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 haps, if you don't find yourselves too tired by the time we finish dinner to-night, we will go out and look up something that will entertain us."

The proposal sounded pleasantly. They fell to talking of sights. The acquaintance advanced rapidly.

After a little time the train paused before a small junction-station only about thirty miles from the edge of New York city. It did not go on. They looked out. Men were to be seen about the locomotive. They left the car with the other travelers and walked up to the group. Something was wrong with the engine. After some ten minutes of uncertainty a couple of brakemen furnished the information that the train must wait for half an hour at least. "We can get her all right again by that time," said the engineer. If the passengers chose to do so they could stretch their legs until the whistle called them.

"We may as well pass the time that way," laughed Mr. Hilliard. "It is provoking. We'll go over and take a look at that railroad hotel they are altering."

Gerald caught up the satchel (besides their umbrella, the only baggage the boys carried);