“Earl Danvers.”
“Is he here?”
“He is at headquarters,” said Zeph. “Don’t bother asking me about him now. You will soon see him, and he will tell you his own story. Then, too, Mr. Gibson wishes to see you particularly. Here’s our hand-car, jump aboard. We’ll spin along at a fine rate, I tell you, for the roadbed is splendid.”
Ralph found it so. It was a most interesting journey to headquarters. There was only one track, and on this the men had spent their energies to great advantage, and commendable results followed.
He was warmly welcomed by his friends, 237 particularly so by Earl Danvers. Just as soon as mutual greetings were over Ralph took Earl to a pile of ties a little distance away.
“Now then, young man,” he said, “seeing we are alone, suppose you give an account of yourself.”
Earl Danvers was thin and pale. He looked as if he had gone through some recent severe hardships, but he smiled serenely as he said:
“It’s easy to tell my story, now I am out of my troubles, but I tell you, Ralph, I have had a hard time of it.”
“With Slump and Bemis?”
“Yes. The afternoon I left Stanley Junction, they were the fellows who forced me to go away with them. They broke into your house, and I found them ransacking it. They pitched on to me, and tied me up. Then they recognized me.”