"Of course you can let this poor doggy out of the cage and we will be good to him."
"Well, Miss, that altogether depends upon the conductor, you know. It's against the rules for a dog to be taken into a passenger coach."
"I do think," cried Bess, "that this is the very meanest railroad that ever was. I am sure that Linda Riggs' father owns it. To keep a poor, dear, little dog like that, freezing and starving, in an old baggage car."
"Do you know President Riggs, Miss?" interrupted the baggage-man.
"Why—" began Bess, but her chum interposed before she could go further.
"We know Mr. Riggs' daughter very well. She goes to school where we do, at Lakeview Hall. She was on this train till it was split at the Junction, last evening."
"Well, indeed, Miss, you tell that to Mr. Carter. If you are friends of Mr. Riggs' daughter, maybe he'll stretch a point and let you take the dog into the Pullman. I don't suppose anybody will object at a time like this."
"How could you, Nan?" demanded Bess, in a whisper. "Playing up Linda
Riggs' name for a favor?"
"Not for ourselves, no, indeed!" returned Nan, in the same low tone. "But for the poor doggy, yes."
"Say! I wonder what she'd say if she knew?"