situation. He told his mother the news, and
they had a long talk over affairs in general. The doctor advised rest
and a change of scene. The next day Van Sherwin called on his way back
to The Barrens. That resulted in the young fireman joining him, and
his mother urged him to remain with his friends and enjoy his
vacation.

A recruit to the ranks of the workers of the Short Cut Railroad
presented himself as Ralph and Van left for the depot one morning to
ride as far as Wilmer. This was Zeph Dallas.

"No use talking," said the farmer boy. "I'm lonesome here at Stanley
Junction and I'm going to join Joe."

"All right," assented Van, "if you think it wise to leave a steady job
here."

"Why, you'll soon be able to give me a better one, won't you?"
insisted Zeph. "It just suits me, your layout down there in The
Barrens. Take me along with you."

When they reached Wilmer and left the train, Van pointed proudly to a
train of freight cars on the Great Northern tracks loaded with rails
and ties.

"That's our plunder," he said cheerily. "Mr. Trevor is hustling, I
tell you. Why, Ralph, we expect to have this end of the route
completed within thirty days."

As they traversed the proposed railroad line, Ralph was more and more
interested in the project. Little squads of men were busily employed
here and there grading a roadbed, and the telegraph line was strung
over the entire territory.

They reached the headquarters about noon. A new sign appeared on the
house, which was the center of the new railroad system. It was
"Gibson."

A week passed by filled with great pleasure for the young railroader.
Evenings, Mr. Gibson and his young friends discussed the progress and
prospects of the railroad. There were to be two terminal stations and
a restaurant at the Springfield end of the route. There were only two
settlements in The Barrens, and depots were to be erected there.

"We shall have quite some passenger service," declared Mr. Gibson,
"for we shorten the travel route for all transfer passengers as well
as freight. The Great Northern people do not at all discourage the
scheme, and the Midland Central has agreed to give us some freight
contracts. Oh, we shall soon build up into a first-class, thriving,
little railroad enterprise."

One evening a storm prevented Ralph from returning to headquarters, so
he camped in with some workmen engaged in grading an especially
difficult part of the route. The evening was passed very