an?" inquired the young fireman.

"I mean that we have been burned out," said Joe, "and Ike Slump did
it."

CHAPTER XVI

CAR NO. 9176

"Burned out!" exclaimed Ralph, deeply concerned.

"Yes," nodded Joe, a trifle dolefully. "Labors of years in
ashes--Limpy Joe's Railroad Restaurant a thing of the past."

"How did it happen?"

"Spite work. Three nights ago, late in the evening, Ike Slump appeared
at the restaurant and demanded a free meal. I gave it to him. Then he
demanded some money, and I refused it. He became bold and ugly, and
told us how his crowd had it in for us, that they knew I had some hand
in helping you get that stolen plunder, and would fix us sooner or
later. He advised me to buy them off. I sent him away. Last night we
discovered the place on fire, and it was burned to the ground."

Ralph was deeply distressed over his friend's misfortune. The lame
fellow, however, was undaunted. He deplored his loss, but he was by
no means discouraged.

"Thankful to have the horse and wagon left," he said. "I can always
earn a living with that. Besides that, we saw Van Sherwin the other
day. He is getting on finely, and I think we could get work on the
Short Line Railroad. For the present, though, I am going to stay at
Stanley Junction. I have a dozen plans for getting a little money
together. Will you try us as boarders for a week or two, Ralph?"

"I answered that question a few minutes ago," reminded Mrs. Fairbanks,
"and if you two will sleep in the same room, you will cause no
inconvenience whatever."

"And you, Zeph?" said Ralph, turning to the farmer boy.

Zeph had been strangely silent. He appeared to be trying to look very
dignified and much absorbed in thought.

"Oh, me?" he said now. "Why, I'm already at work. Commence to-night.
Call boy at the roundhouse. Old one is with the strikers. Mr. Forgan
engaged me this afternoon."

"Why, that is fine," said Ralph. "A start in the right direction. Look
out for the strikers, though, Zeph."

"Don't fret about me," advised Zeph. "I'm a fighter when aroused.
See, here is my list to call in the morning," and he showed Ralph a
slip of paper containing about a dozen names.

Ralph read it over, and after a meal went out with Zeph and showed him
the location of the homes of those named in the list.

"This job is all right," said Zeph, as they returned to the house,
"but it is only a sort of side line with me."

"Indeed?" smiled Ralph, amused at th