r a
water tank down near Pittsburgh and held a meeting. It was on the Fourth
of July and we sent a copy of our resolutions to the president of the
sleeping car company at Chicago. The report was written with charcoal
upon some new shingles which we found near, and sent by express,
'collect.' I remember how it read:

'At the First Annual Convention of the Tramps' Protective Association of
North America, it was

'_Resolved:_ That this union feels itself deeply indebted to the man who
has introduced upon American railways the high wheel and the triple
truck. And be it further

'_Resolved:_ That all self-respecting members of this fraternity shall
refrain from riding on, or in any way encouraging, such slow-freight
lines as may still hold to the old-fashioned, eight-wheeled,
dirt-dragging sleeper, blind to their own interest and dead to the
world.'"

"All aboard," cried Patsy, and the Denver Limited left Chicago just ten
minutes late. The moment they had passed beyond the shed the storm swept
down from the Northwest and plastered the wet snow against the windows.
Slowly they worked their way out of the crowded city, over railway
crossings, between guarded gates, and left the lights of Chicago behind
them. The scores of passengers behind the double-glassed windows chatted
or perused the evening papers.

Nearly all the male members of the English party had crowded into the
smoking-rooms of the sleepers to enjoy their pipes. Patsy, after working
the train, sat down to visit with the Morans. The old engineer had been
hurt in a wreck and the company had generously given him a two months'
leave of absence, with transportation and full pay, and he was going to
spend the time in Southern California. The officials were beginning to
share the opinion of Mr. Watchem, the famous detective who had declared,
when Moran was in prison, that he ought to be wearing a medal instead of
handcuffs. He had battled, single-handed and alone, with a desperado who
was all fenced about with firearms, saved the company's property and, it
might be, the lives of passengers. Later he had taken the dynamite from
the engine to prevent its exploding, wrecking the machine and killing
the crew. And rather than inform upon the wretch who had committed the
crime he had gone to prison, and had borne disgrace.

With the exception of Patsy, Moran, and his wife, none of the passengers
gave a thought to the "fellows up ahead." Before leaving Chicago Guerin
ha