Part 33 (2/2)
Ralph went back to the roundhouse a trifle perturbed in his mind as to the outcome of the episode of the hour.
Something instinctively told him that he was about to have trouble. He did not like that violent start of the inspector when he heard his name, and there was something sinister in the way Bardon had looked up some memoranda, and afterwards eyed him as a vulture might its prey.
Limpy nearly had a fit when he had managed to probe out of Ralph the details of his arraignment by the great and potent inspector.
”Lay you off for saving the company a small fortune?” raved the helper indignantly. ”Say! you just tell that malicious scoundrel I told you to change the switch.”
”I shall do nothing of the kind,” answered Ralph calmly, ”and you are a good deal more worried about the affair than I am. I acted as common sense and duty dictated, and I do not fear the final outcome.”
Just before quitting-time Bardon came into the roundhouse. He was closeted with the foreman in his office until the whistle sounded, and as Ralph left the place both came out and began a tour of the place.
”I expect something will drop in the morning!” Ralph half-jocularly told Limpy, as he bade him good-night.
Ralph made it a rule to tell his mother everything of interest and importance that came up during the day. Mrs. Fairbanks was manifestly troubled when he had recited his encounter with Bardon.
After supper Ralph went out with Van to inspect the new chicken coop he had just built. He was surprised and pleased at the patience, ingenuity and actual hard work displayed in the same, and Van seemed to show a deeper appreciation and understanding of Ralph's commendation than he had heretofore displayed.
Ralph viewed him thoughtfully. He again began considering a plan to take Van down the road some day on the chance of locating his former home.
At nine o'clock that evening, just as Ralph was locking up for the night, there came a tremendous thump at the front door.
Ralph went thither, to confront Big Denny, the yard watchman.
Denny was in a feverish state of excitement, was perspiring, prancing about with his cane, never still, and laboring under some severe mental agitation.
”Alone, Fairbanks?” he projected, in a startling, breathless kind of a way.
”They've all gone to bed but myself,” answered Ralph.
”Can I come in?”
”Surely, and welcome.”
Denny thumped into the little parlor. He mopped his brow prodigiously, loosened his collar, fidgeted and fumed, and after looking cautiously around put his finger mysteriously to his lips with the hoa.r.s.ely-whispered injunction:
”Secret as the grave, Fairbanks!”
Ralph nodded, with a smile indulging the whim or mood of his good loyal friend, who he knew was given to heroics.
”What's the trouble?” he asked.
”Bardon.”
”I fancied so,” said Ralph.
”Came right up here to see you,” explained Denny. ”Forgan sent me.”
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