"No. I'm going away, to Chicago. I wish you'd tell me where to go to get
a chair car."

"Not running away from home, are you?" inquired the official, scanning
Bob's face searchingly.

This constant suggestion that he was running away angered the boy, and
he determined to put an end to it.

"No, I'm not," he retorted impatiently. "I'm going out West to become a
ranchman, though I don't see why it is any of your business. The man on
the boat told me I would have to hurry if I was going to catch my
train."

"Got any money?" inquired the policeman, ignoring the boy's manner.

"Surely." And Bob drew forth the precious ten dollars he had managed to
save from the pittance his guardian had paid him and all that remained
from the money the magistrate had given him.

"All right. Come with me. I'll show you," responded the official,
assured by the sight of the money that Bob was not trying to steal a
ride on the train.

Quickly the two made their way to the ticket office.

"Ticket for this youngster," announced the policeman.

"Where to?" asked the agent.

"Chicago, in a chair car," answered Bob.

"'Leven thirty," returned the man in the ticket office, turning to his
rack and taking down a long strip of paper, which he stamped rapidly.

With trembling fingers, Bob counted out the money, and shoved it
through the opening in the window.

"Correct," muttered the agent, as he counted the roll of bills. "Now
hurry, or you won't get your train."

As Bob received the amazingly long ticket, his breast swelled with
pride. Its possession meant the beginning of his long-cherished dream,
and he started to study it, when the voice of the officer warned him:

"Come this way, kid. Go through gate No. 3. You can read your ticket
when you get on the train; you'll have time enough before you reach
Chicago. Good luck on your ranch," he added in a kindly banter.

But Bob had no time to reply, for the trainmen were already shouting
their "All aboard for Chicago," and it was only by running down the
platform that he was able to get on a car just as the wheels began to
move.

The car in which Bob found himself was upholstered in dark green, and
the woodwork was of polished mahogany. Never had he seen anything so
magnificent, and as he sank into a high-back seat, he uttered a sigh of
contentment.

But he was not allowed to enjoy his luxury long.

While he was gazing with wide-staring eyes at everything about him, a
colored port