"I beg your pardon," panted Dick, as he walked toward the stranger somewhat winded after his climb, "but it's dangerous up here. There's a train coming." "Thank you, I know it." The man spoke calmly, in contrast with his queer actions. "I thought perhaps you might be a stranger around here," the young cadet resumed. "There are two trains that pass here about the same time. You might get out of the way of one, and step in the path of the other." "Thank you for the warning," said the man. "I--er--I----" He hesitated, and seemed to be struggling with some emotion. "Perhaps I had better get off the track--for the present," he said, slowly. "You had, if you don't want to be killed!" exclaimed Dick, with a laugh that took the grim meaning from the words. "I guess we'd all better. The trains are getting nearer, and it's too good a world to leave by way of the iron route." "Is it a good world?" asked the man, suddenly. "I find it so," answered the cadet. "Especially in this kind of weather, and vacation so near at hand; eh, Paul?" "That's right!" "You are students at the Kentfield Academy then?" "Yes. Better move a bit faster. Here comes the express. It will pass the local on the bridge, I guess. Yes, there they both come." Whistles from the locomotives of the two approaching trains, which rounded curves at this point, showed that the two engineers had seen the figures on the track. "That's for us!" exclaimed Paul, quickly. The stranger did not answer, but slowly followed Dick, who scrambled down the embankment. Ere they reached the lower level the trains rushed thunderously past in a cloud of dust and cinders. "Now you can walk the track with more safety," remarked Dick to the man. "There won't be another train for three hours." "Thank you, I think I'll go the rest of my journey by the highway," and the man, with a little bow, turned aside, going in the direction from which the boys had come. As he walked along Paul turned in time to see him take from his pocket the note he had pinned there and tear it up, scattering the fragments along the road. For a few moments Paul and Dick walked along in silence, Grit following at their heels. Then Paul spoke. "Dick!" he exclaimed, "do you know I think you saved that man from committing suicide!" "Suicide! Nonsense, Paul!" "That's right. If I ever saw despair and hopelessness on a man's face it was on his." "Well, he didn't look very happy, that's a fact. But what had that to do with an intention to take his own life?" "Lots, when you think of the way he acted." "Oh, you imagine it."