I was mean enough to leave after all they had done for me, and stepped down upon the platform. “Just as you like; but don’t let me see you round this road again,” continued Tommy, his face red with anger. I walked away with Tom Walton. CHAPTER XXIV. THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL. I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad. It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point. I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue. In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive. I bought two tickets for Middleport at the office, and with Tom took a seat in one of the cars. Tommy was busy instructing Lewis in regard to his duties on the engine, of which he knew as little as any person connected with the road, and he did not follow my movements. “Well, we are men of leisure now, Tom,” I remarked, as we seated ourselves. “I have had rather too much of that sort of thing lately, and I would rather not be a man of leisure,” answered Tom, dryly. “You will soon find something to do,” I replied. “Is Lewis Holgate going to run this train?” “I suppose so. Tommy and he are on the best of terms; and I know that Lewis has been trying to use me up for some time, in order to get my place. I hope he is satisfied now.” “Does he understand the business?” asked Tom, curiously. “He did very well on the dummy; but he is too careless to be relied on. I don’t think he understands a locomotive. He hasn’t his thoughts about him always. But I hope he will do well.” The train started, and dragged at a snail’s pace for a mile. I realized from the motion that the engineer did not feel at home on the foot-board, for it was attended by frequent jerks, and by as frequent slacking of the speed. When the conductor picked up the tickets, he told me Lewis had with him on the foot-board a man from the steamer, so that he could not have been embarrassed by having too much to do. At Grass Springs we were ten minutes behind time; but Lewis did better on the next stretch, which was level and straight; but even here he was losing time, and it was fortunate that the boat would wait at Middleport until the arrival of the train.