“Nothing bad, I hope,” challenged Ralph with a smile.
“Almost too good to last.”
“Oh, by the way, I want to say to you that this trip is going to give you a great chance.”
“For what?” inquired the fireman, big eyed and interested.
“To make a record.”
“It isn’t much of a run.”
“Yes, it is, and a great deal depends on it. The general superintendent is watching this run. It means a record and money for the Great Northern. We may strike trouble. Everything depends on landing these cars in the yards at Stanley Junction by eleven p. m. to-night.”
“I’m with you, Mr. Fairbanks,” said the fireman earnestly. “I don’t know all you do, but I’ll follow orders to a T.”
“That’s the ticket. Look here.”
They were running easily over an air line, and Ralph had an opportunity to reach under the fireman’s seat and pull into view the bag he had stored there.