Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/861

Rh "An early bird, it seems," observed Ralph. "Probably gone for breakfast."

John Griscom had told Ralph all about the house he was in, and the young engineer soon located the bathroom and took a vigorous cold plunge that made him feel equal to the task of running a double-header special. Ralph had just dressed when Marvin Clark came bustling into the room.

"Twenty minutes for breakfast!" hailed the volatile lad. "I've been up an hour."

"You didn't take a two hundred mile run, or you wouldn't be up for four," challenged Ralph.

"Guess that's so," admitted Clark. "Well, here we are. I've been out prospecting."

"What for?" inquired Ralph.

"A good restaurant."

"Found one?"

"A dandy—wheat cakes with honey, prime country sausages and Mocha, all for twenty cents."

"Good," commended Ralph. "We'll take air line for that right away."

Clark chattered like a magpie as they proceeded to the street. It was evident that he had taken a great fancy to Ralph. The latter liked him in return. For the son of a wealthy railroad magnate, Clark was decidedly democratic. The