Part 19 (1/2)
”h.e.l.lo!” laughed Denny, turning to confront the sphinx-like helper, whose taciturnity was proverbial. ”You'll be making a speech, next!”
”Yes,” bolted out the lame helper, very much agitated over his own unusual temerity.
”Give it a voice, Limpy.”
”He didn't do it.”
”Didn't do what?”
”Run that engine into the wall.”
”How do you know?”
”I saw him--he started her up, but shut her off, dead, before he jumped for the tracks and ran outside.”
Ralph looked surprised, but pleased, Big Denny convinced, and the crowd tremendously interested.
On the outskirts of the crowd Ike Slump gave ear, perked up his face in a grimace, and a minute later sneaked out of the place.
”Saw the whole thing,” declared Limpy. ”Fellow in the next engine leaned over soon as Fairbanks left, slipped the lever, and let her drive.”
”Who was it?” demanded the watchman indignantly.
”Slump, the scamp.”
”Where is he?”
The crowd made a search, but it was unavailing--Ike Slump had ”jumped his job” permanently, to all appearances, for his locker was empty.
The fireman came out of the office.
”She's all right,” he announced to Denny, ”but the old man's terribly broken up. Better go in and give him a word.”
”All right,” said Denny--”you come, too, Fairbanks.”
”I'd rather not,” said Ralph--”I've got work to do.”
”You take a rest and eat your dinner before you do anything else,”
advised the big watchman.
The noon whistle sounded just then and dispersed the crowd. Ralph went over to a bench and brought out his dinner pail.
His arm was sore and smarting, but he was not at all seriously crippled, and he sat thoughtfully eating his lunch and wondering how the damage to the wall would be repaired.
Ralph noticed the two engineers leave the office, then Big Denny. The latter had hold of the hand of little Nora.
He led the way up to Ralph. Limpy had just taken his seat on the other end of the bench.