Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/939

Rh you—I went wild. You—after what you've done for me and mine! Say"

"Hold on—close the brakes," ordered Ralph, as his companion seemed inclined to run after his recent adversaries and seek them out for a further castigation. "You've made the brake with them—forget them."

"They had a new plot to get a black mark against you," went on the fireman. "I heard them half through their plans. Then I sailed into them."

"Well, breakfast is ready," said Ralph, "and after that, work, so we'd better get down to schedule."

The run to which No. 999 had been apportioned covered the Muddy Creek branch of the Great Northern to Riverton. The train was an accommodation and ran sixty miles. It was to leave Stanley Junction at 9:15 A. M., arrive at terminus at about noon, and start back for the Junction at two o'clock.

Ralph left the house about eight o'clock, after arranging to meet his fireman at the roundhouse. He went to the hotel to see Archie Graham, and found that youthful genius in his room figuring out some mathematical problem at a table.

"Well, how are you this morning?" inquired Ralph cheerily.