forget"
Ralph.

The young fireman was surprised to see him returning a few minutes
later, in the company of two of his own friends, Mr. Trevor, the
nephew of the president of the Great Northern, and Van Sherwin.

"Well, this is a queer meeting," cried Van with enthusiasm, as they
entered the house. "Here we met Judge Graham, who is a great friend of
Mr. Trevor, and the very man we wished to see."

This statement was soon explained. It appeared that Mr. Trevor had
fully recovered his health, and had come to Stanley Junction with Van
to make preparations to issue and sell the bonds of the Short Cut
Railroad. The judge was one of the friends he had intended to
interview about buying some bonds.

For an hour young Trevor recited to Judge Graham the prospects of the
little railway line and their plans regarding the same. Ralph was
fascinated at his glowing descriptions of its great future.

Ralph's visitors went away, but in a short time Van returned to the
cottage.

"I say, Ralph," he remarked, "Judge Graham is going to invest in those
bonds."

"That's good," said Ralph.

"And I heard him tell Mr. Trevor to put down an extra block of them in
the name of Ralph Fairbanks."

CHAPTER XXIII

THE PICNIC TRAIN

Zeph Dallas had returned to work. His connection with the strikers had
been fully explained to the railroad people by Ralph, and the farmer
boy was readily taken back into the service of the company. Zeph
boarded with Mrs. Fairbanks, and Limpy Joe did, too, when he was in
Stanley Junction.

The enterprising Joe was winning his way famously. His advertising
scheme was a grand success, and the nuts he gathered brought in a good
many dollars. One day he came to town to announce that he was going to
move his traps, thanking Mrs. Fairbanks for her great kindness to him
in the past.

"Are you going to leave the Junction permanently, Joe?" asked Ralph.

"I think so," answered the cripple. "You see, I have been up to the
headquarters of the Short Line Railroad. They can use my horse and
wagon. They offer me a good salary to cook for them, and the
concession of running a restaurant when their line is completed."

"A good opportunity, that, Joe," said Ralph, "although the main
prospect you mention is far in the future, isn't it?"

"Not at all," declared Joe. "I guess you haven't kept track of
proceedings in The Barrens. Their telegraph line is clear through,
both ways from headquarters now. The bonds a