“Oh, my gracious, Miss Cherry! Is that you?” asked the young train dispatcher, anxiously.
“Ralph Fairbanks! What has happened?”
In spite of his excitement Ralph noted—and was glad!—that the girl recognized his voice so quickly.
“I am at headquarters, Miss Cherry! Something has happened that your father should know about.”
“He has gone out. We expect him back any moment. Tell me what it is, Mr. Fairbanks!”
“The men have struck!”
“What—what made them?”
“Oh, it was coming. It could not be helped,” Ralph hastily assured her. “I don’t know how far it will spread. Tell your father as soon as you see him, will you, please? I will stay here till he comes. Don’t know: Maybe the yardmen will go out. If they do——”
He hung up without finishing his sentence. Through the glass door of the cabinet he had seen one of the call boys rush into the outer office.
“Hey! Where’s Fairbanks?” the boy demanded. “Hey, Mist’ Fairbanks! Dooley wants you down the yard.”