Author of "Bayard the Bicyclist," "From the Forge to the Forum," "Roughing It on Range and Ranch," etc. CHAPTER I. "Discharged from your last situation, young man? For what reason?" And the busy superintendent of the Pen Yan Road, one of the largest railway systems in the country, turned from his maps and statistics to glance suspiciously at the slight figure, before him. Clear and prompt came the answer: "For doing my duty, sir." "Humph!" replied the official, shrugging his shoulders and eying the youthful speaker more closely. "Men--nor boys, for that matter--never lose situations from attention to business. You will have to find another excuse." "I have no other, sir." By this time the notice of the subordinate officials and clerks, of whom there were twenty or more in the company's spacious rooms, was fixed upon him who stood at the iron railing encircling the chief's desk. He was not over sixteen years of age, of medium size, poorly clad, and evidently used to hard work. But his features, though browned with a deep coat of tan and bountifully sprinkled with freckles, made up an honest, manly-looking countenance, while the blue eyes met the railroad superintendent's sterner gaze with an unflinching light. Everything had seemed to work that day at cross-purposes with Superintendent Lyons, and he was in no humor to parley with the poor boy, who had thrust himself into his presence with more boldness than discretion. But the very attitude of the youthful applicant, as he stood there with uncovered head, respectfully waiting for his answer, showed he was not to be put off with the ordinary excuse. General Lyons was so favorably impressed with his appearance of quiet determination that he was fain to ask: "You say you have come from Woodsville, a hundred miles, for a situation on the road?" "Yes, sir." "And that you have recently been discharged from our employ? I must say, your audacity is only equaled by your frankness." "But, sir, it was no fault of mine. I was trying to do my duty." "Give me the particulars in as few words as possible." "Thank you, sir. I have worked on Section 66 nearly two years--" "Let me see," interrupted the superintendent, "that extends from Trestle Summit to Wood's Hollow." "Yes, sir." "The most troublesome section on the entire line of the road. But go on with your story." "It's a bad section, sir, and it usually takes five regular hands to keep it in repair. But for two weeks a couple of the men have been off on account of illness, while our foreman, Mr. Gammon, has not been on duty half of the time. This left one man, with myself, to look after the road. That, with the rains we have been having, has given us more than we could do as it ought to be done. But Mr. Gammon refused to put on any more help, so Mr. Baxter and I have done the best we could.