eyes. "See
here, young fellow, do you think it's square cutting in on a regular
man this way?"

"I'll answer that," interposed Tim Forgan sharply. "He was here, you
weren't. He holds the run till a better man comes along."

Evans stood glaring at Ralph for a few minutes. Then he moved to the
youth's side.

"See here, kid," he observed, "I want this run specially. It'll be a
regular, for Cooper is going with another road. I'm a man and must
earn a man's wages. You're only a kid. I've got a family. Come, give
me the run and I'll treat you handsomely," and the speaker extended a
cigar.

"Thank you, I don't smoke," said Ralph. Then looking the man squarely
in the eyes, he said: "Mr. Evans, I'll give up the run on one
condition."

"What's that?" inquired Evans eagerly.

"If you will sign the pledge, work steadily, and give your wages to
your family as you should do."

"I'll do it!" shouted Evans, not a whit shame-facedly.

"No, you won't," announced Forgan. "Fairbanks, kindness is kindness,
but business is business. If you drop this run, it goes to the next
extra on the list according to routine."

"Bah, you're all down on me!" flared out Evans, and left the place in
a rage.

"It would do no good, Fairbanks, to help that man," observed Dave
Adams. "He would sign anything to secure a personal advantage and
never keep his word. He squanders all his money and won't last long in
the Great Northern, I can tell you."

Ralph went outside as he heard a whistle down the rails. Evans was
standing near a switch.

"Some kind of a plot, eh, you and your friend?" he sneered at Ralph.

"I don't know what you mean, Mr. Evans," replied Ralph.

"Oh, yes, you do. Forgan is partial to you. The others don't like me
because I'm a crack man in my line. One word, though; I'll pay you off
for this some time or other," and Evans left the spot shaking his fist
at Ralph menacingly.

"One of the bad kind," mused Ralph, looking after the fellow, "not at
all fit for duty half the time. Here comes one of the good kind," he
added as a freight engine with a long train of cars attached steamed
up at the roundhouse. "It's my run, Mr. Griscom."

"That's famous news," cried old John Griscom, genuinely pleased.

"Good evening, Mr. Cooper," said Ralph, as the fireman leaped from the
cab.

"Hello," responded the latter. "You got the run? Well, it's a good man
in a good man's place."

"That's right," said Griscom. "None better. In to repo