e off-hand, yet self-important
manner of his companion.

"Oh, yes."

"How is that?"

"Simply want to get into the service so as to have the privilege of
riding around on engines when I want to. It sort of introduces me, you
see."

"What do you want to ride around on engines for?" asked Ralph. "You
can't afford to waste your time that way."

"Waste my time? waste my time?" repeated Zeph. "Huh, guess you don't
know what you're talking about! I'm on the trail of a big fortune."

"You don't say so."

"I do. Ralph Fairbanks, I'll let you into the secret. You've been a
good friend to me, and you shall help me."

"What ridiculous nonsense are you talking, Zeph?"

"You'll see whether it's nonsense or not when some day I walk in on
you with a fortune. Now, this is on the dead quiet, Fairbanks?"

"Oh, sure," laughed Ralph.

"Very well. I met a fellow the other day, who is a car finder."

"Mr. Drury, you mean?" asked Ralph.

"How did you know?" questioned Zeph in surprise.

"He told me he had met you, and agreed with me that you were a pretty
fair kind of a fellow."

"Did he?" said Zeph, very much pleased at the double compliment.
"Well, I got interested in his business and he finally gave me
a--a--well a job, you might call it."

"Salary big, Zeph?"

"No salary at all," responded Zeph. "It's a partnership deal. If I
find certain property, I am to have a big reward to divide with him."

"What kind of property?"

"Diamonds."

"Oh, going digging for them?"

"Don't make fun of me, Fairbanks," said Zeph in a slightly offended
tone. "This is a fair and square business proposition. About five
years ago a car was lost, presumably on the Great Northern. At least,
it can be traced no farther than the terminus of the Midland Central,
where it was switched onto this line here. There all trace of it was
lost."

"Valuable freight aboard?"

"No, on the contrary, it was empty, but, all the same, between sealed
boards and the rough ones a pocketbook containing a lot of valuable
diamonds was hidden."

"Who by?"

"A traveling jewelry salesman named Isaacs."

"What did he hide it there for?"

"He had to. You see, he was on another railroad line and crossing some
tracks when some footpads assaulted him. He managed to escape and got
into the empty car I told you about. Then he heard them coming to
search for him, and hid the diamonds in a break of the boards at one
side of the car."

"I see."

"They dragged h