Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/930

106 "What of, may I ask?" inquired Ralph.

"New idea. Save fuel, make the engine go faster. Been figuring on it for months," explained the strange boy. "I live at Bridgeport."

"Yes, I know," nodded Ralph. "I saw you there."

"Did? Glad of that, too. If you feel friendly enough, maybe you'll advise me what to do in my distressing plight. Stranger here, and lost my pocketbook. It fell out of my pocket while I was hanging on to the trucks. Not a cent."

"That can be fixed all right, I think," said Ralph.

"Clothes all riddled—need a bath."

"You had better come with me to the hotel, Mr. Graham," spoke Ralph. "I know enough about you to be interested in you. I will vouch for you to the hotel keeper, who will take care of you until you hear from home."

"Yes. Got money in the bank at Bridgeport," said Archie Graham. "As I was telling you, I've struck a new idea. You know I've been trying to invent something for a number of years."

"Yes, I've heard about that, and sincerely hope you will figure out a success."

"Stick at it, anyway," declared Archie. "Well, at Bridgeport they take me as a joke, see? That's all right; I'll show them, some day. They voted