"How soon can you reach him?" inquired Ralph. "Oh, that's easy," replied Dayton. Adair was a warm friend of Ralph. The latter knew the official reposed a good deal of confidence in young Dayton. He decided to tell him about the supposed discovery of the wire tapping outfit. "Good for you," commended Dayton. "You've hit a subject of big importance just at present, Mr. Fairbanks." "Is that so." "Very much so. I'll get word to Mr. Adair at once. He happens to be in call this side of the Mountain Division. This discovery of yours fits in--that is, Mr. Adair will be glad to get this bit of news." "I understand," returned Ralph meaningly. He was a trifle surprised to see Dayton begin a message in cypher to his chief. "It looks as if Mr. Adair doesn't even trust the wires just now," soliloquized Ralph as he started for home. The first thing he did after supper was to undo the parcel containing the telegraphic device and the satchel. The latter, as Fogg had stated, contained a shirt, a fancy vest and a pair of gloves. These bore no initial or other marks of identification. They were pretty badly riddled from their forcible collision with some sharp corner of the locomotive--so much so, that a pocket, ripped clear out of place, revealed a folded slip of paper. This had suffered in the mix-up, like the garments. Ralph opened it carefully. It was tattered and torn, sections were gouged out of it here and there, but Ralph devoted to its perusal a thorough inspection. His face was both startled and thoughtful as he looked up from his desk. For nearly five minutes the young railroader sat staring into space, his mind wrestling with a mighty problem. Ralph arose from his chair at last, put on his cap and went to the kitchen where Mrs. Fairbanks was tidying up things. "I'm going away for an hour or two, mother," he announced. "Nothing wrong, I hope, Ralph," spoke Mrs. Fairbanks, the serious manner of her son arousing her mothering anxiety at once. "I don't know," answered Ralph. "It's something pretty important. I've got to see the paymaster of the road." CHAPTER V IKE SLUMP "Things are narrowing down and closing in," said the young engineer to himself as he left the Fairbanks cottage. Ralph started away at a brisk pace. As he had told his mother, he was anxious to see the paymaster of the Great Northern. The general offices were now closed, and Ralph had the home of the paymaster in view as his present destination. A vivid memory of what the torn sheet found in the riddled vest pocket revealed engrossed his mind. That sheet was a scrawl, a letter, or rather what was left of it. Enough of it was there to cause the young railroader to believe that he had made a most important and startling discovery.