CONCLUSION
"What are you doing here, Fairbanks?"
Ralph had just entered the train dispatcher's office after a good
night's sleep and sat down at his usual post of duty.
He felt pretty good, for he was rested up, and Glidden had spared a
minute from some rush business to tell him that Adair had coralled the
whole crowd of conspirators, bank bullion and all.
The general superintendent of the Great Northern, however, seemed to
feel even better than Ralph himself. He had swung into the office with
bright eyes and a beaming face, and while his challenge might sound to
the uninitiated like a conventional call down, the head official looked
as if he would like to grab the hand of his loyal, useful young
assistant 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 forcible
chuckle. "Can't have insubordination and men out of place in this
service. There's your desk," and seizing Ralph by the arm the
superintendent led him past the counter into the little office rarely
occupied, and marked on its door "Chief Dispatcher--Private."
"I will need your signature to get some autograph pads made," continued
the official, picking up the stand containing the various rubber stamps
in use. "What are you staring at, Fairbanks?"
"You don't mean--"
"Promotion? oh, yes, I do. That was settled on after the fruit special
affair, but so many rushing things came along since we couldn't get
around to you. Just make out a list of your new office requirements and
changes in men and routine, and I'll O. K. them."
There was a suspicious sound in the open doorway. It was half between a
sniffle and a chuckle.
"Here, you old rascal!" cried the superintendent, reaching out and
grabbing the escaping Glidden, "no hanging around here," and he dragged
him into the room. "First official act, Fairbanks, discharge this man.
Then make him assistant manager. He's too fine for a simple first trick
man."
"Oh, but you're doing things!" commented the old operator, trying to
disguise his aroused emotions.
"For those who have done things for us, exactly," answered the
superintendent briskly. "Both of you come to my office at 10 a. m. You
will probably be interested in hearing the final wind-up of the pay car
mystery."
It was certainly a remarkable meeting, that which the two friends
attended.
Bob Adair was there with his report, brisk, animated and proud of his
success. Zeph Dallas, excited and delighted, seemed to grow a foot when
the superintendent gave him a personal word of praise for his efforts.
The initial work of Ralph Fairbanks had started in action all the
efficient machinery of the road. As Zeph described it, once the first
clew got to Adair he just seemed to spread out a great net and caught
everybody and everything in it.
By midnight five of the principal conspirators had been run down and
locked up. Some confessions were the result. Best of all, these brought
out the secret connection of these men with the rival road.
"There is a pretty heavy bill to pay, but certain officials of the
Midland Central will be glad to pay it," declared Adair.
"What had the robbers done with the bank bullion?" inquired the
superintendent.
"They had no means of breaking open the strong safes quickly, and
dropped 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 at
their leisure."
"Yes, that was the real gold mine Rivers boasted about," submitted
Ralph.
"We have secured a list of all the 'suspicious' men among the
telegraphers," continued Adair. "They will trouble us no further with
delays, smash-ups and cut wires. Chief Dispatcher Fairbanks has already
cleared the service, and the Great Northern can go on its way smoothly."
There was one favor Ralph asked before the conference broke up. This was
that the fireman who had helped him in the record run of the California
fruit special be remembered. It was granted, and the honest fellow was
given a promotion.
"On the side, Fairbanks," said the road officer, familiarly linking
Ralph's arm as they left the office of the general superintendent, "I
wish 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 will
be within twenty-four hours, if the influence of the Great Northern
counts 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 the
conspirators, who pressed him closely. He found himself stranded without
a penny in an unfriendly town. In order to get the money to place his
aged relative in a position of safety, he pretended to take the jewelry
we know about so his grandfather could claim the ten dollars reward and
carry out their plans."
"I am truly glad to hear this," said Ralph warmly. "And the convict
portrait Ike Slump had?"
"Is really that of a cousin very much resembling Glen. He was the cause
of Glen's wanderings and troubles. He was a sad scamp, but his health is
broken. He escaped from jail, and Glen was willing to shoulder his
identity until he got safely out of the country, where he now is trying
to redeem his broken past."
"What of the old grandfather, Mr. Adair?"
"Glen wishes to repurchase the chicken farm. He loves the business. His
grandfather is at heart a harmless old man, and Glen believes would soon
forget 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 had
preceded them. He just sat down at the operating table when a click at
his instrument caused first trick man, second trick man, copy operator
and Ralph himself to listen attentively.
A call had come giving a "sine" or signature that never ran over the
wire without making every man in the dispatcher's office sit up and take
notice--the "sine" of the president of the Great Northern himself.
"For you, Mr. Fairbanks," spoke the old operator with a vast chuckle and
excessive politeness: "Mr. Fairbanks, Chief Dispatcher Great Northern:
Congratulations."
"Fairbanks," spoke the road officer, grasping the hand of the young
railroader warmly, "I'm proud of you!"
Ralph flushed with pride and pleasure. But however warmly the generous
words of commendation from the railroad men thrilled the young chief
dispatcher, they paled into insignificance when the lad, on reaching
home that night, heard his mother say:
"Ralph, my son, you have made me very proud!" And then, woman-like, she
added: "But don't do it again, Ralph. You--you might get hurt!"
"All right, mother," he promised, as he kissed her. "Only I don't
believe those chaps will have a chance to make trouble for me or the
railroad again--that is, not right away."
THE END
This Isn't All!
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the reverse side of the wrapper which comes with this book, you will
find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same store
where you got this book.
Don't throw away the Wrapper
Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. But in
case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete catalog.
THE RAILROAD SERIES
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Radio Boys," Etc.
Uniform Style of Binding. Illustrated.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In this line of books there is revealed the whole workings of a great
American railroad system. There are adventures in abundance--railroad
wrecks, dashes through forest fires, the pursuit of a "wildcat"
locomotive, the disappearance of a pay car with a large sum of money on
board--but there is much more than this--the intense rivalry among
railroads and railroad men, the working out of running schedules, the
getting through "on time" in spite of all obstacles, and the
manipulation of railroad securities by evil men who wish to rule or
ruin.
RALPH OF THE ROUND HOUSE;
Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man.
RALPH IN THE SWITCH TOWER;
Or, Clearing the Track.
RALPH ON THE ENGINE;
Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail.
RALPH ON THE OVERLAND EXPRESS;
Or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer.
RALPH, THE TRAIN DISPATCHER;
Or, the Mystery of the Pay Car.
RALPH ON THE ARMY TRAIN;
Or, The Young Railroader's Most Daring Exploit.
RALPH ON THE MIDNIGHT FLYER;
Or, The Wreck at Shadow Valley.
RALPH AND THE MISSING MAIL POUCH;
Or, The Stolen Government Bonds.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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Individual Colored Wrappers and Text
Illustrations by WALTER S. ROGERS
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In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and the other a noted
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knowledge and meeting many thrilling adventures.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY;
Or, Autoing in the Land of the Caravans.
An engrossing tale of the Sahara Desert, of encounters with wild
animals and crafty Arabs.
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS;
Or, Lost in the Jungles of the Amazon.
Don's uncle, the hunter, took an order for some of the biggest snakes
to be found in South America--to be delivered alive! The filling of
that order brought keen excitement to the boy.
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD;
Or, The Old Egyptian's Great Secret.
A fascinating tale of exploration and adventure in the Valley of Kings
in Egypt. Once the whole party became lost in the maze of cavelike
tombs far underground.
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE;
Or, Cast Away in the Land of Ice.
Don and his uncles joined an expedition bound by air across the north
pole. A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship.
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES;
Or, The Trail of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
An absorbing tale of adventures among the volcanoes of Alaska in a
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GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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(Trademark Registered)
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
Individual Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending
and receiving--telling how small and large amateur sets can be made and
operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out of what
they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fascinating,
so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse
them with great delight.
Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well known radio expert.
THE RADIO BOYS' FIRST WIRELESS;
Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize.
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT;
Or, The Message That Saved the Ship.
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION;
Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room.
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN PASS;
Or, The Midnight Call for Assistance.
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE;
Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS;
Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE ICEBERG PATROL;
Or, Making Safe the Ocean Lanes.
RADIO BOYS WITH THE FLOOD FIGHTERS;
Or, Saving the City in the Valley.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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By ALICE DALE HARDY
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youngsters, but as an added attraction each book is filled with a lot of
the best riddles you ever heard.
THE RIDDLE CLUB AT HOME
An absorbing tale that all boys and girls will enjoy reading. How the
members of the club fixed up a clubroom in the Larue barn, and how
they, later on, helped solve a most mysterious happening, and how one
of the members won a valuable prize, is told in a manner to please
every young reader.
THE RIDDLE CLUB IN CAMP
The club members went into camp on the edge of a beautiful lake. Here
they had rousing good times swimming, boating and around the campfire.
They fell in with a mysterious old man known as The Hermit of Triangle
Island. Nobody knew his real name or where he came from until the
propounding of a riddle solved these perplexing questions.
THE RIDDLE CLUB THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
This volume takes in a great number of winter sports, including
skating and sledding and the building of a huge snowman. It also gives
the particulars of how the club treasurer lost the dues entrusted to
his care and what the melting of the great snowman revealed.
THE RIDDLE CLUB AT SUNRISE BEACH
This volume tells how the club journeyed to the seashore and how they
not only kept up their riddles but likewise had good times on the sand
and on the water. Once they got lost in a fog and are marooned on an
island. Here they made a discovery that greatly pleased the folks at
home.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS
For Little Men and Women
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten stands
among children and their parents of this generation where the books of
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source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.
THE BOBBSEY TWINS
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND
THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA
THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR
THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY
THE BOBBSEY TWINS KEEPING HOUSE
THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CLOVERBANK
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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By LAURA LEE HOPE
Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.
Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume
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These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly
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eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive
little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG
BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP
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SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES
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Girls Books, Etc.
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Every Volume Complete in Itself.
Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediate
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followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner.
Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the book-shelf of every
child in the land.
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S
SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT INDIAN JOHN'S
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
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Individual Colored Wrappers and Text
Illustrations Drawn by WALTER S. ROGERS
A new line of fascinating tales for little girls. Honey Bunch is a
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HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL
Happy days at home, helping mamma and the washerlady. And Honey Bunch
helped the house painters too--or thought she did.
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY
What wonderful sights Honey Bunch saw when she went to visit her
cousins in New York! And she got lost in a big hotel and wandered into
a men's convention!
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM
Can you remember how the farm looked the first time you visited it?
How big the cows and horses were, and what a roomy place to play in
the barn proved to be?
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE
Honey Bunch soon got used to the big waves and thought playing in the
sand great fun. And she visited a merry-go-round, and took part in a
seaside pageant.
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN
It was great sport to dig and to plant with one's own little garden
tools. But best of all was when Honey Bunch won a prize at the flower
show.
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP
It was a great adventure for Honey Bunch when she journeyed to Camp
Snapdragon. It was wonderful to watch the men erect the tent, and more
wonderful to live in it and have good times on the shore and in the
water.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS
By LAURA LEE HOPE
Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by THELMA GOOCH.
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
The Blythe girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City.
Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, while
Margy, just out of a business school, obtained a position as a private
secretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she called
a "job" in a department store.
THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE;
Or, Facing the Great World.
A fascinating tale of real happenings in the great metropolis.
THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE;
Or, The Worth of a Name.
The girls had a peculiar old aunt and when she died she left an
unusual inheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the
girls for existence.
THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM;
Or, Face to Face With a Crisis.
Rose, still at work in the big department store, is one day faced with
the greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as
exciting girlish happenings.
THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER;
Or, The Girl From Bronx Park.
Helen, out sketching, goes to the assistance of a strange girl, whose
real identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl really
was comes as a tremendous surprise.
THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION;
Or, The Mystery at Peach Farm.
The girls close their flat and go to the country for two weeks--and
fall in with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they
came to the assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is
well related.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
THE FLYAWAYS STORIES
By ALICE DALE HARDY
Author of The Riddle Club Books
Individual Colored Jackets and Colored Illustrations by WALTER S. ROGERS
A splendid new line of interesting tales for the little ones,
introducing many of the well known characters of fairyland in a series
of novel adventures. The Flyaways are a happy family and every little
girl and boy will want to know all about them.
THE FLYAWAYS AND CINDERELLA
How the Flyaways went to visit Cinderella only to find that
Cinderella's Prince had been carried off by the Three Robbers, Rumbo,
Hibo and Jobo. "I'll rescue him!" cried Pa Flyaway and then set out
for the stronghold of the robbers. A splendid continuation of the
original story of Cinderella.
THE FLYAWAYS AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
On their way to visit Little Red Riding Hood the Flyaways fell in with
Tommy Tucker and The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. They told Tommy
about the Magic Button on Red Riding Hood's cloak. How the wicked Wolf
stole the Magic Button and how the wolves plotted to eat up Little Red
Riding Hood and all her family, and how the Flyaways and King Cole
sent the wolves flying, makes a story no children will want to miss.
THE FLYAWAYS AND GOLDILOCKS
The Flyaways wanted to see not only Goldilocks but also the Three
Bears and they took a remarkable journey through the air to do so.
Tommy even rode on a Rocket and met the monstrous Blue Frog. When they
arrived at Goldilock's house they found that the Three Bears had been
there before them and mussed everything up, much to Goldilock's
despair. "We must drive those bears out of the country!" said Pa
Flyaway. Then they journeyed underground to the Yellow Palace, and oh!
so many things happened after that!
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK
End of Project Gutenberg's Ralph, the Train Dispatcher, by Allen Chapman