at his
command, Clark arranged it all. The New Mexico doctors got a tank that
held an artificial air, and Clark arranged so that Howard could come
east in a special car."

"And the first tourist car that you ran empty to the Spur?" inquired
Ralph.

"Why, we knew that Morris was trying every way to locate and annoy his
uncle. We thought that maybe he had got onto our plans about Howard.
We ran the dummy car to see if we were being watched. Don't you see,
that if Morris had succeeded in smashing the glass air tank, Howard
would have died before he could tell his story to old Mr. Gregg."

"And now?" said Ralph.

"The story has been told. Old Mr. Gregg is convinced that his son was
innocent of forgery. He will take care of his grandson and make him
his heir, and young Clark, as you see, has done a grand thing."

"Yes, indeed," assented Ralph.

"Howard will return to New Mexico with a relieved conscience. I am
going to the jail here now to see Morris. If he will agree to leave
the country and never annoy his uncle again, I will give him a certain
large sum of money, as directed by his uncle. If he doesn't, he will
be prosecuted for the forgery."

"Zeph," observed the young railroader enthusiastically, "you have
proven yourself not only a real detective, but a splendid lawyer, as
well."

"Thank you," returned Zeph, and blushed modestly; "most everybody that
gets in with you does some kind of good in the world."

It was two hours later when a messenger came to the Fairbanks home
with a letter for Ralph.

The young engineer flushed with pleasure as he read a brief
communication from the master mechanic, advising him that Mr. Robert
Grant, president of the Great Northern, was at Stanley Junction, and
wished to see him for a few minutes at the Waverly Hotel.

Ralph told his mother of the incident, and her eyes followed him
fondly and proudly as, arrayed in his best, Ralph started out to keep
his appointment.

It was a warm welcome that the young railroader received from the
great railroad magnate. Mr. Grant went over their mutual experiences
the night of the wild dash of the special from Rockton to Shelby
Junction.

"You did a most important service for the road that night, Fairbanks,"
said the railroad president; "how much, is a secret in the archives of
the company, but I can say to you confidentially that the Mountain
Division would have passed to another line if we had not acted in
time."

"I am very gla