inutes to the good, he could not help shouting
over a delighted word of commendation to Fogg.

"I said you were a brick, Mr. Fogg," he observed. "You're more than
that--you're a wonder."

Fogg's face momentarily lighted up. It looked as if he was half minded
to come out of his shell and give some gracious response, but
instantly the old sullenness settled down over his face, accompanied
by a gloomy manner that Ralph could not analyze. He half believed,
however, that Fogg was a pretty good fellow at heart, had started out
to queer the run, and was now sorry and ashamed that he had betrayed
his weakness for drink.

"Maybe he is genuinely sorry for his tantrums," reflected Ralph, "and
maybe our narrow escape at the siding has sobered him into common
sense."

What the glum and gruff fireman lacked of comradeship, the young
passenger made up in jolly good cheer. He was interested in everything
going on. He found opportunity to tell Ralph several rattling good
stories, full of incident and humor, of his amateur railroad
experiences, and the time was whiled away pleasantly for these two
acquaintances.

Ralph could not repress a grand, satisfied expression of exultation as
No. 999 glided gracefully into the depot at Bridgeport, over
forty-seven minutes ahead of time.

The station master and the assistant superintendent of the division
came up to the cab instantly, the latter with his watch in his hand.

"Worth waiting for, this, Fairbanks," he called out cheerily--he was
well acquainted with the young railroader, for Ralph had fired
freights to this point over the Great Northern once regularly for
several weeks. "I'll send in a bouncing good report with lots of
pleasure."

"Thank you," said Ralph. "We've demonstrated, anyhow."

"You have, Fairbanks," returned the official commendingly.

"Only, don't lay any stress on my part of it," said Ralph. "Any
engineer could run such a superb monarch of the rail as No. 999. If
you don't tell them how much the experiment depended on our good
friend, Fogg, here, I will have to, that's all."

The fireman flushed. His eyes had a momentary pleased expression, and
he glanced at Ralph, really grateful. He almost made a move as if to
heartily shake the hand of his unselfish champion.

"You're too modest, Fairbanks," laughed the assistant superintendent,
"but we'll boost Fogg, just as he deserves. It's been a hard, anxious
run, I'll warrant. We've got a relief crew coming, so you c