Assistant
Superintendent at Afton."

"You mean to-night?"

"Right away. I will give you a letter. No, hold on, I've got a better
plan."

Again Adair consulted his watch. Bustlingly he hurried through with
his preparations for departure. Then he left the house, swung down the
street briskly, and, Ralph accompanying him, proceeded to the railroad
depot.

He wrote out a long telegram and handed it to the night operator. Then
he came back to Ralph.

"See here, Fairbanks," he remarked. "I've fixed this thing as I want
it, and you are one of the few persons I would trust in a matter like
this."

"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Adair."

"I know your ability from past experience. It won't do to neglect
following this clew to the silk robbers. I have wired the assistant
superintendent for an official request that you be detailed on special
duty in my department. Wait here for the reply. Then start out on the
trail of those thieves, and report to me day after to-morrow, when I
shall return to Stanley Junction."

"All right," said Ralph, "I may be able to accomplish something."

"I think you will, judging from your present success in assisting me,"
said Adair.

Ralph had to wait nearly an hour after Adair had left on a special.
Then a reply came to the telegram. The operator, as instructed by
Adair, handed the message to Ralph. It read:

* * * * *

"Fairbanks, freight fireman, detailed for special work in another
department."

* * * * *

"It's all right," said Ralph to himself, as he started homewards. "Now
to trace down Ike Slump and the other train robbers."

CHAPTER VI

ZEPH

The young fireman reported at the roundhouse early in the morning,
showing the telegram to Jim Forgan, but not until the foreman had got
out of sight and hearing of the other men in the place.

"H'm!" commented Forgan laconically, "I don't like this."

"Indeed, Mr. Forgan?" smiled Ralph.

"I don't, and that's the truth of it--for two reasons."

"What are they, Mr. Forgan?"

"First, it interrupts a regular run for you."

"But I may not be away two days."

"Next, it gives that Jim Evans a chance to take your place, and I
don't trust the man."

"Neither do I," said Ralph pointedly, "and I may have something
important to tell you about him when I return."

Ralph found Zeph industriously chopping kindling wood when he got back
hom