A RAILROAD SMASH
"Say, this is great; isn't it?"
"All to the choo-choo!"
"And we've got nearly fifteen hundred miles of it before we get to the western part of Kansas!"
These were the comments and exclamations of Frank and Andy Racer, and their new chum Billy Chase, as they sat in a parlor car of a fast train, speeding westward. They were on their way to the Double X ranch, owned by Mr. Richfield Thornton, and they hoped not only to get the better of the men who were opposing Billy's uncle, but also to solve the mystery of Golden Peak. No wonder they were elated.
"And to think that last week we were boning away at Latin and Greek at Riverview Hall!" exclaimed Andy.
"Precious little boning you did," commented his brother, dryly.
"Get out, you. I did as much as any of the fellows. Didn't Doctor Doolittle say I was well up in my studies when he wrote to dad, after we thought of coming away? And didn't he say I could get back at 'em in the fall without losing any ground? I guess that's good evidence that I'm not at the foot of the class, little one!"
"Pooh! Doctor Doolittle would have said that about any one whom he wanted to have come back to school next term," rejoined Frank.
"Particularly after what you fellows did for the institution," put in Billy. "But I guess you won't miss much by quitting before the end of the term."