t was
Griscom; nowhere within hearing either, it seemed. Like the two rough
fellows who had just approached the engine, Griscom has disappeared.

"Why, this is mysterious," declared the young fireman in an anxious
tone of concern. "Where can he have disappeared to?"

"I don't like the looks of things," spoke Trevor. "Something is wrong,
Fairbanks," he continued. "Look ahead there--I just saw a man on the
cowcatcher."

Now Ralph was more than mystified, he was alarmed. He seized a rod and
jumped again to the ground. Sure enough, on the cowcatcher sat a man,
huddled up comfortably.

"Who are you?" demanded Ralph, keeping his distance and eyeing the
intruder suspiciously.

"Call me a tramp, if you like," laughed the fellow.

"You must get off of that cowcatcher."

"Who says so?"

"I do--against the rules. Come, move on."

"You try to put me off, youngster," drawled the fellow, with an ugly
look in his eyes, "and I'll use this," and he drew a revolver from his
pocket. "I want a free ride, and I intend to have it."

"Will you make me stop at the tower to get you put off?" threatened
Ralph.

"You won't. There's no one there but the towerman, and he can't leave
duty, and you won't stop because you're on a fast run. Take it easy,
sonny. I don't weigh much, and I won't hurt your old locomotive."

Ralph could do nothing better than submit to the imposition for the
time being. He returned to the cab. His face was quite anxious. He
called again to Griscom.

"I can't understand it," he said. "What can have befallen him? Keep a
close watch here for a few minutes, will you?" he asked of his
passenger.

Ralph took a lantern and ran down the tracks, flashed the light across
the empty freights lining the tracks, and returned to the locomotive
more anxious than ever.

"I can't think what to do, Mr. Trevor," he said.

The young man consulted his watch nervously.

"Tell you, Fairbanks, we mustn't lose time. You can't find your
partner. Run to the tower and have the man there telegraph the
circumstances and get someone to look for Griscom. We will have to run
on without him."

"Without Griscom!" cried Ralph. "Why, we cannot possibly secure a
substitute this side of Dover."

"Don't need one--you know how to run an engine, don't you?"

"In a fashion, probably, but I am worried about Mr. Griscom."

"The towerman can attend to that. I don't want to appear selfish,
Fairbanks, but you must get this special through on t