aled orders and is
not to be opened until you start on your trip. The superintendent of
the road will see you leave and will give you all further instructions
needed."

There was a certain air of mystery to this situation that perplexed
Ralph. He reported to Griscom, who took the letter with a curious
smile.

"Must be something extra going on down the road," he observed. "Wonder
what? Start after dark, too. Hello, I say--the pay car."

They had come to the depot to observe an engine, two cars attached,
and the superintendent standing on the platform conversing with a man
attired in the garb of a fireman.

The latter was a sturdy man of middle age, one of the best firemen on
the road, as Ralph knew. He nodded to Griscom and Ralph, while the
superintendent said:

"Fairbanks, this man will relieve you on the run."

Ralph looked surprised.

"Why," he said, "then I am not to go on this trip?"

"Oh, yes," answered the official with a grim smile,--"that is, if you
are willing, but it must be as a passenger."

Ralph glanced at the passenger coach. Inside were half-a-dozen
guards.

"Not in there," replied the superintendent, "We want you to occupy the
pay car here. Everything is ready for you."

"All right," said Ralph.

"Come on, then."

The superintendent unlocked the heavy rear door of the pay car, led
the way to the tightly sealed front compartment, and there Ralph found
a table, chair, cot, a pail of drinking water and some eatables.

"You can make yourself comfortable," said the official. "There will
probably be no trouble, but if there is, operate this wire."

The speaker pointed to a wire running parallel with the bell rope to
both ends of the train. On the table lay a rifle. The only openings in
the car were small grated windows at either end.

The official left the car, locking in Ralph. The young fireman
observed a small safe at one end of the car.

"Probably contains a good many thousands of dollars," he reflected.
"Well, here is a newspaper, and I shall try to pass the time
comfortably."

By getting on a chair and peering through the front ventilator, Ralph
could obtain a fair view of the locomotive. The train started up, and
made good time the first thirty miles. Then Ralph knew from a halt and
considerable switching that they were off the main rails.

"Why," he said, peering through the grating, "they have switched onto
the old cut-off between Dover and Afton."

That had really occurred