urning car.

"I'm not responsible for that," said the man, "and I can't prevent the
hot-headed ones from violence. I know you won't join us, but I'm just
friendly enough to give you a warning. Don't go on duty to-day."

"I certainly shall, if I am needed," replied Ralph. "Your union is in
bad hands, and can't last."

The man shrugged his shoulders and Ralph passed on his way. A piece of
coal came whizzing through the air a few minutes later from the
vicinity of a crowd of loiterers. It knocked off the young fireman's
cap. He picked it up and walked slowly on.

When he came to the roundhouse, he found the doors shut. Most of the
windows in the place were broken in. Several target rods near by lay
on the ground, and at a glance Ralph saw that considerable damage had
been wrought during the night.

"There must be a crisis soon," he said, and went to the roundhouse
door. Before he was admitted several stones rained about him, thrown
from behind a pile of ties. Inside, Ralph found Griscom and several
others among the older engineers and firemen. All hands looked
serious, the foreman particularly so.

"Glad you came," said Forgan. "There's bad trouble brewing. The strike
has reached the danger point. We can't run any regulars from the depot
and won't try to to-day, but the Limited Mail must go to terminus.
Griscom is ready for the run; are you? The regular engineer and
fireman say they won't risk their lives."

"I did not see the train anywhere," observed Ralph.

"There is to be no regular train, only one postal and one express car.
They will back down here in half-an-hour from the limits. Here is a
wire for you. Came early this morning."

With some surprise Ralph read a brief telegram. It came from the
headquarters of the Great Northern in the city, was signed by the
president of the road, and read:

"Come to my office immediately on reaching terminus."

Ralph showed this to Griscom. The situation was discussed by the men
in the roundhouse, and the time passed by until a sharp whistle
announced the arrival of the Limited Mail.

As Griscom and Ralph went outside to relieve those temporarily in
charge of the locomotive, they were pelted from several points with
pieces of dirt, iron and coal. A crowd surged up to the engine. Then a
startling thing occurred that dispersed them more quickly than they
had gathered.

As if by magic there appeared on the platforms of the two coaches
fully a dozen guards armed with r