g Ralph's face. "You don't despise me?"

"Oh, yes, we all dislike you, Mr. Fogg!" railed Ralph, with a hearty
laugh. "The master mechanic has such bitter animosity for you, that
he's taking his revenge by circulating a subscription list to help
build you a new home."

"Never!" gasped Fogg, overcome.

"What's more," proceeded Ralph, in the same ironical tone, "the men
down at the roundhouse have such a deep grudge against you, that they
are following his example."

"I don't deserve it--I don't deserve it!" murmured the fireman.

"Why, even the new moving picture showman is so anxious to throw you
down, that he's going to give you a benefit Saturday evening."

"I guess I'm the wickedest and happiest man in the world," said Fogg,
in a subdued tone.

"You ought to be the happiest, after that little memoranda you gave to
the master mechanic," suggested Ralph.

"The pledge? Yes!" cried the fireman, "and I mean to keep it, too. He
told you about it?"

"And everything else necessary to tell," replied Ralph. "It's all
settled. He says you and I ought to make a strong team. Let's try,
hard, Mr. Fogg."

"Lad, I'll show you!" declared Fogg solemnly.

"All right, then say no more about it, and let us get these traps
under cover, and get home to enjoy a famous meal my mother is
preparing for all hands."

Activity and excitement around the Fairbanks home did not die down
until long after dark. All the afternoon and evening people came to
the house to see Fogg, to offer sympathy and practical assistance. If
the fireman needed encouragement, he got plenty of it. He seemed to
have grown into a new man under the chastening, and yet hopeful
influences of that eventful day in his life. Before his very eyes
Ralph fancied he saw his fireman grow in new manliness, courage and
earnestness of purpose.

All hands were tired enough to sleep soundly that night. When Ralph
came down stairs in the morning, his mother told him that Fogg was up
and about already. She believed he had gone up to the ruins to look
over things in a general way. Ralph went out to hunt up the stroller
for breakfast.

Scarcely started from the house, he halted abruptly, for the object of
his quest was in view. Ralph saw the fireman about half a block away.
He was facing two men whom Ralph recognized as Hall and Wilson, two
blacklisters who had been prominent in the railroad strike.

One of them was gesticulating vigorously and telling something to
Fogg, w