so good to help Bob!"

Mr. Davis stammered confusedly that he had done nothing, and then
hurried on to advise Betty to pay no attention to anything that might
happen, but to let the conductor help her on the train.

"I've got to wheel the lad down toward the baggage car," he
explained, "so's they won't suspect. You see, Miss, this is an oil
town and folks do pretty much as they please. If a gang want to beat
up a stranger they don't find much opposition. In a few years we'll
have better order, but just now the toughs have it. Sorry you had to
have this experience."

"I'll always remember Chassada pleasantly because of you," said Betty
impulsively. "Hark! Isn't that the train? Yes, it is. Don't mind
me--go back to Bob. I'm all right, honestly I am!"

They shook hands hurriedly, and Betty followed the other passengers
out to the platform. She caught a glimpse of Mr. Davis placidly
trundling his wheelbarrow down the platform, and then the train
pulled in and the conductor helped her aboard.

"Express?" called the baggage car man as the wheelbarrow was halted
beside the truck on which he was tumbling a pile of boxes.

"Sure, express," retorted Mr. Davis. "Live stock this time. A
passenger for you, with his ticket and all. Let him go through to the
coaches, George. It's all right. He'll explain."

He lifted the lid of the box and Bob stepped out. The baggage man
stared, but he knew and trusted Mr. Davis.

"Don't thank me, lad," said the groceryman kindly as Bob tried to
pour out his thanks. "You're from my part of the country, and any boy
in trouble claims my help. There, there, for goodness' sake, are you
going to miss the train after all the trouble I've taken?"

He pushed Bob gently toward the door of the baggage car and the boy
scrambled in. Then, and not until then, did the vociferous Bud see
what was going on. He dared not tackle the groceryman, but he came
running pellmell down the platform to bray at Bob.

"You big coward!" he yelled. "Sneaking away, aren't you? Just let me
catch you in this town again, and I'll make it so hot for you you'll
wish you'd never left your kindergarten back East."

He was so angry he fairly danced with rage, and Bob and the baggage
man both had to laugh.

"Laugh, you big boob!" howled Bud. "You wouldn't think it so funny
if I had you by the collar. 'Fraid to fight, aren't you? You wait!
Some day I'll get you and I'll--I'll drown you!"

Bud had made an unfortunate choice of