. But I think so long as you have no particular section of
the state in mind, that Fairfax would be as good as any."

Bob lost no time in taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by his
companion for asking him about the customs of the cowboys and life on a
ranch in general, and many were the valuable pointers the stranger gave
him, some of which Bob afterwards remembered, but more of which he
forgot.

Between Bob's inquiries and the stories which his travelling companion
narrated, the morning passed quickly, and what had loomed before the boy
as long and dreary hours, seemed but a minute, so entertaining was the
stranger.

True to his word, when the train pulled into the station where the stop
was made for those passengers who desired to get lunch, the stranger
insisted upon Bob getting out and eating with him. And Bob found that
the man's appetite was just as keen when he was paying for his food, as
when he was eating that provided by others.

After the return to the car, the interesting stories were resumed, and
Bob had little opportunity to notice the region through which he was
passing, new and unusual to him as was its scenery, save when his
attention was called to some striking feature by his companion.

"It won't be long now before we reach Chicago," remarked the man.

"No, I suppose not," admitted Bob with a sigh. "I only wish you were
going out to Fairfax with me."

"Oh, well, you'll find, more likely than not, that some of the
passengers on the train you take are bound for Oklahoma, and they will
probably be able to afford you more assistance and information than I."

The suggestion made by Bob about returning to Oklahoma seemed to make a
deep impression upon the stranger, and he lapsed into silence from which
he only roused himself after the train had pulled into the station at
Chicago, when he jumped up suddenly, grabbed Bob by the shoulder, shook
him with a gentle roughness, and murmured:

"Good luck to you, boy, and whatever you do, be straight," and rushed
from the car, leaving Bob bewildered by the abruptness of his departure.

Despite the evident mystery which hung over his travelling companion,
Bob had felt more at ease when he was with him, and it was with a sense
of loss that he saw him leave the car, for the boy had hoped that he
would accompany him to the railway offices while he got his pass, and
he had even dared to think he might be able to persuade him to make the
visit to Mrs.