s of the Dover & Springfield
Short Line Railroad." To the south there was a singular sight
presented. Some twenty men and boys were working on a roadbed, which
had been cut for over two miles. A telegraph wire ran from the
building over the tops of trees, and Ralph was fairly astonished at
the progress made since he had first visited Farwell Gibson in this
place.

"Come in," said Van, as Mr. Grant alighted from the wagon.

"Well, this is decidedly a railroady place," observed the president of
the Great Northern with a faint smile.

One half of the rambling place was a depot and railway offices
combined. There were benches for passengers. In one corner was a
partitioned off space, labeled: "President's Office." On the wall hung
a bunch of blank baggage checks, and there was a chart of a zigzag
railway line, indicating bridges, water tanks and switch towers.

"Mr. Gibson," called out Van to a man seated at a desk, "this is Mr.
Grant, the president of the Great Northern."

"Eh? what! My dear sir, I am glad to see you," said the eccentric
hermit. "You came about your nephew, I presume? Take the gentleman to
his room, Van," directed Farwell. "I am something of a doctor and he
is resting quite comfortably."

Mr. Gibson greeted Ralph very cordially. When Van returned, he
insisted on the young fireman inspecting the work on the railroad.

"Does that look like business?" he inquired, as they proceeded down
the roadbed. "We have ten men and eight boys working for us."

"Eight boys--where did they come from?" inquired Ralph.

"An orphan asylum burned down and we engaged to care for them,"
replied Van.

"But what are they doing in those trees?"

"Stringing a telegraph wire. We expect within a month to have the
telegraph through to Springfield, and later to Dover."

"Why, Van," said Ralph, "it seems incredible, the progress you have
made."

"That five thousand dollars we made old Farrington pay Mrs. Gibson was
a great help," replied Van. "We have quite a construction crew here
now. I help Mrs. Gibson do the cooking, and we get on famously."

Mr. Grant was with his nephew for over an hour. Then Ralph was sent
for, and Trevor welcomed him with a glad smile. The young man
described how he had been taken to a lonely building in the woods, how
he had escaped from his enemies, breaking his arm in a runaway flight,
and telling Ralph that he intended to remain where he was for a month,
to which his uncle had agreed.

"Co