Part 19 (2/2)

”Say, we make quite a crowd, don't we?”

”Wonder if the train will be on time, Dave?”

”I suppose so. Special excursions are supposed to start on time. Is everybody here, and have we all our baggage?”

”I've got all of mine,” returned Laura. ”How about you, Jessie?”

”I've got my hand-bag. The trunk went with the other trunks.”

”Say, seeing this crowd, puts me in mind of a story,” burst out Shadow Hamilton. ”Once some tourists--”

”Oh, Shadow!” came from several in concert.

”Better keep the story until after we are on the way,” cried Dave, gayly. ”We'll have plenty of time on the train. It's a four-days' trip to Yellowstone Park, remember.”

”Here comes the train!” was the cry.

The scene was the Crumville station. The little platform was crowded with the folks who were going on the personally-conducted tour to that place of many wonders, Yellowstone Park. Mr. Ba.s.swood was on hand, wearing a blue and gold badge, and so was one of the local ministers, and these two had charge of the tour, these and a railroad official who had to look after connections and meals. In the crowd were the boys and girls, and also Mrs. Wadsworth, Mr. Dunston Porter, and about forty others from Crumville and vicinity. The tour was being run at a very reasonable rate, considering the accommodations afforded, and many were taking advantage of this fact to see Yellowstone Park, with its wonderful geysers, its curious boiling ”paint pots,” and its bears and buffaloes. The minister had once given a lecture on the Park and this had stimulated curiosity to go and see this land of such natural wonders. It is a great national reservation that every American ought to be glad to visit.

As the train rolled into the station the crowd got aboard and the porters showed the tourists to their seats. All of the ”Porter tribe,”

as Phil dubbed them, were together. Mrs. Wadsworth and another lady had a stateroom, and next to this Laura and Jessie had a section, with Dave and Roger opposite. Then came the other boys, and Mr. and Mrs. Ba.s.swood and Dunston Porter. The Crumville contingent filled two cars, and there were three more cars from neighboring towns. To the front were a baggage and a dining-car and to the rear an observation car.

”All aboard!” was the cry.

”Good-by!”

”Don't forget to write!”

”Here, Tom, don't forget your valise!”

”Be sure to look for Brother Jack in Chicago!”

”Be sure to get some good pictures!”

”Don't forget some souvenirs!”

Then came more cries, and the waving of numerous handkerchiefs; and off rolled the excursion train, on its long western trip, Dave waving his cap to his father and Mr. Wadsworth, who had come down to the depot to see the party off.

It took some little time to settle down on the train. They had left Crumville at half-past ten and almost before the young folks knew it, it was time for lunch. Quite naturally Dave escorted Jessie to the dining-car, while Roger took Laura, and Mr. Dunston Porter looked after Mrs. Wadsworth.

”I hope the good weather continues,” said Jessie, as she sat down with Dave. ”It will add so much to the trip.”

”Oh, I've ordered nothing but the best of weather,” he replied, with a smile.

”Tell me, Dave,” she whispered, ”did you hear anything more about that Link Merwell?”

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