ER XIV

AT THE THROTTLE OF A FREIGHT ENGINE

Taking Bob to the caboose, the freight conductor made him known to the
brakemen who were lolling about, smoking.

"So you're the kid Miser Jenkins thought stole your pass?" exclaimed one
of the trainmen, after a searching scrutiny of the boy. "He must be
losing his eyesight. That face of yours ought to vouch for you, if
nothing else. Crooks don't have such honest faces."

"Oh, the miser was probably trying to pull off one of his grand-stand
plays," commented another. "Passes are pretty rare birds, nowadays, and
I suppose he thought he could make a hit with the company by inquiring
about this one."

"And instead of that, he got hit himself. Brown, in the despatcher's
office, told me the message Jenkins received from Chicago was red hot."

From the remarks, Bob could see plainly that the officious conductor was
not popular, and he was wondering whether or not he was expected to
make any comment, when Hosmer said, his face suffused with a look of
glee:

"Well, the boys are going to put one over on the 'miser'."

And, pausing aggravatingly, the freight conductor filled his pipe and
lighted it.

His action produced the desired effect of tantalizing the brakemen, and
they exclaimed eagerly:

"Out with it, Hos'! Tell us! Let us in on it!"

Waiting a moment, to give his words greater emphasis, the conductor
removed his pipe from his mouth, and said:

"All the boys are going up to Sweeney's, order the swellest meal he can
put up, and send the bill to Jenkins!"

"Whoopee! Great! I wish we were in on it!" exclaimed the brakemen in
unison.

"Is that quite fair?" asked Bob, having hoped that his departure would
put an end to Tom's plan.

"Fair? Sure, it's fair!" laughed Hosmer. "Anyhow, I don't see why you
should care. He treated you mighty mean, taking your pass away from
you."

As the other trainmen agreed with the opinion of their conductor, Bob
made no further objection, contenting himself with the thought that he
could hardly be held responsible.

During the conversation, the long freight train had got under way, and
while the boy found many novel things to hold his attention, the
brakemen amused themselves speculating on the effect the joke would have
upon Jenkins.

As the engine whistled for a station, Hosmer said to Bob:

"How'd you like to ride on the engine till the next stop?"

"My, but it would be fun!" replied Bob, his eyes sparkling with delight.