rain goes through at four o'clock
this afternoon."

"It isn't the delay I mind," returned Bob, "but the conductor has my
pass!"

"_You_ travelling on a pass?" exclaimed another incredulously, as though
unable to reconcile Bob's shabby apparel with the possession of such a
privileged means of transportation.

"My, that is bad," mused the station master. "But don't worry. I'll have
word telegraphed to the conductor to leave your pass with the agent at
Kansas City, and you can get it there. Come with me, and we'll see about
sending the message."

"But how shall I get to Kansas City without any ticket?" asked Bob, as
he accompanied his new-found friend into the station. "I only have a few
dollars, which I shall need when I get to Fairfax. I suppose it would
cost a lot to buy a ticket?"

"If you had a pass, it won't be necessary for you to pay. I'll arrange
that all right."

Randolph, the city in which Bob was marooned, being a division
headquarters of the railway, there was a train despatcher's office in
the station, and thither the agent led Bob.

Going over to one of the telegraphers, the station master explained the
situation briefly.

"What do you want me to wire? Jenkins is the conductor, isn't he?"

"Yes. Say, 'Jenkins, Aboard No. 6: Leave'," and then he turned to the
boy, asked his name, and continued: "'Bob Chester's pass with the ticket
agent at Kansas City. Will send Bob on the next train. ROBINSON,

"'Station Master, Randolph.'"

Scarcely had the operator forwarded the message than he suddenly leaned
over his instrument, listened intently, and then exclaimed:

"I'll bet Jenkins will be glad to get your wire about the boy. Was there
any trouble about the pass?" and he looked at Bob.

"Yes," responded the youth, and told them about the conductor's
suspicions. "But why did you ask?"

"Because I caught a message going to Jenkins from Chicago."

"It said the pass was all right, didn't it?" queried Bob anxiously.

"It did," replied the operator, with emphasis, "and more, too. Said you
were a particular friend of 'Old Man' Perkins, and advised Jenkins to
treat you well, as one man had got into trouble through being uncivil to
you."

"But I made that all right; at least, I wrote a note asking Mr. Perkins
to take the porter back again," answered Bob innocently.

The overheard message had a salutary effect upon both the operator and
agent, and they took a new inte