Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/605

Rh "Oh, brought your satchel, too, did you?" observed Ralph.

"Why, yes, I thought maybe you'd house me me for a day or two till I closed a contract with somebody."

The fellow was so simple-minded that Mrs. Fairbanks pitied him, and, observing this, Ralph said:

"You are welcome, Zeph, and I will later talk over with you the prospects of a situation."

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.

"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.

"How will it do?" inquired Zeph, at the conclusion of the performance.

"You have got the elements of the profession in mind," said Ralph guardedly, "but there is the practical end of the business to learn."