“Oh.” Mr. Latham handed over a dollar bill. “I’ll see if I can get change in the station, sir,” said Tom, getting out. “Have you spent that half-dollar already?” asked their passenger with a smile. “No, sir, but that’s all I have with me. It won’t take a minute――――” “Tut, tut! Give me the half and let it go at that. I dare say you’ve done that much damage to your springs running over that dump.” “Thank you, sir,” murmured Tom, diving into his pocket for the coin in question. When he found it he glanced at it regretfully and seemed so loath to part with it that Mr. Latham noticed it. “Why, you’re a regular miser, boy,” he laughed. “You just hate to give up money, don’t you?” Tom blushed, but Willard thought they owed their benefactor an explanation. “It isn’t that, sir,” he said. “Tom wanted to keep that half because it’s the first money we’ve made with the car.” “Really? You mean that I was your first passenger? That’s quite interesting, boys. I should feel honored, I’m sure. Then you haven’t been driving this――this vehicle long?” “We just started to-day,” said Tom. “We haven’t had much luck yet, sir.” “Well, it takes time to build up trade. Keep trying; that’s the way to win, boys. Sorry to deprive you of your half-dollar, but I guess that bill will do just as well to keep, won’t it?” “Better,” laughed Tom. “Thank you very much, sir.” Mr. Latham nodded, smiled, and crossed to the station. Spider, who had been impatiently walking about the platform, hurried across and climbed in. “Know who that was, fellows?” he demanded excitedly as Tom swung The Ark around toward town. “No, who?” asked Willard. “That’s H. R. Latham, the First Vice-President of the road.” “Honest?” “Sure thing! I’ve seen him two or three times. Funny Mr. Martin didn’t send his carriage for him, wasn’t it?” “I sort of think he did,” said Tom softly. “I saw the Martin rig drive up just as we started away from the train.” “You did?” exclaimed Willard. “You didn’t say anything about it. Why, it’s dollars to doughnuts it came for Mr. Latham!” “That’s what I thought,” answered Tom dryly. “And that’s why I didn’t say anything. Think I wanted to lose a passenger?” Willard and Spider laughed delightedly. Presently, though, as they turned up River Street, Willard sighed and then frowned. “I wish,” he said, “we’d known who he was, Tom. We might have asked him to let us have a stand at the station.” “Gee!” said Tom. “That’s so! We might go back, Will?” But at that instant the train made the crossing, and so Tom, who had slowed down the car, advanced the throttle lever again and continued on his way with a sigh for the neglected opportunity. CHAPTER XI THE _NEWS-PATRIOT_ AIDS