or the
young folks learned that they would have to change at a place called
Raymonton, and they would there have half an hour in which to get
lunch.

"I can get all I want in less time than that, provided it's to be
had," said Fred. "We can go to the lunch room just as soon as the
train gets in."

Raymonton was nothing but an overgrown village containing but a
handful of stores, a church, a garage, and a canning factory, with the
houses occupying half a dozen straggly-looking streets. There was only
a small and not an altogether inviting-looking lunch room, and here
the bill-of-fare was decidedly meagre.

A tall, angular Irish girl waited on them. She was pleasant enough,
and smiled broadly at the twins' jokes. She served them with
sandwiches, cake, pie, and hot chocolate, and they also purchased from
her a bag of grapes and pears.

"I told you we'd have plenty of time," remarked Fred, looking at a
clock on the wall. "We have still ten minutes to spare."

"I think I'll get a shoe-shine," said Jack. "I saw a bootblack outside
roaming around doing nothing. If I give him work it may keep him out
of mischief."

At the end of the railroad platform was a stand devoted to the sale of
newspapers and periodicals, chewing gum and candy. There was also a
rack with postcards, and the girls busied themselves at this, picking
out such cards as they desired. Not far from where the stand was
located stood a long auto-stage, marked "_Raymonton to Clappville.
Fare 10 Cents._" On the seat of the stage sat an elderly driver,
smoking, and the bus contained one or two men and several women and
children, evidently waiting for the stage to start on its journey.

Jack had just finished having his shoes polished when he and the other
boys noticed a man at the newsstand talking to the proprietor. Both
men appeared to be out of sorts.

"Sorry, Sir, but you can't have that magazine!" they heard the stand
keeper exclaim.

"I'd like to know why not!" demanded the would-be customer. "I am
ready to pay for it."

"That's all right--but you can't have it! I get only two copies of
that magazine, and one is for the hotel and the other for Doctor
Johnson's daughter. They both take it regular."

"Humph! I guess you don't want any customers," growled the other man
savagely. "Well, if you don't want to sell me any of your old
magazines you can keep them! I guess I can get all the magazines I
want elsewhere." And the man stalked off in haughty a