The Boy from the Ranch; Or, Roy Bradner's City ExperiencesWebster, Frank V.
General
The Boy from the Ranch; Or, Roy Bradner's City Experiences
Webster, Frank V.
City and town life -- Juvenile fiction; Mystery and detective stories; Ranch life -- Juvenile fiction; Thieves -- Juvenile fiction
"Now youh can turn in," said the porter with a smile, as he began to
make up another berth. Roy decided to wait a while, until he saw how
other men travelers undressed, and when he saw one man retire behind
the curtains, and, sitting on the edge of his berth, take off his
shoes, and the heavier parts of his clothing, Roy did likewise. Thus
the difficult problem of getting to bed was solved.
CHAPTER VI
A SUDDEN AWAKENING
Stretching out in the comfortable berth Roy thought he would soon fall
asleep, as he was quite tired. But the novelty of his ride, the
strange sensation of being whirled along many miles an hour while lying
in bed, proved too much for him, and he found himself still wide-awake,
though he had been in the berth an hour or more.
The noise of the wheels, the rumble of the train, the click-clack as
the wheels passed over rail joints or switches, the bumping and swaying
motion, all served to drive sleep away from Roy's eyes.
He thought of many things, of what he would do when he got to New York,
of his father, of Caleb Annister, and what he should say to the New
Yorker. Finally, however, the very monotony of the noises began to
make him feel drowsy. In a little while he found his eyes closing, and
then, almost before he knew it, he was asleep.
Meanwhile, back in the smoking room, the three men and Mr. Baker were
talking over their cigars. One of them produced a pack of cards, and
they began to play.
"Maybe if Isaac's game doesn't work, we can get him with these,"
suggested Mr. Baker, as he dealt the pasteboards to his companions.
"Maybe," agreed Hynard. "What time is Ike going to try it?"
"About two o'clock. He'll be sure to be asleep then."
Back in his berth, some hours after this, Roy was dreaming that he was
being shaken in his bunk at the ranch house. He thought Billy Carew
was urging him to get up early to go off on a round-up, and Roy was
trying to drive the sleep away from his eyes, and comply.
Suddenly he knew it was not a dream, but that some one was moving him,
though very gently. Then he became aware that a hand was being
cautiously thrust under his pillow.
Roy did not stop to think--he acted. His instant impression was of
thieves, and he did the most natural thing under the circumstances. He
grabbed the hand that was being gently shoved under his pillow.
Instantly the wrist, which his fingers clasped, was snatched away,
withdrawn from the curtains, and a voice exclaimed:
"Beg pardon. I was looking for your ticket. I'm the conductor. It's
all right."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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