oudly. "See
here;" he drew back his coat and revealed the biggest and most
elaborate "Conductor" badge manufactured. "We expect that Earl Danvers
will become our brakeman."

"Who?" cried Ralph with a start.

"Earl Danvers."

"Is he here?"

"He is at headquarters," said Zeph. "Don't bother asking me about him
now. You will soon see him, and he will tell you his own story. Then,
too, Mr. Gibson wishes to see you particularly. Here's our hand-car,
jump aboard. We'll spin along at a fine rate, I tell you, for the
roadbed is splendid."

Ralph found it so. It was a most interesting journey to headquarters.
There was only one track, and on this the men had spent their energies
to great advantage, and commendable results followed.

He was warmly welcomed by his friends, particularly so by Earl
Danvers. Just as soon as mutual greetings were over Ralph took Earl to
a pile of ties a little distance away.

"Now then, young man," he said, "seeing we are alone, suppose you give
an account of yourself."

Earl Danvers was thin and pale. He looked as if he had gone through
some recent severe hardships, but he smiled serenely as he said:

"It's easy to tell my story, now I am out of my troubles, but I tell
you, Ralph, I have had a hard time of it."

"With Slump and Bemis?"

"Yes. The afternoon I left Stanley Junction, they were the fellows who
forced me to go away with them. They broke into your house, and I
found them ransacking it. They pitched on to me, and tied me up. Then
they recognized me."

"What, had you known them before?" exclaimed Ralph, in some surprise.

"I found out that I had. You remember the first day that you saw me?"

"Yes," nodded Ralph.

"Well, I had run away from my uncles that morning. I had made up a
package hurriedly, containing shoes, coat and cap, and got away
through a window in the attic. I went about five miles, when I ran
right into two fellows in the woods. They were Slump and Bemis. They
got mad at my stumbling over them, took away my parcel and began to
belabor me. I had to run to keep from being terribly beaten. Then I
sneaked around, hoping to recover my parcel. They had gone in
swimming. My parcel had disappeared. I had to have a coat. I grabbed
one and ran away with it. They yelled after me, but I outdistanced
them. Then later I ran across my uncles looking for me. The rest you
know."

"And what about the coat?"

"Well," related Earl, "when those fellows broke into your house