eared his throat and his great hand swept the
moisture from his eyes. Then in a more practical tone he resumed:

"I said you was too late."

"Too late for what?"

"Resigning. You are too late," observed the official, "because Lemuel
Fogg has already been here."

"Then----"

"To tender his resignation, to tell the whole truthful story of the
collision on the siding at Plympton. Fairbanks," continued the master
mechanic very seriously, "you are a noble young fellow. I know your
design to bear the whole brunt of the smash-up, in order that you
might save your fireman and the station man down at Plympton. As I
said, Fogg was here. I never saw a man so broken. He told me
everything. He told me of your patience, of your kindness, your
manliness. Lad, your treatment of Fogg under those circumstances shows
the mettle in you that will make you a great man, and, what is better
still, a good man."

"Thank you, sir," said Ralph in a subdued tone, deeply affected
despite himself.

"For the first time in twenty years' service," continued the official,
"I am going to take a serious responsibility on myself which should be
rightly shouldered by the company. The Plympton incident is dead and
buried. The three of us must hold always the secret close. The black
mark is rubbed off the slate."

"You have done right--oh, believe me, sir!" declared Ralph earnestly.
"I feel sure that Mr. Fogg has learned a lesson that he will never
forget, and the blessings of his sick wife, of his ambitious young
daughter, will be yours."

"In my desk yonder," continued the master mechanic, "I have his
written pledge that drink is a thing of the past with him. I told Fogg
that if ever he disappointed me in my belief that he was a changed
man, a reformed man, I would leave the service feeling that my
mistaken judgment did not do justice to my position with the Great
Northern. As to you, ready to sacrifice yourself for the sake of
others--you are a young man among thousands. Drop it now--get out!"
ordered the master mechanic, with a vast show of authority. "It's all
under seal of silence, and I expect to see you and Fogg make a great
team."

"Mr. Fogg's house has just burned down," said Ralph. "It would have
broken him down completely, if his discharge had been added to that
misfortune."

"Burned down?" repeated the master mechanic, in surprise and with
interest. "How was that?" and Ralph had to recite the story of the
fire. He added that he ha