inking about his friends the past
day or two. He had seen two of them, for Van Sherwin and little Limpy
Joe had come down from the Short Line, and had spent a pleasant day at
the Fairbanks home. Archie Graham, too, had put in an appearance. The
young inventor looked shamefaced and distressed when he admitted all
that Ralph had guessed concerning the patent bellows--draft
improvement for locomotives.

"It only worked the wrong way," explained Archie; "next time----"

"Next time try it on some other railroad, Archie," advised Ralph.
"They're watching for you with rifles down at the Great Northern
roundhouse."

"Huh!" snorted Archie contemptuously; "they'll be sorry when I strike
some real big thing and another line gets it. Now then, I've got
something brand new--the rocket danger signal."

"Go right ahead experimenting with it, only choose a spot where you
won't hurt any one," advised Ralph. "You're all right, Archie,"
declared the young railroader, slapping his comrade appreciatively on
the shoulder, "only you are too ambitious. I have no doubt that you
will some day hit something tangible. It's a long, patient road,
though--this inventing things."

"You bet it is," assented Archie with force.

"And you attempt too grand beginnings. Take something more simple and
easy than trying to revolutionize railroad service all at once, and
gradually work up to bigger things."

"Say, there's sense in that, an old inventor told me the same thing,"
said Archie; "but you see this rocket danger signal of mine is a new
thing. I'm going to Bridgeport to-morrow to get some fixings I have in
my workshop there. You'll hear from me later, Fairbanks."

Concerning Zeph, Fred Porter and Marvin Clark the young railroader had
heard nothing since the last visit of Zeph to Stanley Junction. Many a
time he wondered what had become of them. He had all kinds of theories
as to their continued mysterious absence, but no solution offered as
time wore on.

The Overland Express had not become an old thing with Ralph. He felt
that the charm and novelty of running the crack train of the road
could never wear out. With each trip, however, there came a feeling of
growing strength and self-reliance. Ralph had learned to handle the
proposition aptly, and he took a great pride in the time record so
far.

"It's a lively run, and no mistake," he remarked to Fogg, as they
started out from the depot that evening. "We haven't had any of the
direful mish