ad Row.

Lemuel Fogg had not put in an appearance up to this time, but a few
minutes later Ralph saw him in the cab of No. 999, which he had gained
by a short cut from the street. As Ralph was looking in the direction
of the locomotive, some one came briskly up behind him and gave him a
sharp, friendly slap on the shoulder.

"Hello, Ralph Fairbanks!" he hailed.

"Why, Dave Bissell!" said the young railroader, turning to face and
shake hands with an old acquaintance. Dave had been a train boy on an
accommodation run at Stanley Junction about a year previous, and had
graduated into the same line of service on the Overland Limited.

"I'm very glad to see you," said Ralph; "I hear you've got a great
run."

"Famous, Fairbanks!" declared Dave. "I'm hearing some big things about
you."

"You call them big because you remember the Junction and exaggerate
home news," insisted Ralph.

"Maybe so, but I always said you'd be president of the road some
time," began Dave, and then with a start stared hard at young Clark,
who appeared at that moment crossing the platform of a stationary
coach from the direction of Railroad Row. "Why!" exclaimed Dave, "hey!
hi! this way."

Clark had halted abruptly. His expressive features were a study. As he
evidently recognized Dave, his face fell, his eyes betokened a certain
consternation, and dropping a package he carried he turned swiftly
about, jumped from the platform and disappeared.

"Why" spoke Ralph, considerably surprised, "do you know Marvin
Clark?"

"Who?" bolted out Dave bluntly.

"That boy--Marvin Clark."

"Marvin Clark nothing!" shouted the train boy volubly. "That's my
cousin, Fred Porter, of Earlville."

CHAPTER VIII

AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERY

The young engineer of No. 999 faced a new mystery, a sharp suspicion
darted through his mind. He recalled instantly several queer breaks
that the special passenger had made in his conversation.

"Your cousin, is he?" observed Ralph thoughtfully.

"That's what he is," affirmed Dave Bissell.

"And his name is Fred Porter?"

"Always has been," declared Dave. "Why, something up? Humph! I can
guess. Bet he's been up to some of his old tricks. He always was a
joker and full of mischief."

"Tell me more about him," suggested Ralph.

"Why, there isn't much to tell," said Dave. "He and I were raised at
Earlville. His parents both died several years ago, and he wandered
around a good deal. This is the first I've seen