and all kinds of wild flowers, mosses and
grasses. Two large mud turtles lay under the wagon seat.

"Why, what does all that layout mean?" exclaimed Ralph, in
amazement.

"That," said little Joe, with sparkling eyes, "is an advertising
scheme. Some time ago I discovered the finest nut grove in the timber
yonder you ever saw. I suppose I could in time have gathered up a
hundred wagon loads of them. I intend to make a heap of money out of
them. A couple of days ago, though, I thought out a great idea. You
know Woods, the dry goods man at the Junction?"

"Yes," nodded Ralph.

"He is a wide-awake, enterprising fellow, and I told him of my scheme.
It caught his fancy at once. The plan was this: every week, I am to
trim up his show window with what we call 'a nature feature.' We keep
pace with vegetation. This week we show a swamp outfit; next week
pumpkins and the like; the following week autumn leaves. We work in
live objects like turtles to give motion to the scene. Do you catch
on?"

"It is an excellent idea and will attract lots of attention," declared
Ralph.

"You bet it will," assented his comrade with enthusiasm. "Anyhow, my
pay is fine and I expect to work other towns in the same way. I will
show you the most artistic display window you ever saw when I get this
load of truck to town."

In about two hours they reached a railroad station, and somewhat later
Ralph caught a train for the city. He went at once to the office of
the president of the Great Northern. There was a long interview. As
Ralph left the railroad magnate his face was pleased and his heart
light and hopeful.

"Fairbanks," said Mr. Grant, "I cannot express my satisfaction at your
discoveries. It is as we supposed--some individual has been
encouraging the strikers. There are ample proofs among these papers of
the fact that Gasper Farrington has hired the strikers to commit all
kinds of misdeeds to scare stockholders of the road. He has thus been
enabled to buy up their stock at a reduced figure, to make an enormous
profit when the strike is over. He had a scheme to tap our wires and
cause further complications and trouble. Within a week the backbone of
the strike will be broken, and we shall not forget your agency in
assisting us to win out."

Ralph went back to Stanley Junction that same day. He related all his
varied adventures to his mother that evening.

"One thing I discovered from those documents in the satchels," said
Ralph. "Farrin