Allan handed him two copies of the order just received, then waited, his own copy in his hand, for Higgins to read the order aloud to him, as required by the rules. But instead, the conductor merely glanced at it, then, with a savage oath, crumpled it up in his hand and started to leave. "Aren't you going to read it?" Allan asked. "Read it? I have read it!" answered Higgins, savagely. "Not aloud to me," Allan pointed out. "What do you mean, you young fool?" demanded Higgins, turning upon him fiercely. "D' you think I don't know my business?" "I only know," replied Allan, paling a little as he saw that Higgins had been drinking and was in a very ugly mood, "that the rules require you to read that order aloud in my presence." "Well, what of it? That rule was made, mebbe, by th' same fool that just sent this order holdin' me here fer an hour, when I could git into Hamden easy as pie afore Number Ten was due! What do I care fer th' rules? This here road's goin' t' blazes, anyway!" and he turned to go. "Very well," said Allan, evenly; "you will do as you think best, of course. But if you don't obey the rules, I shall have to report you." At the words, Higgins sprang around again, purple with rage. "Report me!" he shouted. "Why, you young whipper-snapper, I'll spoil that putty face o' your'n," and he raised his fist. "Hello, here," called a voice from the door. "What's the trouble?" and Allan glanced past the irate conductor to see the engineer standing in the doorway. "What's up, Bill?" he repeated, coming in. "What's the kid done?" "Threatened to report me if I don't read this here order to him," answered Higgins sullenly. The engineer glanced sharply from one to the other. "Is _that_ all?" he said. "And you were going to fight about a little thing like that, Bill?" "No kid shall report me!" growled Bill, but he looked a little foolish. "Well, then, read the order," advised the engineer, easily. Bill hesitated an instant, then smoothed out the crumpled paper. "'Hold extra east, engine 632, at Byers,'" he snapped out, and handed the engineer his copy. "'Hold extra east, engine 632, at Byers,'" repeated the latter. "Correct." The conductor turned without another word and left the office. The engineer followed him with his eyes until he disappeared in the darkness, and then turned back to Allan. "Would you really have reported him?" he asked, eying the boy curiously. "Yes," answered Allan, slowly. "I think I should. He was drunk." "He has been drinking," admitted the engineer. "Personally, I detest him. But he's got the sweetest little wife you ever saw, and three kids that worship him; so he can't be wholly bad. What would become of them if he'd lose his job? Of course, you can report him yet, if you want to. But I'd think it over first," and the engineer followed Higgins out into the night. Allan did think it over, and the result was that the superintendent never heard of that encounter in the little Byers office.