"Then, Robinson can tell him the feed for the dozen of us was the only way he could do it." Though he did not wish to be a spoil-sport, Bob, however, did not approve of the plan. Consequently, it was with relief he beheld a large, red-faced man, in overalls and jumper, enter the station master's office, exclaiming as he caught sight of the boy: "Are you the kid Conductor Jenkins left here?" "Yes, sir." "How'd you like to go over to Kansas City on my freight train?" "First-rate. I never rode on a freight, and I'd like to." "You'll never want to again," commented Tom. "What'll become of our feed if you go?" "Oh, we can have it, just the same," returned another. Bob, however, was too engrossed with the prospect of riding on a freight train, to overhear the remark. At first, the station master had thought to protest against letting his charge go, but, as he noticed the boy's eagerness, he said: "Hosmer, shake hands with Bob Chester. Don't let anything happen to him. He's a special friend of 'Old Man' Perkins. When you get to Kansas City, take him to the ticket agent, and be sure he gets the pass all right." "Never fear; I'll stay with him till his train's in, and then introduce him to the conductor. Come on, Bob. Train's waiting." Quickly saying good-bye to the station master and the others, and thanking them for their kindness, Bob followed the big conductor, and was soon started on his way to Fairfax again, aboard the freight train. CHAPTER XIV AT THE THROTTLE OF A FREIGHT ENGINE Taking Bob to the caboose, the freight conductor made him known to the brakemen who were lolling about, smoking. "So you're the kid Miser Jenkins thought stole your pass?" exclaimed one of the trainmen, after a searching scrutiny of the boy. "He must be losing his eyesight. That face of yours ought to vouch for you, if nothing else. Crooks don't have such honest faces." "Oh, the miser was probably trying to pull off one of his grand-stand plays," commented another. "Passes are pretty rare birds, nowadays, and I suppose he thought he could make a hit with the company by inquiring about this one." "And instead of that, he got hit himself. Brown, in the despatcher's office, told me the message Jenkins received from Chicago was red hot." From the remarks, Bob could see plainly that the officious conductor was not popular, and he was wondering whether or not he was expected to make any comment, when Hosmer said, his face suffused with a look of glee: "Well, the boys are going to put one over on the 'miser'." And, pausing aggravatingly, the freight conductor filled his pipe and lighted it. His action produced the desired effect of tantalizing the brakemen, and they exclaimed eagerly: "Out with it, Hos'! Tell us! Let us in on it!" Waiting a moment, to give his words greater emphasis, the conductor removed his pipe from his mouth, and said: