CHAPTER X
THE SPECIAL
Within a week the young fireman of the Limited Mail was in full swing as a trusted and valued employe of the Great Northern. Engineer Griscom had got the time schedule down to a system of which he was proud. They made successful runs without a break or accident, and Ralph loved the life for its variety, experience and promise of sure promotion.
The documents given to him for his mother by the agent of Gasper Farrington in the city were apparently all regular and business-like. They covered receipt for twenty thousand dollars, designating certain numbered bonds indicated, but one phrase which exonerated the village magnate from blame or crooked dealing in the affair Ralph did not at all like. He believed that there was some specious scheme under this matter and he awaited developments.
One blustering night he and Griscom had just run the engine into the roundhouse, when Tim Forgan, the foreman, came hastening towards them, a paper fluttering in his hand and accompanied by a young fellow about twenty years of age. The latter was handsome and manly-looking, very well dressed, and Ralph liked him on sight.
"The very men," spoke Forgan, showing an unusual excitement of manner. "Griscom, Fairbanks, let me introduce you to Mr. Trevor."
Engineer and fireman bowed, but the young man insisted on shaking hands cordially with his new acquaintances.
"Glad to meet you, gentlemen," he said briskly. "I have heard nothing but regrets as to your absence and praises for your ability in the railroad line from Forgan here. Tell your story, Mr. Forgan. You know time is money to me, just at present," and the speaker consulted an elegant timepiece in a hurried, anxious way.
"Why, it's just this," said Forgan. "Mr. Trevor, who is a nephew of the president of the road, came to me with a telegram directing us to send him through to the city on the quickest time on record."
"A special, eh?" said Griscom, eyeing the young man speculatively.
"About that, only there is no time to waste in making up a train, and he inclines to riding on the locomotive. The train dispatcher will give clear tracks to terminus. We were just picking out an engine when you arrived. How is it, Griscom?"
"You mean, will we undertake the job?" inquired the veteran engineer in his practical, matter-of-fact way.
"Exactly," nodded Trevor eagerly.
"After a hard double run?" insinuated Griscom.
"That's so; it isn't right to ask them, Forgan. Give me some other engine."
"Won't you wait till I answer?" demanded Griscom. "Yes, we will, and glad to show you the courtesy. Is that right, Fairbanks?"
"Certainly," replied Ralph. "Is it a matter of a great deal of urgency, Mr. Trevor?"
"Particularly so. I have come five hundred miles on other roads on specials. I must connect with a train in the city at a certain time, or I miss Europe and important business."
Old Griscom took out his greasy, well-worn train schedule. He looked it over and pointing to the regular time made, said:
"We can discount that exactly seventy-two minutes."
"And that will bring me to terminus exactly on time," said the young man brightly. "Do it, my friends, and you shall have a hundred dollars between you."
"That isn't at all necessary"—began Griscom.
"I beg pardon, but in this case it is," broke in Trevor. "It's all arranged. Thanks. I will put on a rain coat, and if you will stow me in some corner of the tender I shall enjoy the run."
Forgan bustled about. Through the call boy of the roundhouse Ralph sent word to his mother of the extra trip. Then he worked like a beaver on the locomotive. Trevor watched him in a pleased and admiring way.
They ran the locomotive out on the turn table. Griscom consulted his watch, talked a few moments with Forgan, and said to Ralph:
"Tracks clear in twelve minutes, lad. Just time enough to get a bite at the nearest restaurant."
When they returned, Trevor stood near the engine glancing all around him in a very animated way.
"Looking for Forgan?" inquired the old engineer.
"Oh, no. I was wondering where a fellow disappeared to who was hanging around the tender a few minutes ago. He and a companion have been following me ever since I arrived."
"Then they have given up the job," observed Griscom, glancing keenly about. "Why should they follow you, Mr. Trevor?"
"That I cannot tell. Probably thought I looked prosperous, and were bent on waylaying me. Anyhow, they kept close to me down the tracks from the depot. Ready?"
"In precisely one minute. There is the Dover Accommodation now," announced the engineer, as a headlight came around a curve. "All right. We'll have to coal up at the limits. Then we will make you a comfortable seat, Mr. Trevor."
"Don't you give yourselves any concern about me," replied Trevor. "I am used to railroad life."
They coaled up at the limits, but did not stop for water, the tank being three-quarters full. Ralph made tests of air valve and water pump, shook down the furnace, and the locomotive quivered under high-steam pressure as they started on their special run.
A flagman shouted something at them as they passed a switch.
"What was he saying?" inquired Griscom.
"I couldn't hear him," said Ralph.
"Thought he pointed at the engine—at the cow-catcher," remarked Trevor.
"Everything all right there," assured Ralph, and in the brisk action of the hour the circumstance was forgotten.
Twenty, thirty, forty miles made, and as they slowed down Griscom turned to Trevor, a proud glitter in his eye.
"How is that, sir?" he inquired.
"Famous!" cried the young man cheerily. "Badly shaken up, and this seat up here is rather bumpy, but I enjoy it, just the same. Going to stop?"
"Yes, crossing. Only for half-a-minute, though."
The engine halted on regular signal. Griscom got down and ran about a bit, explaining that he was subject to cramps when seated long in one position. Two men came up to the locomotive.
"Give us a lift?" demanded one of them.
"Couldn't do it, partner," responded Ralph. "Under special orders."
"Plenty of room up there on the tender."
"Not for you," answered the young fireman.
Both men regarded Trevor very keenly. Then they disappeared in the darkness. Ralph got the signal from the crossing's switch tower to go ahead.
"Mr. Griscom," he called out from his window.
"Why, where is he?—I don't see him," said Trevor in surprise. "I saw him out there not a minute ago."
Ralph jumped to the ground in amazement Nowhere in sight 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 cow-catcher."
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 time or get to some point where we can find another engineer."
"I don't like it," said Ralph. "Without a fireman, too."
"I'll attend to that department," said Trevor, briskly throwing off his coat. "Now then, the tower, your word to the operator there, and make up for lost time, Fairbanks, if you want to earn that hundred dollars."