valuable part of her," returned Dick. "I'll look for her at Ashton in an hour."
"Want to ride down on the flat car with her?"
"I'll see about that."
The matter was talked over, and in the end it was agreed that Dick and Sam should ride on the flat car, while Tom went with Stanley and Jack Mason in the automobile. Then the section boss went off to get the freight engine to haul the flat car.
"Got out of that better than I expected," whispered Sam to his big brother.
"It pays to put on a front, Sam," was the answer. "If I had been weak-kneed about it that fellow wouldn't have done a thing."
"Oh, you've got a head for business, Dick—I can see that," said the youngest Rover, admiringly.
"I hope so, Sam—for I think I'll need it soon."
"You mean for helping Dad?"
"Yes,"
"It's too bad he has these weak spells, isn't it?"
"Yes. What he needs, I think, is a good, long rest."
The others went off in the touring auto, and
