quite an idea," said Roy, now noticing that from under the
berths of his fellow travelers the shoes were all missing.

"Yais, sah," went on the colored man. "And sometimes, sah, sometimes,
youh know, de gen'men's gives me a little remembrance, sah, for
blackenin' their shoes."

"Then I'll do the same," spoke Roy, remembering what Billy Carew had
told him of the necessity for "tipping" the car porters.

"Thank youh, sah. I'll have youh shoes back d'rectly, sah."

The porter was as good as his word, and soon Roy was able to put on his
shoes, which he hardly recognized. The dust that had accumulated from
his ride across the plains to the railroad depot had all been removed,
and the leather shone brightly. He gave the porter a quarter of a
dollar, for which the colored man returned profuse thanks. Soon the
other travelers began to get up. Roy watched them go to the washroom
and did likewise. He met Mr. Baker in there, and accepted an
invitation to go to breakfast with him in the dining car.

"Did you sleep well last night?" asked the man with the big watch chain.

"Pretty well," replied Roy, deciding to say nothing of the hand that
was thrust under his pillow. He first wanted to make a few
observations of his fellow passengers.

After breakfast, when Roy was sitting in his chair in the parlor car,
Mr. Baker approached.

"There are some friends of mine in the smoking room," he said to the
boy. "I would like to introduce you to them."

"That is very kind of you," replied the young traveler. "I shall be
glad to meet them," for Roy considered it nice on the part of Mr. Baker
to take so much interest in him.

"We can have a pleasant chat together," went on the man as he led the
way to a private room or "section" as they are called. This was near
the smoking room end of the car. "My friends are much interested in
ranch life, and perhaps you will give them some information."

CHAPTER VII

A GAME ON THE TRAIN

The three men in the compartment looked up as Phelan Baker and Roy
entered. They exchanged significant glances, but the boy from the
ranch did not notice them. Then the men made room for the new-comers
on the richly upholstered couches.

"Ah, how are you, Baker?" said Isaac Sutton. "Glad to see you."

"Allow me to introduce a friend of mine," said Mr. Baker presenting Roy
to the three men in turn. "He can tell you all you want to know about
ranch life," for, by skillful questioning Mr.