ok the whole responsibilities upon himself. Nearly all the time he
was with Ernest, trying to cheer him up, hoping to find some way to
make him well and strong and happy again."

"A royal good fellow, in fact, just as you said--I see that."

"Yes, sir," declared Fred staunchly. "Well, to continue: Clark's
father and family were going to Europe. They had arranged for young
Clark to go with them, but he wouldn't. Then there was a family
council. Clark had not made much progress at school. He was fine at
football, but no good at arithmetic. In fact, he was a disappointment
to his father as a student. The old man, the academy professor, and
the family lawyer, held a great consultation. Old man Clark came to a
stern decision. It was planned out that young Clark should follow in
the footsteps of his father and become a railroader. A regular
arrangement was made. Clark was to have free passes everywhere. He was
to spend his entire vacation traveling over different railroad
systems, while his folks were in Europe. Twice a week he was to send
to the family lawyer reports of his progress, accompanied by vouchers
showing that he had not wasted the time."

"I see," nodded Ralph; "also where you come in."

"Yes, that's easy to guess," said Fred. "Just at that time I happened
to be on a flying visit to Earlville, where one day I met Clark. He
took me to the hotel, where I met Ernest. I had known young Gregg
before, for he had come to Earlville a ragged, homeless lad before I
first left, seeming to have no home or relatives, and going to work at
odd jobs around the town. Clark told me of the fix he was in. While we
were talking, a sudden idea came to him. He became very much excited
and serious, and then made a very strange request of me."

"To assume his identity and go railroading in his stead?" inquired
Ralph, anticipating what was coming.

"You've struck it," assented Fred; "just that."

"And you accepted?"

"And that is why you see me here," said Fred. "Don't think any the
less of me, Fairbanks, for doing it. Don't find fault with me if I
took up the imposture for all there was in it. It's my way--when I go
at a thing, I do so with all my--nerves. I was Marvin Clark to the
core. I took up his name, I played his part, and say, I tried not to
disgrace his good name by one unmanly act. He taught me to imitate his
handwriting perfectly one day. The next I was on the road, without a
mishap until I met you."

"Which may not