Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/1016

192 he actually felt sorrow and sympathy, instead of thinking of his own precarious situation.

"Slump," spoke Ralph finally, "I am sorry for you."

"That so? Ho! ho! truly?" gibed the graceless Ike. "What game are you up to? Don't try any. I warn you. You're clever, Ralph Fairbanks, but I'm slick. You see, the tables have turned. I knew they would, some time."

"What is it you fellows want of me, anyhow?" ventured Ralph, hoping to induce Ike to disclose something.

"Nothing to worry about," declared Slump carelessly. "You'll soon know. Say, though, Fairbanks, don't stir the lion, don't pull his tail."

"You seem to be talking about menageries," observed Ralph.

"You'll think you're in one, sure enough, if you rile Evans up. He won't stand any fooling, you hear me. Shut up, now. We'll leave discussing things till this job is over and done with. Then I may have something to tell you on my own personal account, see?" and Ike tried to look very fierce and dangerous. "I'll give you something to think of, though. You're going to tell a certain man all you know about a certain fellow, and you're going to fix it so that the certain man can