at the head of a sort of
triumphal procession of the entire gang of trackmen.

When Alex's father the following morning reported the occurrence to the
chief despatcher, that official called Alex to the wire to congratulate
him personally.

"That was a fine bit of work, my boy," he clicked. "I see you are cut out
for the right kind of railroader. If fourteen wasn't a bit too young I
would give you a job on the spot. But we will give you a start just as
soon as we can, you may be sure."

II

AN ORIGINAL EMERGENCY BATTERY

One afternoon two weeks later Alex returned from school to find his
father and mother hurriedly packing his suit-case.

"Why, what's up, Dad?" he exclaimed.

"You are off for Watson Siding in twenty minutes, to take charge of the
station there nights," said his father. "The regular man is ill, the
despatcher had no one else to send, and asked for you, and of course I
told him you'd be delighted."

"Delighted? Well, rather!" cried Alex, gleefully, and throwing his
school-books into a corner, he dashed up-stairs to change his clothes,
hastily ate a lunch his mother had prepared, and fifteen minutes later
was hurrying for the depot.

Needless to say Alex was a proud boy when shortly after seven o'clock he
reached Watson Siding, and at once took over the station for the night.
For it is not often a lad of fourteen is given such responsibility, even
though brought up on the railroad.

Alex was soon to learn that the responsibility was a very real one. The
first night passed pleasantly enough, but early the succeeding night,
following a day of rain, a heavy spring fog set in, and shortly before
ten o'clock Alex found, to his alarm, that he could not make himself
heard on the wire by the despatcher. Evidently there was a heavy escape
of current between them, because of the dampness.

Again the despatcher called, again Alex sought to interrupt him, failed,
and gave it up. "Now I am in for trouble," he said in dismay. "If
anything should--"

From apparently just without came a low, ominous rumble, then a crash.
Alex started to his feet and ran to the window. He could see nothing but
fog, and hastily securing a lantern, went out onto the station platform.

As he closed the door there was a second terrific crash, from the
darkness immediately opposite, and a rain of stones rattling against
iron.

"The bank above the siding!" cried Alex, and springing to the tracks, he
dashed across, and