d.

CHAPTER IX

THE LIGHT OF HOME

Ralph walked home in the quiet night in a serious and thoughtful mood.
His usually bright face was clouded and his head bent, as though his
mind was greatly upset. As the light of home came into view, however,
with a effort he cast aside all railroad and personal cares.

"Always the same dear, faithful mother," he murmured gratefully, as he
approached the cheerful looking cottage all alight down stairs, and
hurried his steps to greet her waiting for him on the porch.

"Ralph," she spoke anxiously, "you are not hurt?"

"Hurt!" cried Ralph, "not a bit of it. Why," as he noticed his mother
trembling all over, "what put that into your head?"

"The fear that what Zeph heard downtown at the roundhouse might be
true," replied Mrs. Fairbanks. "There was a rumor that there had been
a collision. Besides, I knew that some of your enemies were watching
your movements."

"You must stop worrying over these foolish notions," said Ralph
reassuringly. "We made a successful run, and as to the enemies, they
generally get the worst of it. Men in the wrong always do."

Ralph was glad to get back to his comfortable home. As he passed
through the hallway he noticed Zeph Dallas, asleep on the couch. Ralph
did not hail or disturb him. Young Dallas had been at work for the
friends of Ralph who operated the Short Line Railroad up near Wilmer,
but about two weeks previous to the present time had got tired of the
dull route through the woods and had come to Stanley Junction. The
young engineer had gotten him a job "subbing" as a helper on a yards
switch engine. Zeph had been made welcome at the Fairbanks home, as
were all friends of Ralph, by his devoted mother.

"You are the best mother and the best cook in the world," declared
Ralph, as he sat down at the table in the cozy little dining room,
before a warm meal quickly brought from the kitchen. "Really, mother,
you are simply spoiling me, and as to your sitting up for me this way
and missing your sleep, it is a positive imposition on you."

His mother only smiled sweetly and proudly upon him. Then she asked:

"Was it a hard trip, Ralph?"

"In a way," responded Ralph. "But what made it harder was some
unpleasant developments entirely outside of railroad routine."

"That so? It never rains but it pours!" proclaimed an intruder
abruptly, and, awakened from his sleep by the sound of voices, Zeph
Dallas came into the dining room yawning and s