n thought I should like to ride on an engine," Gertrude
said.

"I wish I had known it earlier in the day; your wish might have been
gratified very easily."

"Might it? I suppose they never let any one ride on the night engines,
do they?"

Brockway caught his breath. "Do you mean--would you trust me to take you
on the engine to-night?" he asked, wondering if he had heard aright.

"Why not?" she said, with sweet gravity.

The engineer had oiled his way around to their side, and Brockway spoke
to him.

"Good-evening, Mac," he said; and the man turned and held up his torch.

"Hello, Fred," he began; and then, seeing Gertrude: "Excuse _me_, I
didn't see the lady."

At a sign from Gertrude, Brockway introduced the engineer. "Miss Vennor,
this is Mr. Maclure--one of our oldest runners."

"I'm very glad to know you, Mr. Maclure," said Gertrude, sweetly; and
the man of machinery scraped his feet and salaamed.

"Mac, Miss Vennor thinks she would like to take a night spin on the 926.
May we ride a little way with you?"

"Well, I should say!" assented Maclure. "Just pile in and make
yourselves at home; and excuse _me_--I hain't quite got through oilin'
'round yet."

"Thank you," said Brockway; then to Gertrude: "We must find your father
or Mrs. Dunham quick; we haven't more than a minute or two."

They ran back and fortunately came upon Mrs. Dunham and the collegian.

"Cousin Jeannette, I'm going to ride on the engine with Mr. Brockway,"
Gertrude explained, breathlessly. "Don't say I sha'n't, for I will. It's
the chance of a lifetime. Good-by; and don't sit up for me."

"I'll take good care of her," Brockway put in; and before the astonished
lady could expostulate or approve, they were scudding forward to the
926.

VIII

THE CAB OF THE TEN-WHEELER

Engineer Maclure was leaning out of the cab window, watching for the
conductor's signal, when Brockway and Gertrude came up.

"Didn't know but you'd backed out," he said, jocosely, when they had
climbed aboard.

"Oh, no, indeed; we had to get word to my father," said Gertrude.

The engineer waved them across the cab. "Make yourselves at home; the
926 belongs to you as long as you want to own her. Just you pre-empt
Johnnie's box over there, Fred, and make the young lady comfortable."

Brockway stuck a propitiatory cigar into the pocket of the fireman's
jumper, and proceeded to carry out his instructions. Before the tardy
signal came, Gertrude was perch