So the days passed, and the work on section went on in its unvaried round. And even from day to day Allan felt himself changing, as his horizon broadened. He had become a different boy from the diffident youngster who had asked Jack Welsh for a job that morning a few short months before. Work had strengthened him and made him a man; he felt immeasurably older; he had gained self-confidence; he felt that he could look out for himself in any emergency. He was playing a man’s part in the world; he was earning an honest living. He had gained friends, and he began to feel that he had a future before him. He was going to make the most of every opportunity, for he was ambitious, as every boy ought to be. He longed to get into the superintendent’s office, where there would be a chance to learn something about the infinitely difficult work of operating the road, and where there would be a chance for promotion. He never spoke of this to Jack, for such a thought seemed almost like desertion, but he never passed the offices without looking longingly up at the network of wires and signals. Sometimes, when some duty took him up-stairs, he could hear the wild chatter of the instruments in the despatchers’ office, and he determined to try to understand their language. Jack came into the section-shanty one morning with a sheet of paper in his hand and a broad smile upon his face. “I’ve got a Christmas gift fer y’, boys,” he said, and stuck the notice up on the hook. They all crowded around to read it. “NOTICE TO SECTION FOREMEN “All patrolling of the tracks will cease on and after December 25th next. This company deeply appreciates the faithful service its section-men have given it, and will endeavour to show that appreciation by increasing the wages of all section-men ten per cent., to go into effect January 1st. “[Signed] A. G. Round, “Supt. and Gen. Manager. _“Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 18th.”_ “How’s that, boys?” asked Jack. “That’s a Christmas gift worth havin’, ain’t it?” and he looked about from face to face, for he knew what that increase of twelve and a half cents a day meant to these men. It meant more food for the children, a new dress for the wife,—a little more luxury and ease in lives which were hard enough at best. * * * * * The weather had been cool and pleasant, but it changed as Christmas drew near, and the twenty-fourth was marked by a heavy storm. All the afternoon the rain fell in torrents, the wind blew a hurricane, and—something rare for December—the lightning flashed and the thunder rumbled savagely overhead.