under it showed a striped shirt.</p> +<p>“Why!” exclaimed Ralph, “a convict—an escaped +convict!”</p> +<p>The man grasped in one hand, as if on guard +with a weapon of defense, a pair of handcuffs +connected with a long, heavy steel chain. Apparently +he had in some way freed himself from +these.</p> +<p>Ralph flared a second match to make a still +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +closer inspection of the man. This aroused the +sleeper. He moved, opened his eyes suddenly, +saw Ralph, and with a frightful yell sprang up.</p> +<p>“I’ve got you!” he said, seizing Ralph. “After +me, are you? Hold still, or I’ll throttle you. How +near are the people who sent you on my trail?”</p> +<p>“I won’t risk that,” shouted the man wildly.</p> +<p>In a twinkling he had slipped the handcuffs +over Ralph’s wrists. The latter was a prisoner so +strangely that he was more curious than alarmed.</p> +<p>“Going to stop, are they?” pursued the man, as +there was some whistling ahead. “Mind you, +now, get off when I do. Don’t try to call, and +don’t try to run away, or I’ll kill you.”</p> +<p>The train stopped and Ralph’s companion +pulled back the door. He got out, forcing Ralph +with him, and proceeded directly into the timber +lining the railroad, never pausing till he had +reached a desolate spot near a shallow creek.</p> +<p>Then the man ordered a halt. He sat down on +the ground and forced his captive to follow his +example.</p> +<p>“Who are you?” he demanded roughly.</p> +<p>“I am Ralph Fairbanks, a fireman on the Great +Northern Railroad,” promptly explained the +young fireman.</p> +<p>“Do you know me?”</p> +<p>“I infer from these handcuffs and your under +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +uniform that you are an escaped convict,” answered +Ralph.</p> +<p>“Know a good many people, do you?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes, I do,” answered Ralph.</p> +<p>“Where is Stanley Junction?”</p> +<p>“About forty miles north of here. I live there.”</p> +<p>“You do? you do?” cried the convict, springing +up in a state of intense excitement. “Here, lad, +don’t think me harsh or mean, or cruel, but you +have got to stay with me. You would betray me +to the police.”</p> +<p>“No, I would not,” declared Ralph.</p> +<p>“You would, I know—it’s human nature. +There is a big reward out for me. Then, too, you +know people. Yes, you must stay with me.”</p> +<p>“I can’t help you any—why should you detain +me?” insisted Ralph.</p> +<p>“I must find a man,” cried the convict, more +wildly than ever—“or you must find him for me.”</p> +<p>“What man is that?” spoke Ralph.</p> +<p>“Do you know a Mr. Gasper Farrington?”</p> +<p>“Quite well,” answered Ralph, rather startled +at the question.</p> +<p>“That is the man!” shouted the convict.</p> +<p>“And that is singular, for I am very anxious +myself to find that same individual,” said the +young fireman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span></p> +<p>Ralph felt that he was in the midst of a series +of strange adventures and discoveries that might +lead to important results, not only for the person +he had so strangely met, but for himself, as well.</p> +<p>This impression was enforced as he watched his +captor pace up and down the ground, muttering +wildly. He seemed to have some deep-rooted +hatred for Gasper Farrington. “Revenge,” “Punishment,” +“Justice,” were the words that he constantly +uttered. Ralph wondered what course he +could pursue to get the man down to a level of +coherency and reason. Finally the man said:</p> +<p>“Come, get up, we must find some shelter.”</p> +<p>After an hour of arduous tramping they came +to an old barn that had been partly burned down. +There was some hay in it. The convict lay down +on this, unloosed one handcuff from the wrist of +his prisoner, and attached the other to his own +arm and lay as if in a daze until daybreak.</p> +<p>Now he could inspect his prisoner clearly, and +Ralph could study the worn, frenzied face of his +captor. The latter had calmed down somewhat.</p> +<p>“Boy,” he said, finally, “I don’t dare to let you +go, and I don’t know what to do.”</p> +<p>“See here,” spoke Ralph, “you are in deep +trouble. I don’t want to make you any more +trouble. Suppose you tell me all about yourself +and see if I can’t help you out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t dare to trust any one,” groaned +the man.</p> +<p>“You spoke of Gasper Farrington,” suggested +Ralph. “Is he an enemy of yours?”</p> +<p>“He has ruined my life,” declared the convict.</p> +<p>“And why do you seek him?”</p> +<p>“To demand reparation, to drag him to the +same fate he drove me to. Just let me find him—that +is all I wish—to meet him face to face.”</p> +<p>Ralph began to quietly tell the story of his own +dealings with the village magnate of Stanley +Junction. It had a great effect upon his auditor. +From dark distrust and suspicion his emotions +gradually subsided to interest, and finally to confidence.</p> +<p>It was only by gradations that Ralph led the +man to believe that he was his friend and could +help him in his difficulties.</p> +<p>The convict told a pitiful story. Ralph believed +it to be a true one. To further his own avaricious +ends, Farrington had devised a villainous plot to +send the man to the penitentiary. He had escaped. +He had documents that would cause Farrington +not only to disgorge his ill-gotten gains, +but would send him to jail.</p> +<p>“I want to get to where those documents are +hidden,” said the convict. “Then to find Farrington, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +and I shall right your wrongs as well as my +own.”</p> +<p>Ralph reflected deeply over the matter in hand. +He resolved on a course of proceedings and submitted +it to his companion.</p> +<p>He offered to take the convict to the isolated +home of Amos Greenleaf, where he could remain +safely in retirement. Ralph promised to get him +comfortable garments and provide for his board +and lodging. In a few days he would see him +again and help him to find Farrington.</p> +<p>The young fireman was now released from the +handcuffs. He calculated the location of the place +where Greenleaf lived.</p> +<p>“It is about fifteen miles to the spot I told you +of,” he explained to the convict.</p> +<p>“Can we reach it without being seen by any +one?” anxiously inquired his companion.</p> +<p>“Yes, I can take a route where we need not pass +a single habitation.”</p> +<p>It was afternoon when they reached the home +of old Amos Greenleaf.</p> +<p>Ralph experienced no difficulty in arranging +that the convict remain there for a few days. He +gave Greenleaf some money, and, promising to +see the convict very soon, proceeded to Wilmer.</p> +<p>The young fireman took the first train for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +Afton, and reported what had occurred to the +assistant superintendent.</p> +<p>Two days later Woods and his companions +were in jail, and a great part of the stolen freight +plunder was recovered.</p> +<p>Woods confessed that he had duplicated keys +and seals for the doors and ventilators of the +freight cars, and the bold thieveries along the +Great Northern now ceased.</p> +<p>Ralph obtained leave of absence for a week. +He decided that it was worth while to try and find +Gasper Farrington. He went to the city, got +certain papers belonging to the magnate from Mr. +Grant, and went to Wilmer.</p> +<p>He was soon at the junction of the Springfield +& Dover Short Cut Railroad and the Great +Northern. That terminus was completed. A +neat depot had been erected, and on the tracks of +the new railroad there stood a handsome locomotive.</p> +<p>“Oh, Ralph!” cried Zeph Dallas, rushing forward +to greet his friend, as the young fireman appeared. +“Great news!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXX_THE_LOST_DIAMONDS' id='CHAPTER_XXX_THE_LOST_DIAMONDS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>THE LOST DIAMONDS</h3> +</div> +<p>“Great news, eh?” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“You will say so when you hear what I have +got to tell you,” declared Zeph Dallas. “Say, I +am going straight to headquarters. Come with +me. The news will keep till we get there.”</p> +<p>“All right,” assented Ralph. “There is enough +going on around here to keep a fellow interested.”</p> +<p>“The new railroad?” spoke Zeph brightly. “I +should say so. Isn’t it just famous? I tell you, +some hustling work has been done here in the past +few weeks.”</p> +<p>Ralph was amazed and delighted at the progress +made by the Short Line Railway. As said, +a new locomotive was on the rails at the terminus, +and a little depot had been built. Workmen were +busy as far down the line as he could see. In +fact, everything indicated that the road would +soon be in full operation.</p> +<p>“The tracks are laid both ways from headquarters, +except for a little distance on the Springfield +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +side,” said Zeph. “We expect passenger and +freight cars for the road to-day, and on Monday +we open the line.”</p> +<p>“And in what capacity will you appear on that +grand occasion, Zeph?” inquired the young fireman +pleasantly.</p> +<p>“Conductor!” exploded the farmer boy, drawing +himself up proudly. “See here;” he drew +back his coat and revealed the biggest and most +elaborate “Conductor” badge manufactured. “We +expect that Earl Danvers will become our brakeman.”</p> +<p>“Who?” cried Ralph with a start.</p> +<p>“Earl Danvers.”</p> +<p>“Is he here?”</p> +<p>“He is at headquarters,” said Zeph. “Don’t +bother asking me about him now. You will soon +see him, and he will tell you his own story. Then, +too, Mr. Gibson wishes to see you particularly. +Here’s our hand-car, jump aboard. We’ll spin +along at a fine rate, I tell you, for the roadbed is +splendid.”</p> +<p>Ralph found it so. It was a most interesting +journey to headquarters. There was only one +track, and on this the men had spent their energies +to great advantage, and commendable results +followed.</p> +<p>He was warmly welcomed by his friends, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +particularly so by Earl Danvers. Just as soon as +mutual greetings were over Ralph took Earl to a +pile of ties a little distance away.</p> +<p>“Now then, young man,” he said, “seeing we +are alone, suppose you give an account of yourself.”</p> +<p>Earl Danvers was thin and pale. He looked as +if he had gone through some recent severe hardships, +but he smiled serenely as he said:</p> +<p>“It’s easy to tell my story, now I am out of my +troubles, but I tell you, Ralph, I have had a hard +time of it.”</p> +<p>“With Slump and Bemis?”</p> +<p>“Yes. The afternoon I left Stanley Junction, +they were the fellows who forced me to go away +with them. They broke into your house, and I +found them ransacking it. They pitched on to +me, and tied me up. Then they recognized me.”</p> +<p>“What, had you known them before?” exclaimed +Ralph, in some surprise.</p> +<p>“I found out that I had. You remember the +first day that you saw me?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Ralph.</p> +<p>“Well, I had run away from my uncles that +morning. I had made up a package hurriedly, +containing shoes, coat and cap, and got away +through a window in the attic. I went about five +miles, when I ran right into two fellows in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +woods. They were Slump and Bemis. They got +mad at my stumbling over them, took away my +parcel and began to belabor me. I had to run to +keep from being terribly beaten. Then I sneaked +around, hoping to recover my parcel. They had +gone in swimming. My parcel had disappeared. +I had to have a coat. I grabbed one and ran away +with it. They yelled after me, but I outdistanced +them. Then later I ran across my uncles looking +for me. The rest you know.”</p> +<p>“And what about the coat?”</p> +<p>“Well,” related Earl, “when those fellows +broke into your house, they inquired about that +coat. I at once saw that they had a great interest +in it. I told them I didn’t know where it was. +They insisted that I did. They ransacked the +house from top to bottom. They took me away +from town to a miserable hut where they were +staying. Until yesterday I was a prisoner there, +tied up, half-starved, and every day Slump would +come and demand to know if I was going to tell +him what had become of that coat. From the first +I knew that coat was what they were after when +they burglarized your house, and wrote what +words I could on the wall of your sitting room.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Ralph, “we found your message +there. Did you learn what their especial interest +was in the coat?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span></p> +<p>“Yes, I overheard some of their conversation +a few days ago,” replied Earl. “That coat contained +some diamonds they found in an old box +car.”</p> +<p>“What!” cried Ralph. “Is it possible?”</p> +<p>“It seems so. I escaped yesterday. You had +told me about this place, and so I came here. +Zeph Dallas was my friend at once, when I told +him my story. Here he is now.”</p> +<p>Zeph approached with a beaming face.</p> +<p>“Fairbanks,” he said, “I suppose Danvers has +told you how he came here, and his troubles with +Slump and Bemis.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Ralph.</p> +<p>“Well, I went to Dover yesterday and saw the +old rag man. He ransacked his stock and we +found the coat.”</p> +<p>“You did?” spoke Ralph, expectantly.</p> +<p>“Yes, and in an inside pocket were the diamonds. +Here they are.”</p> +<p>Zeph handed Ralph a moldy chamois skin bag. +With interest the young fireman inspected the +contents.</p> +<p>“This is a rich find, Zeph,” he said. “You +must report to the car finder at once.”</p> +<p>“I am going to the city to-day to see him,” explained +the former farmer boy.</p> +<p>Zeph left headquarters about noon. The next +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +morning he reappeared. He was fairly gorgeous +attired in the uniform of a conductor.</p> +<p>“One thousand dollars I get as a special reward +for the recovery of the diamonds,” he said, “and +more when the car finder has seen their original +owner. I am to divide with you, Fairbanks.”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” dissented Ralph.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I shall,” insisted Zeph. “And, by the +way, I have some news of importance for you.”</p> +<p>“Indeed?” said Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes. You know where Trafton is?”</p> +<p>“On the Midland Central.”</p> +<p>“Exactly. Well, this morning on the platform +there, I saw a man in whom you are considerably +interested.”</p> +<p>“Who was that?” inquired the young fireman.</p> +<p>“Bartlett, the fellow who was a partner of +Gasper Farrington in that wire-tapping scheme.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXXI_JUSTICE_AT_LASTCONCLUSION' id='CHAPTER_XXXI_JUSTICE_AT_LASTCONCLUSION'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> +<h3>JUSTICE AT LAST—CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> +<p>Ralph lost no time in making up his mind to +at once go to Trafton and endeavor to run down +Bartlett. He was the friend and confidant of +Gasper Farrington, and the latter the young fireman +was now determined to find.</p> +<p>He had his troubles for his pains. He got a +trace of Bartlett at Trafton, but lost it again. His +final clew was that Bartlett had last been seen +driving away from town in a covered wagon.</p> +<p>Ralph devoted the morning to these discoveries, +then he made for the home of Amos Greenleaf. +He cut across the timber for ten miles, and +late in the afternoon reached the miserable hovel +where the crippled railroader lived.</p> +<p>It was when he was within a few rods of the +place that a voice hailed him.</p> +<p>“This way, Mr. Fairbanks, I have something to +tell you.”</p> +<p>Ralph went to a copse near at hand where the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +speaker stood, as if in hiding. It was the escaped +convict. He was deeply excited.</p> +<p>“I wanted to prepare you for a surprise before +you went into the house,” said the convict.</p> +<p>“Why, what do you mean?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“I mean Farrington!” cried the convict. “He +is there.”</p> +<p>“Impossible!” exclaimed Ralph.</p> +<p>“No, it is true.”</p> +<p>“How did he happen to come here?”</p> +<p>“A man driving a covered wagon brought him. +Farrington was sick, dying. The other man carried +him into the house and said he would hurry +for a doctor.”</p> +<p>“When was this?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“Two hours ago. I have not shown myself to +Farrington yet. The man is certainly in a dying +condition.”</p> +<p>“I had better investigate affairs,” said Ralph, +and he proceeded to the house.</p> +<p>Gasper Farrington lay on a wretched cot in a +little bedroom. Ralph was amazed at the change +in the magnate since he had last seen him. Farrington +was thin, pale and weak. He was gasping +painfully for breath, and groaned wretchedly as +he recognized his visitor.</p> +<p>“Why, Mr. Farrington,” said Ralph, “you are +a very sick man.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span></p> +<p>“I am dying, Ralph Fairbanks,” moaned the +stricken Farrington. “You have your revenge.”</p> +<p>“I wish for no revenge—I truly am sorry to +see you in this condition.”</p> +<p>“Well, here I am,” groaned Farrington—“a +miserable wreck, dying in a wretched hovel, the +end of all my plotting, and worst of all, robbed +of everything I own.”</p> +<p>“By whom?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“By Bartlett, who has abandoned me. I know +it, and only this morning he got from me the +deeds conveying all my property to him. Once +recorded, I am a beggar, and can make no reparation +to those whom I have defrauded.”</p> +<p>“Is that true?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“Yes. He pretended he would drive to Wilmer, +record the deeds at Stanley Junction, return and +take me safely out of the country. Instead, he +has isolated me in this desolate place. Oh, to outwit +him, Fairbanks!” continued the magnate +eagerly. “I can yet defeat him if you can assist +me.”</p> +<p>“How?”</p> +<p>“Under the bed is my box of private papers. +Unknown to Bartlett, last week, suspecting his +scheme to rob me, believing I was dying, I +executed deeds that distributed my property +among those whom I had wronged. One deed is +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +for your mother to adjust that twenty thousand +dollar claim. Another is for a poor fellow I sent +to jail—an innocent man. Another places my +property in trust with your lawyer. Here they +are,” and Farrington took some documents from +the box that Ralph had handed him. “Now then, +act quickly.”</p> +<p>Ralph looked over the papers. They were what +the magnate described. He went outside and saw +the convict, showing him the deed containing the +name of “John Vance.”</p> +<p>“Is that your name?” asked Ralph.</p> +<p>“It is,” assented the convict.</p> +<p>“Then Farrington has done you tardy justice,” +and he explained the situation.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the young fireman was bounding +away towards Wilmer.</p> +<p>Ralph caught a train just as it was moving +away from the depot. He did not venture inside +the cars, for he saw that Bartlett was aboard, but +at the next station proceeded to the locomotive.</p> +<p>When the train reached the limits at Stanley +Junction, Ralph left it and boarded an engine on +another track bound for the depot.</p> +<p>He reached it some minutes in advance of the +other locomotive. A hurried run for the office of +the recorder, a swift delivery of the deeds, and +then Ralph hastened after the town marshal. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span></p> +<p>They came upon Bartlett leaving the office of +the recorder with a glum and puzzled face. In his +hand in a listless way he held some deeds which +he had evidently been told were worthless.</p> +<p>The man was disguised, but Ralph knew him +at once. The marshal stepped forward and +seized his arm.</p> +<p>“Mr. Bartlett,” he said sternly, “you are under +arrest.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you want me? What—er—for?” stammered +the plotter.</p> +<p>“Conspiracy in the recent railroad strike,” explained +the official. “Pretty serious, too—not to +mention that so-called accident you had on one of +the cars, for which you wanted damages.”</p> +<p>With a scowl on his face Bartlett turned and +confronted Ralph.</p> +<p>“Ah, so it’s you?” he growled.</p> +<p>“Yes,” returned the young fireman, coldly.</p> +<p>“This is some of your work!”</p> +<p>“If so, it is at the request of the man you +robbed, Bartlett.”</p> +<p>“Eh?”</p> +<p>“I mean Gasper Farrington,” answered Ralph, +and this news caused the prisoner to turn pale and +stagger back. He realized that he had come to the +end of his plotting and must now suffer the consequences +of his misdeeds. He was marched off +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +to jail, and it may be as well to state, was, later +on, sent to prison for a term of years.</p> +<p>Gasper Farrington did not linger long. Before +he died, however, he had a talk with Ralph and +with the convict, and signed several papers of +importance. He acknowledged all his wrong +doings, and did all in his power to straighten +matters out. His relatives came to his aid, and his +last hours on earth were made as comfortable as +circumstances permitted.</p> +<p>Two days after Farrington’s funeral came a +surprise for Ralph. He received word that Ike +Slump and Mort Bemis had been caught in a +tavern near Dover. Both of the roughs were in +rags and penniless, having lost what money they +had had. Both were turned over to the police, +and in due course of time each followed Bartlett +to prison.</p> +<p>“It serves them right,” said Griscom, to Ralph. +“My! my! What a difference in boys! Do you +remember when you and Slump were both wipers +at the roundhouse?”</p> +<p>“I do indeed!” answered Ralph feelingly. “I +am sorry for Ike. But he has no one to blame but +himself.”</p> +<p>“A holiday for us day after to-morrow, lad,” +went on the veteran engineer of the Limited Mail, +with a twinkle in his eye. “Guess you know why.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span></p> +<p>“Opening of the other line?” queried the young +fireman.</p> +<p>“Exactly. Special invitation for both of us,” +went on Griscom, with a chuckle.</p> +<p>“Well, I hope everything pans out right,” said +Ralph. “Our friends have worked hard enough, +goodness knows.”</p> +<p>The day for the opening of the new railroad +came, and Ralph and the old engineer took the +early morning train for Wilmer. Not a few +friends accompanied them.</p> +<p>“It’s a great day for Van and for Mr. Gibson,” +said Ralph. “And a great day for Zeph and Earl +too,” he added, with a smile. Earl’s uncles had +been hailed into court, and a new guardian had +been appointed for the boy.</p> +<p>A little after noon that day the formal opening +of the Springfield & Dover Railroad was celebrated.</p> +<p>Two beautiful passenger coaches were filled +with friends of the road and persons living near +Wilmer. The locomotive and cars were gaily decorated +with bunting. Limpy Joe was bustling +around his restaurant stand at the depot, happy +and chipper. Zeph Dallas was the proud conductor, +and Earl Danvers the brakeman of the +train. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Fairbanks, Mr. +Trevor and some of their friends formed a party +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +by themselves. It was a regular gala occasion. +The first trip was a grand success. People along +the line greeted the train with glad cheers, and, +returning to headquarters, a sumptuous repast +was spread for the guests of the new road.</p> +<p>“Well, we are a happy family party,” said +Farwell Gibson with enthusiasm, as, that evening, +his employes sat around the supper table at headquarters.</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Trevor. “To-morrow actual +work begins. We have splendid prospects, loyal +employes, and the Springfield & Dover Short +Line is a grand success.”</p> +<p>“I cannot too deeply announce my feelings towards +you, Fairbanks,” said Mr. Gibson. “It is +to your friendship and co-operation that I owe, +in a measure, all my good fortune in completing +the railroad.”</p> +<p>“A grand lad,” applauded old John Griscom +heartily. “His pluck and perseverance have helped +us all out of difficulties many a time.”</p> +<p>“Three cheers for the boy who helped to build +a railroad!” cried Zeph Dallas.</p> +<p>They were given with enthusiasm, and Ralph +had to respond with a speech.</p> +<p>“I believe this is the happiest moment of my +life,” he declared. “I have been through some +strenuous times, but all has ended well.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span></p> +<p>And then what a cheer went up!</p> +<p>Ralph imagined that now, since his enemies had +been disposed of, quiet times were ahead. But +this was not to be. Adventures in plenty still +awaited him, and what some of them were will be +related in another story, to be called “Ralph on +the Overland Express; or, The Trials and +Triumphs of a Young Engineer.”</p> +<p>“It was certainly a great day, mother,” said +the young fireman, when he got home from the +celebration.</p> +<p>“Yes, Ralph,” answered Mrs. Fairbanks. “And +to think that you helped to make that day possible. +Oh, I am proud of you!” And she gave him a +fond caress.</p> +<p>“And the best of it is, that we have all those +thousands of dollars,” continued the young fireman. +“We are not exactly rich, but we are comfortably +situated, eh?”</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed, Ralph! But listen to me. Do +you want to leave the railroad? You might go +into business, or go to college, or––”</p> +<p>“No, no, mother! I was born to follow a railroad +life—I feel it. Who knows, some day I may +be the President of some road.”</p> +<p>“That is true. Well, have your wish, Ralph. +They tell me now you are the best fireman in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +these parts. Soon you’ll have your engine +then––”</p> +<p>“I’ll be very happy!” finished Ralph.</p> +<p>And his eyes brightened as he thought of +splendid opportunities the future promised.</p> +<p style='margin-top:2em; text-align:center'>THE END</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p style='font-size:1.4em; font-style:italic; text-align:center'>This Isn’t All!</p> +<p>Would you like to know what +became of the good friends you +have made in this book?</p> +<p>Would you like to read other +stories continuing their adventures +and experiences, or other books +quite as entertaining by the same +author?</p> +<p>On the <i>reverse</i> 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.</p> +<p style='font-size:1.2em; font-style:italic; text-align:center'>Don’t throw away the Wrapper</p> +<p>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.</p> +<p><br /><br /></p> +<hr style='border:none; height:3.5px; border-top:2px solid black; border-bottom:1px solid black' /> +<p style='text-align:center'> +<span style='font-size:1.4em'>THE RAILROAD SERIES</span><br /> +<span style='font-size:1em'>By ALLEN CHAPMAN</span><br /> +<span style='font-size:0.8em'>Author of the “Radio Boys,” Etc.</span> +</p> +<hr style='border:none; height:2.5px; border-top:1px solid black; border-bottom:1px solid black' /> +<p style='text-align:center; margin: 0 auto;'> +<span style='font-size:0.8em; font-weight:bold'>Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated.<br /> +Every Volume Complete in Itself.</span> +</p> +<hr style='border:none; height:2.5px; border-top:1px solid black; border-bottom:1px solid black' /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE;<br />Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.</p> +<p>RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER;<br />Or, Clearing the Track.</p> +<p>RALPH ON THE ENGINE;<br />Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.</p> +<p>RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS;<br />Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.</p> +<p>RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER;<br />Or, The Mystery of the Pay Car.</p> +<p>RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN;<br />Or, The Young Railroader’s Most Daring Exploit.</p> +<p>RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER;<br />Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.</p> +<p>RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH;<br />Or, The Stolen Government Bonds.</p> + +<hr style='border:none; height:2.5px; border-top:1px solid black; border-bottom:1px solid black' /> +<p style='text-align:center'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</p> +<hr style='border:none; height:3.5px; border-top:1px solid black; border-bottom:2px solid black' /> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 0.19 --> +<!-- timestamp: Mon Mar 09 07:34:43 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ralph on the Engine, by Allen Chapman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH ON THE ENGINE *** + +***** This file should be named 28292-h.htm or 28292-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/2/9/28292/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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