!" commented the conductor. "All
right, Fairbanks, when you're ready," and he returned to the coaches.
Ralph extended his hand to Clark. The latter met his glance frankly.

"I've been trying to get track of your movements by telegraph," said
Clark. "Located your run, and was waiting at Riverton for your train.
Got there ahead of time, and came back to the depot just as 999 was
pulling out, and caught the last car. First, I thought I'd not show
myself until you got through with your trip. Things got dull in those
humdrum coaches, though, and I sailed ahead to the tender, saw what
was wrong, and checked up the locomotive just beyond the bridge. Say,
if the draw had been open, we'd all have had a bath, eh?"

"The miscreants who played this diabolical trick ought to be severely
punished," said Ralph.

There was no evidence of strained relations between the two boys.
Ralph recognized that Clark had sought him out to make an explanation.
He wondered what it would be. The present was not, however, the time
to broach the subject. There was something very manly and reassuring
in Clark's manner, and the young railroader believed that when he got
ready to disclose his secret, the revelation would be an unusual and
interesting one.

The train was started up, soon made up the lost time, and at 5:15
rolled into the depot at Stanley Junction. Ralph did not feel quite as
well as usual and his fireman was pale and loggy, but the main effects
of the drug had passed off.

"You go straight home, Mr. Fogg," directed Ralph. "I will see that 999
is put to bed all right."

"I think I'll take advantage of your kind offer, Fairbanks," responded
Fogg. "I'm weak as a cat, and my head is going around like an electric
turntable."

Fogg started for home. Clark rode with Ralph on the locomotive to the
roundhouse. The big engine was put into her stall. Then the boys left
the place.

"I have something to say to you, Fairbanks," began Clark.

"I suppose so," replied Ralph. "It must be quite a long story,
though."

"It is," admitted his companion.

"Then suppose we leave its recital till we are rested a bit,"
suggested Ralph. "I want you to come up to the house and have supper.
Then we'll adjourn to the garden and have a quiet, comfortable chat."

"That will be famous," declared Clark. "Say, you don't treat an
imposter like myself courteous or anything, do you?"

"Are you really an imposter?" asked Ralph, with a faint smile.

"I am--and