. The Strike Leader 142
XIX. The Wire Tappers 150
XX. In Peril 159
XXI. A Friend in Need 165
XXII. The Limited Mail 173
XXIII. The Picnic Train 181
XXIV. In "The Barrens" 190
XXV. Too Late 197
XXVI. The Mad Engineer 205
XXVII. A New Mystery 213
XXVIII. The Freight Thieves 219
XXIX. A Prisoner 226
XXX. The Lost Diamonds 235
XXXI. Justice at Last--Conclusion 241

RALPH ON THE ENGINE

CHAPTER I

THE NIGHT RUN

"Ralph Fairbanks."

"On hand, sir."

"You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."

"All right, sir."

Ralph Fairbanks arose from the bench on which he was seated in the
roundhouse at Stanley Junction.

Over a dozen men had been his companions for the past hour. There were
engineers waiting for their runs, firemen resting after getting their
locomotives in order, and "extras," who, like the young railroader
himself, were so far on the substitute list only.

Ralph was glad of his appointment. This was his second month of
service as a fireman. It had been by no means regular employment, and,
as he was industrious and ambitious, he was glad to get at work with
the prospect of a steady run.

The foreman of the roundhouse had just turned from his desk after
marking Ralph's name on the list when a man hurriedly entered the
place. He was rather unsteady in his gait, his face was flushed, and
he looked dissolute and unreliable.

"Give me the slow freight run, Forgan," he panted. "I'm listed next."

"Two minutes late," observed the foreman, in a business-like way.

"That don't count on a stormy night like this."

"System counts in this establishment always, Jim Evans," said Mr.
Forgan.

"I ran all the way."

"Stopped too long at the corner saloon, then," put in Dave Adams, a
veteran engineer of the road.

Evans glared at the man who spoke, but recognizing a privileged
character, stared down the row of loiterers and demanded:

"Who's got my run?"

"Do you own any particular run, Jim?" inquired Adams, with a grin.

"Well, Griscom's was due me."

"Young Fairbanks was on hand, so it's his run now."

"That kid's," sneered Evans, turning on Ralph with angry