Ralph, his foot on the step of the tender, drew back disappointedly.
“Waiting for Bob Evers. He’s my engineer,” explained Roberts. “We’re to run to Acton, over the old dumping tracks--north branch.”
“What!” exclaimed Ralph eagerly. “Right away?”
“No, any time; so we report at 5 a. m. for a short haul on the north branch.”
“Look here, Roberts,” said the young railroader eagerly, “you think I understand my business?”
“Know it, Fairbanks,” nodded the fireman.
“When will Evers be here?”
“Any time within two hours.”
“Two hours?” retorted Ralph. “That won’t do at all. I’m going for a special order, and I want you to have steam up to the top notch by the time I get back.”
“That so,” drawled the fireman in his usual indolent fashion, but he arose from his lounging attitude instantly, and his great paw of a hand grasped the coal scoop with zest. “All right.”