Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/841

Rh said Ralph, "but a fellow has to hustle for something to eat."

"I know what that means," declared Clark. "Had to help the family by peddling papers—."

Clark paused and flushed. Ralph wondered at the singular break his visitor had made. A diversion covered the embarassment [sic] of the young stranger and caused Ralph to momentarily forget the incident. Fogg had swung back the water spout, set the tender cover, and climbed down into the cab. Then he took the side light signals and went around to the pilot. No. 999 carried two flags there, now to be replaced by lanterns. Fogg came back to the cab rolling up the flags.

"All right," he announced ungraciously, and hustled Clark to one side without ceremony as the latter abandoned his seat. Ralph gave the starting signal and Clark edged back in the tender out of the way.

The young engineer took a good look at his fireman. The latter was muddled, it was plain to see that, but he went about his duties with a mechanical routine born from long experience. Only once did he lurch towards Ralph and speak to him, or rather hiss out the words.

"You'll settle with me for your impudence yet, young fellow. You're a high and mighty, you