wl on his face Bartlett turned and confronted Ralph.

"Ah, so it's you?" he growled.

"Yes," returned the young fireman, coldly.

"This is some of your work!"

"If so, it is at the request of the man you robbed, Bartlett."

"Eh?"

"I mean Gasper Farrington," answered Ralph, and this news caused the
prisoner to turn pale and stagger back. He realized that he had come
to the end of his plotting and must now suffer the consequences of his
misdeeds. He was marched off to jail, and it may be as well to state,
was, later on, sent to prison for a term of years.

Gasper Farrington did not linger long. Before he died, however, he had
a talk with Ralph and with the convict, and signed several papers of
importance. He acknowledged all his wrong doings, and did all in his
power to straighten matters out. His relatives came to his aid, and
his last hours on earth were made as comfortable as circumstances
permitted.

Two days after Farrington's funeral came a surprise for Ralph. He
received word that Ike Slump and Mort Bemis had been caught in a
tavern near Dover. Both of the roughs were in rags and penniless,
having lost what money they had had. Both were turned over to the
police, and in due course of time each followed Bartlett to prison.

"It serves them right," said Griscom, to Ralph. "My! my! What a
difference in boys! Do you remember when you and Slump were both
wipers at the roundhouse?"

"I do indeed!" answered Ralph feelingly. "I am sorry for Ike. But he
has no one to blame but himself."

"A holiday for us day after to-morrow, lad," went on the veteran
engineer of the Limited Mail, with a twinkle in his eye. "Guess you
know why."

"Opening of the other line?" queried the young fireman.

"Exactly. Special invitation for both of us," went on Griscom, with a
chuckle.

"Well, I hope everything pans out right," said Ralph. "Our friends
have worked hard enough, goodness knows."

The day for the opening of the new railroad came, and Ralph and the
old engineer took the early morning train for Wilmer. Not a few
friends accompanied them.

"It's a great day for Van and for Mr. Gibson," said Ralph. "And a
great day for Zeph and Earl too," he added, with a smile. Earl's
uncles had been hailed into court, and a new guardian had been
appointed for the boy.

A little after noon that day the formal opening of the Springfield &
Dover Railroad was celebrated.

Two beautiful passenger coaches were filled with friends o