“Why, yes,” replied Mrs. Fairbanks. “He is the man who goes around with an old wagon visiting the different country towns in this district in turn.” 220
Ralph made some inquiries, and ascertained that the peddler in question made his headquarters at Dover. He resolved upon opportunity to visit the man at a near date, although it was probable that the coat with the rags sold with it had been sent to some mill. A few days later Zeph came again to Stanley Junction and Ralph told him about the peddler.
For a time after this, affairs ran on smoothly for the Limited Mail and her experienced crew, and Ralph had settled down to a quiet enjoyment of congenial employment when there occurred a break in the routine that once more placed him in a position of peril.
One day as he returned from the city run, the roundhouse foreman informed him that he was to report at the office of the master mechanic. Ralph did not go home, but went at once to answer the summons.
The master mechanic was his good friend and received him with his usual cordiality.
“Fairbanks,” he said, “you are pretty well known to the officers of the road, and favorably, too, I suppose you know that.”
“It is a pleasure to have you say so,” answered the young fireman.
“They seem especially to value your ability in running down crookedness and ferreting out 221 criminals,” pursued the master mechanic. “The superintendent wired me today to have one road detective start out on a certain case. I wired back that Mr. Adair was engaged in a special case in the city. The return was to relieve you of regular duty and have you report at Afton this afternoon.”
Ralph nodded to indicate that he understood, but he said:
“I do not like these interruptions to routine duty, but I suppose the company knows where it most needs a fellow.”