like clarion notes. They attracted the
attention of the crowd around the switch shanty, and as Evans and
Morris started on a run three or four of the railroad loiterers
started to check their flight. As Zeph helped Ralph yank Ike Slump to
his feet and drag him along, the young engineer observed that Evans
and Morris were in the custody of the switch shanty crowd.

Two men coming down the track hastened over to the crowd. Ralph was
glad to recognize them as Bob Adair, the road detective, and one of
the yards watchmen.

"What's the trouble here, Fairbanks?" inquired Adair, with whom the
young engineer was a prime favorite and an old-time friend.

"Dallas will tell you," intimated Ralph.

"Yes," burst out Zeph excitedly; "I want these three fellows arrested,
Mr. Adair. They must be locked up safe and sound, or they'll do great
harm."

"Ah--Evans? Slump?" observed Adair, recognizing the twain who had
caused the Great Northern a great deal of trouble in the past.
"They'll do on general principles. Who's this other fellow?"

"He's the worst of the lot, the leader. He's an awful criminal,"
declared Zeph with bolting eyes and intense earnestness. "Mr. Adair,
if you let that crowd go free, you'll do an awful wrong."

"But what's the charge?"

"Conspiracy. They're trying to----"

"Well, come up to the police station and give me something tangible to
go on, and I'll see that they get what's coming to them," promised the
road detective.

"I can't--say, see! my train. I've got to go with that train, Ralph,"
cried Zeph in frantic agitation. "Try and explain, don't let those
fellows get loose for a few hours--vast fortune--Marvin Clark--Fred
Porter--Fordham Cut--big plot!"

In a whirl of incoherency, Zeph dashed down the tracks, for the train
with the tourist car had started up. He had just time enough to gather
up his scattered bundles and reach the platform of the last car, as
the mixed train moved out on the main line and out of sight, leaving
his astonished auditors in a vast maze of mystery.

CHAPTER XXX

SNOWBOUND

Chug!

"A snowslide!" exclaimed Ralph, in dismay.

"An avalanche!" declared Fogg. "Dodge--something's coming!"

With a crash both cab windows were splintered to fragments. The young
engineer of No. 999 was nearly swept from his seat as there poured in
through the gap a volume of snow.

They had struck an immense snowdrift obliquely, but the fireman's side
caught the brunt. As the power