it worked. The belt was
adjusted to a T. Say, you'd better keep him out of the roundhouse, or
he'll experiment on us some day in a way that may lead to something
serious."

Ralph put the contrivance under his seat for more leisurely inspection
later on. He had to smile to think of the patience, the ingenuity and
the eccentric operation of the well-meant project of his young
inventor friend. The bellows principle of increasing the furnace draft
might have been harmless in a stationary engine. Even on the
locomotive it had shown some added suction power while the locomotive
was going ahead, but the moment the furnace door was opened the
current of air from below sought the nearest vent. That was why "his
ludship" had retired under a decided cloud in more ways than one.

When they arrived at Riverton the young engineer made a search for
both Archie and the disguised impostor. He located neither. From what
he gathered from the conductor, Archie had left the train at the first
station after the stop. The pretended English lord had been noticed
footing it back towards Stanley Junction.

The return trip was uneventful. Archie did not put in an appearance,
and Ralph fancied he might have gone back to Bridgeport. The next
morning when Ralph reported for duty, little Torchy, the call boy,
sidled up to him in a confidential way.

"Say, Mr. Fairbanks--I noticed a fellow was on your cab on your run
yesterday that I have seen before----"

"Indeed," answered Ralph curiously; "what about him?"

"Nothing much, only he was around here a couple of days ago. He
pretended that he wanted to see the inside of a roundhouse, and Mr.
Forgan sent me with him to show him about. When he got me alone he
began asking me all about you. Then he tried to pump me about all your
boy friends. I didn't like his looks or his actions, so I thought I
would tell you what I have."

"Thank you," said Ralph. "If you ever run against him again, tell
me."

"I will, sure," responded the staunch little fellow, who had a genuine
friendship for Ralph, who had encouraged him greatly, by initiating
him into roundhouse duties when he first came to work for the Great
Northern.

Ralph could not fathom the possible motive of the stranger, who
apparently was somehow interested in his doings. When they started out
on their regular run, he told Fogg what Torchy had imparted to him.
The fireman reflected speculatively over the disclosure.

"I can't understand what t