"See here, Grizzly," pleaded Mason in a spasmodic outburst of agitation; "what's the deal?" "What good will it do you to know?" "Well, I want to." "All right; there's to be a runaway. There's an old junk engine down beyond Wellsville doing some dredging work, with a construction crew. She's to be fired along." "What for?" inquired Mason, his eyes as big as saucers. "For instance," jeered Grizzly, with a disagreeable laugh. "Where's she to run to?" The operator went to a map tacked to the wall. He ran his finger so rapidly over it that, the intent Mason standing between, Ralph could not clearly make out the route indicated. "Nobody hurt, you see," remarked Grizzly, in an offhanded way. "There isn't another wheel running on that branch this side of Preston." "No, but the feeders and cut-ins? Along near Preston the Limited mail runs twenty miles since they've been bridging the main at Finley Gap." "She must take her chances, then," observed Grizzly coolly. "Don't get worried, son. The men working this deal know their business, and don't want to get in jail." "What--what is there for me to do." inquired Mason, acting like a man who had been persuaded to a course that had unnerved and distressed him. "Set those wires back just as they were, when I give you the word." "Say, if you don't mind, I'll go somewhere and get a bracer. I'm feeling sort of squeamish." Grizzly regarded the speaker with a contemptuous look in his manifestation of weakness, but he made no remark, and Mason left the room. Ralph from his point of observation watched him descend the stairs and close the door after him as he went out into the storm, faced in the direction of the town. The young railroader started down the cleat ladder, when Grizzly came out of the operating room. He looked thoughtful, as if he was uneasy at his comrade wandering off. As the lower door closed after him, Ralph decided that he was bent on joining Mason in his search for "a bracer," and that now was his chance. There flashed through the brain of Ralph the situation complete. A wreck was to happen, why and exactly where he could only guess. Clearly outlined in his mind, however, was the route ahead and beyond. By a rapid exertion of memory he could place every train on the road now making its way through the storm-laden night towards Stanley Junction. The Great Northern spread out in a quick mental picture like a map. Ralph decided what to do, and he did not waste a second. He was down the cleat ladder and up the stairs and into the operating room in a jiffy. His thought was to give the double danger signal to headquarters and call for the immediate presence of the head operator or the chief dispatcher himself, if on duty.