"I'm pressed for time, Slump--" "Oh, you can spare me a minute. It may do you some good. Say, you've managed to climb up some while I've been locked up, haven't you?" "I've had good steady work, yes." "I'd give an arm for just one run on that dandy Overland Express of yours," observed Slump. "Why don't you work for it, then," questioned Ralph. "It's in any boy who will attend strictly to business." "Oh, I don't want the glory," explained Slump. "What, then?" "Just one chance to spurt her up till she rattled her old boiler into smithereens and run the whole train into the ditch. That's how much I love the Great Northern!" Ralph was disgusted. He started down the walk, but Slump was persistent. The latter caught his arm. Ralph allowed himself to be brought to a halt, but determined to break away very shortly. "Just a word, Fairbanks, before you go," said Slump. "You're going to come across me once in a while, and I want a pleasant understanding, see? You won't see me getting into any more scrapes by holding the bags for others. I'm after the real velvet now, and I'm going to get it, see? I know a heap of what's going on, and something is. I'll give you one tip. I can get you a small fortune to resign your position on the Great Northern." The way Ike Slump pronounced these words, looking squarely into the eyes of Ralph, could not fail to impress the latter with the conviction that there was some sinister meaning in the proposition. Ralph, however, laughed lightly. "Thinking of starting a railroad of your own, Slump?" he asked. "No, I ain't," dissented Slump. "All the same--you see, do you?" Slump smartly put out one hand curved up like a cup. "Yes, you told me before," nodded Ralph--"clean hands this time." "Now, this is a different deal." "Well?" "Hollow of my hand--see?" "I don't." "Maybe it holds a big railroad system, maybe it don't. Maybe I know a turn or two on the programme where the tap of a finger blows things up, maybe I don't. I only say this: I can fix you right with the right parties--for a consideration. Think it over, see? When you see me again have a little chat with me. It will pay you--see?" Ralph walked on more slowly after a long wondering stare at Ike Slump. He had never been afraid of the young knave either in a square fight or in a battle of wits. There was something ominous, however, in this new attitude of Slump. He had told just enough to show that something antagonistic to the Great Northern was stirring, and that he was mixed up with it. The home of the paymaster was located over near the railroad, quite away from the business centre of the town. Ralph reached it after a brisk walk. He found the place dark and apparently untenanted. It looked as if Mr. Little and his family were away, probably at some neighbor's house. Then going around to the side of the house and glancing up at the windows, Ralph discovered something that startled him.