Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/1035

Rh Ralph had found time to do some thinking about his friends the past day or two. He had seen two of them, for Van Sherwin and little Limpy Joe had come down from the Short Line, and had spent a pleasant day at the Fairbanks home. Archie Graham, too, had put in an appearance. The young inventor looked shamefaced and distressed when he admitted all that Ralph had guessed concerning the patent bellows—draft improvement for locomotives.

"It only worked the wrong way," explained Archie; "next time"

"Next time try it on some other railroad, Archie," advised Ralph. "They're watching for you with rifles down at the Great Northern roundhouse."

"Huh!" snorted Archie contemptuously; "they'll be sorry when I strike some real big thing and another line gets it. Now then, I've got something brand new—the rocket danger signal."

"Go right ahead experimenting with it, only choose a spot where you won't hurt any one," advised Ralph. "You're all right, Archie," declared the young railroader, slapping his comrade appreciatively on the shoulder, "only you are too ambitious. I have no doubt that you will some day hit something tangible. It's a long, patient road, though—this inventing things."