since that
momentous happening, yet he had no regret at the course he had chosen.

Not long after daylight, as the train entered what Bob could see was a
good-sized city, and stopped at the station, the boy decided he would
get out and walk up and down the platform in order to stretch his legs.

Evidently never thinking the lad would be astir so early, the brakeman
had neglected to obey his instructions and keep close watch on Bob, so
that his leaving the car was unnoticed.

Seeing a place where he could get a drink of water, Bob walked toward
it.

Just as he was in the midst of drinking from the cup, he was stupefied
to hear the snorting of an engine, and, upon turning his head, to see
the train on which he had been riding disappearing from the station.

With a cry of alarm, Bob dashed after it, shouting:

"Wait! Stop the train! The conductor's got my pass!"

But the few officials about paid no heed to the lad's frantic cries,
and the train continued on its way, while Bob was left in a strange
place, bereft of his pass, and without knowing what to do in order to
regain possession of the precious piece of paper which was to carry him
to Fairfax.

CHAPTER XIII

BOB STARTS AGAIN

Bob's lusty shouts, as he vainly tried to stop the train, drew the
attention of the few employees in the station at so early an hour, and
they gathered about him, taking mental stock of his worn clothes and his
honest face, as they approached.

"What's the matter? Nobody here to meet you?" asked one of the men, on
whose hat were the words, "Station Master."

"This isn't a very convenient hour to meet any one. Where do your people
live? We can direct you how to get to them."

Not having heard the words uttered by Bob, the agent's inference that
the boy was disappointed at finding no one to meet him, was natural. But
Bob soon disillusioned him.

"The train's gone and left me," said he, with ever so slight a shakiness
in his voice, as he thought of the train speeding on its way and with it
his precious pass.

"Well, there are other trains," declared a second man. "You can take the
next one."

The quaver in Bob's voice, however, had reached the ears of the station
master, and he asked kindly:

"How far were you going?"

"To Fairfax, Oklahoma."

With the evident purpose of reassuring Bob, the station master said:

"Oh, well, it will only make the difference of twelve hours or so in
reaching Fairfax. There's another t