e again. The young fireman went into the house, explained his new
employment to his mother, and then called to Zeph.

"You wanted some work, Zeph," he said to the farmer boy.

"Sure, I do," cried Zeph with unction.

"Very well, I think I am authorized to offer you a dollar a day."

"Steady job?" inquired Zeph eagerly.

"No, it may not last, but it is in the railroad service, and may lead
to your further employment."

"Good," commented Zeph. "What do they want me to do--engineer?"

"Scarcely, Zeph," said Ralph, smiling. "I simply want you to take me
back to the Ames farm and direct me about the locality."

Zeph looked disappointed.

"Why, what's that kind of work got to do with railroading?" he said.

"You shall know later."

"All right. You're too smart to make any mistakes and too friendly to
do anything but good for me, so I'm your man."

"Very well. First, then, tell me the location of the Ames farm."

Zeph did this, and Ralph ascertained that it was about five miles west
of Brocton.

Ralph secured some money, and in an hour he and Zeph stepped aboard
the cab of a locomotive attached to a load of empties due to run down
the line in a few minutes.

They reached Brocton about noon. Ralph proceeded down the tracks
towards the railroad cut which had been the scene of the landslide.

He turned off at the wagon road and soon, with his companion, was
started westward in the direction of the Ames farm.

"Zeph," he said, "did you hear anything of a train robbery here the
other night?"

No, Zeph had not heard of it. Then Ralph questioned him closely as to
the night Ames had loaned his wagon to strangers and gained a few more
particulars relating to the silk robbers.

"There is the Ames farm," reported Zeph at last.

Ralph had already planned out what he would do, and proceeded to
instruct his assistant as to his share in the affair.

"Zeph," he said, "I do not wish to be seen by Ames, nor must he know
that you came here with a stranger."

"Am I to see him?"

"Yes," answered Ralph, taking a package from under his coat.

"Why, that's the package I lost!" cried Zeph.

"The same."

"And you had it all the time?"

"I did, Zeph, yes. No mystery about it--I simply don't care to explain
to you anything about it till a little later on."

"All right."

"I want you to take it and go up to the farmhouse. I will keep out of
sight. You go to Ames and tell him it was returned to you, and you
want to give