Ralph, the Train Dispatcher; Or, The Mystery of the Pay Car

  CHAPTER XXXII

  CONCLUSION

  "What are you doing here, Fairbanks?"

  Ralph had just entered the train dispatcher's office after a goodnight's sleep and sat down at his usual post of duty.

  He felt pretty good, for he was rested up, and Glidden had spared aminute from some rush business to tell him that Adair had coralled thewhole crowd of conspirators, bank bullion and all.

  The general superintendent of the Great Northern, however, seemed tofeel even better than Ralph himself. He had swung into the office withbright eyes and a beaming face, and while his challenge might sound tothe uninitiated like a conventional call down, the head official lookedas if he would like to grab the hand of his loyal, useful youngassistant and hurrah at him.

  "Getting back to routine, sir," said Ralph with a pleasant laugh.

  "Wrong box."

  "I'm afraid I don't quite understand," began Ralph.

  "Don't. Then I'll show you," announced the official with a forciblechuckle. "Can't have insubordination and men out of place in thisservice. There's your desk," and seizing Ralph by the arm thesuperintendent led him past the counter into the little office rarelyoccupied, and marked on its door "Chief Dispatcher--Private."

  "I will need your signature to get some autograph pads made," continuedthe official, picking up the stand containing the various rubber stampsin use. "What are you staring at, Fairbanks?"

  "You don't mean--"

  "Promotion? oh, yes, I do. That was settled on after the fruit specialaffair, but so many rushing things came along since we couldn't getaround to you. Just make out a list of your new office requirements andchanges in men and routine, and I'll O. K. them."

  There was a suspicious sound in the open doorway. It was half between asniffle and a chuckle.

  "Here, you old rascal!" cried the superintendent, reaching out andgrabbing the escaping Glidden, "no hanging around here," and he draggedhim into the room. "First official act, Fairbanks, discharge this man.Then make him assistant manager. He's too fine for a simple first trickman."

  "Oh, but you're doing things!" commented the old operator, trying todisguise his aroused emotions.

  "For those who have done things for us, exactly," answered thesuperintendent briskly. "Both of you come to my office at 10 a. m. Youwill probably be interested in hearing the final wind-up of the pay carmystery."

  It was certainly a remarkable meeting, that which the two friendsattended.

  Bob Adair was there with his report, brisk, animated and proud of hissuccess. Zeph Dallas, excited and delighted, seemed to grow a foot whenthe superintendent gave him a personal word of praise for his efforts.

  The initial work of Ralph Fairbanks had started in action all theefficient machinery of the road. As Zeph described it, once the firstclew got to Adair he just seemed to spread out a great net and caughteverybody and everything in it.

  By midnight five of the principal conspirators had been run down andlocked up. Some confessions were the result. Best of all, these broughtout the secret connection of these men with the rival road.

  "There is a pretty heavy bill to pay, but certain officials of theMidland Central will be glad to pay it," declared Adair.

  "What had the robbers done with the bank bullion?" inquired thesuperintendent.

  "They had no means of breaking open the strong safes quickly, anddropped them all down the well near the old deserted hut in Eagle Pass,intending to return later when the chase was over and rifle them attheir leisure."

  "Yes, that was the real gold mine Rivers boasted about," submittedRalph.

  "We have secured a list of all the 'suspicious' men among thetelegraphers," continued Adair. "They will trouble us no further withdelays, smash-ups and cut wires. Chief Dispatcher Fairbanks has alreadycleared the service, and the Great Northern can go on its way smoothly."

  There was one favor Ralph asked before the conference broke up. This wasthat the fireman who had helped him in the record run of the Californiafruit special be remembered. It was granted, and the honest fellow wasgiven a promotion.

  "On the side, Fairbanks," said the road officer, familiarly linkingRalph's arm as they left the office of the general superintendent, "Iwish to express a change of opinion on one subject."

  "What is that, Mr. Adair?" inquired Ralph.

  "Glen Palmer."

  "You have seen him?" asked Ralph with interest.

  "Yes, and you will see him, too, as soon as he is pardoned, which willbe within twenty-four hours, if the influence of the Great Northerncounts for anything. He is a noble young fellow."

  "I thought that all along."

  "I didn't, and I am ashamed of myself for the sentiment. He is no thief,and never was a thief."

  "Not even--"

  "The department store episode? No. He was trying to escape from theconspirators, who pressed him closely. He found himself stranded withouta penny in an unfriendly town. In order to get the money to place hisaged relative in a position of safety, he pretended to take the jewelrywe know about so his grandfather could claim the ten dollars reward andcarry out their plans."

  "I am truly glad to hear this," said Ralph warmly. "And the convictportrait Ike Slump had?"

  "Is really that of a cousin very much resembling Glen. He was the causeof Glen's wanderings and troubles. He was a sad scamp, but his health isbroken. He escaped from jail, and Glen was willing to shoulder hisidentity until he got safely out of the country, where he now is tryingto redeem his broken past."

  "What of the old grandfather, Mr. Adair?"

  "Glen wishes to repurchase the chicken farm. He loves the business. Hisgrandfather is at heart a harmless old man, and Glen believes would soonforget his vagaries and settle down to a happy life."

  "They shall have all the help I can give them," promised Ralph heartily.

  Adair accompanied Ralph as far as the dispatcher's office. Glidden hadpreceded them. He just sat down at the operating table when a click athis instrument caused first trick man, second trick man, copy operatorand Ralph himself to listen attentively.

  A call had come giving a "sine" or signature that never ran over thewire without making every man in the dispatcher's office sit up and takenotice--the "sine" of the president of the Great Northern himself.

  "For you, Mr. Fairbanks," spoke the old operator with a vast chuckle andexcessive politeness: "Mr. Fairbanks, Chief Dispatcher Great Northern:Congratulations."

  "Fairbanks," spoke the road officer, grasping the hand of the youngrailroader warmly, "I'm proud of you!"

  Ralph flushed with pride and pleasure. But however warmly the generouswords of commendation from the railroad men thrilled the young chiefdispatcher, they paled into insignificance when the lad, on reachinghome that night, heard his mother say:

  "Ralph, my son, you have made me very proud!" And then, woman-like, sheadded: "But don't do it again, Ralph. You--you might get hurt!"

  "All right, mother," he promised, as he kissed her. "Only I don'tbelieve those chaps will have a chance to make trouble for me or therailroad again--that is, not right away."

  THE END