CHAPTER XI
A RAILROAD SMASH
"Say, this is great; isn't it?"
"All to the choo-choo!"
"And we've got nearly fifteen hundred miles of it before we get to the western part of Kansas!"
These were the comments and exclamations of Frank and Andy Racer, and their new chum Billy Chase, as they sat in a parlor car of a fast train, speeding westward. They were on their way to the Double X ranch, owned by Mr. Richfield Thornton, and they hoped not only to get the better of the men who were opposing Billy's uncle, but also to solve the mystery of Golden Peak. No wonder they were elated.
"And to think that last week we were boning away at Latin and Greek at Riverview Hall!" exclaimed Andy.
"Precious little boningyoudid," commented his brother, dryly.
"Get out, you. I did as much as any of the fellows. Didn't Doctor Doolittle say I was well up in my studies when he wrote to dad, after we thought of coming away? And didn't he say I could get back at 'em in the fall without losing any ground? I guess that's good evidence that I'm not at the foot of the class, little one!"
"Pooh! Doctor Doolittle would have said that about any one whom he wanted to have come back to school next term," rejoined Frank.
"Particularly after what you fellows did for the institution," put in Billy. "But I guess you won't miss much by quitting before the end of the term."
"No," assented Frank. "I'm glad we did decide to come, but I can hardly realize it yet."
Indeed the change had come about so quickly that they could hardly comprehend it. Once they had asked their father's permission to depart for the prairie land, and had received his consent, matters had moved swiftly.
They had arranged with Doctor Doolittle not to lose their places in class, and to be given the proper examinations later so as to gain their promotion in the Fall. Then they had begun to pack, and Billy had wired his uncle that he and his friends were coming.
But there was despair in the hearts of the chums whom Frank and Andy left behind.
"Oh, say, what do you want to desert for?" wailed Jack Sanderson.
"Just when the baseball season is at its best, too," added Ward. "I know we'll funk in most of the big games we play now."
"Nonsense!" laughed Frank. "You'll do all the better."
"We will not!" insisted John North, but Frank and Andy had gone too far now to turn back, and their preparations went on apace.
"Well, there's one thing about it," said Duke Yardly, a day or so before the time set for Frank and Andy to leave. "We'll have to give 'em a bang-up farewell spread."
"That's what!" agreed the others, and a "bang-up" spread it was, too, especially when some one insisted on setting off a "flower pot" of red fire without removing the cover. There was an explosion that brought every professor out on the run, but no damage was done, save that Jack Sanderson had his eyebrows singed.
"But it only adds to your manly beauty," laughed Frank.
And so the feast went on, and the Racer boys were toasted again and again in everything mild, from ginger ale to strawberry pop.
"And you'll be sure to come back in the Fall, won't you, fellows?" asked Ward Platt, when the time came to say good-bye.
"Sure," promised Andy. "We'll come back millionaires—maybe."
"And maybe—not," added his brother, significantly.
"Oh, well, we'll have a good time, and lots of excitement, anyhow," declared the younger lad.
Neither he nor his brother realized, however, what kind of excitement nor what manner of fun they were to have on the prairies.
Then came a trip to New York, where the brothers further outfitted themselves for their trip. Billy Chase went with them, being their guest at the Racer mansion for several days.
Mrs. Racer renewed her protest about the boys going off on what seemed such a dangerous mission, but they laughed at her fears, and said they could take care of themselves.
"And I believe they can," Mr. Racer said. "They've got to see life, and I want them to see the good clean side of it, such as they will meet with out West. I like that young Chase, too. He's got a thinking head on his shoulders, even if he is only the age of our boys. He'll make his mark, some day."
"But think of the danger they may be in," said Mrs. Racer.
"Nothing unusual," insisted her husband. "Travel is very safe now. I almost wish I were going with them," and with a sigh he started for his office, where a tangle of affairs needed his attention; for, though he was a wealthy merchant, he devoted much personal attention to his business.
And so it came about that Andy, Frank and Billy were in the parlor car, speeding westward. They would be several days on the journey, for they had elected to go by a route that would afford them a glimpse of some fine scenery.
"Might as well have a good time while we're going," said Frank.
"Especially as we're not in much of a hurry," added Andy.
Billy said nothing, but when the train had pulled out of the station he had looked around apprehensively, and had breathed more freely when they were well started.
"Do you think that lame man will try to follow you?" asked Frank.
"I think he's equal to it," was the answer. "He and his crowd would do anything to prevent my uncle from carrying out his plan of making the irrigation lake. But I don't see anything of Shackmiller."
"I think we've given him the slip," decided Frank.
"Then let's enjoy ourselves," proposed Andy. "I've just thought of something."
"A trick, I'll wager," spoke Frank.
"Well, sort of," admitted the younger lad. "Do you see that fussy old gentleman over there?" and he pointed to one who had kept the porter busy waiting on him ever since the train started.
"Sure we see him," admitted Frank. "We'd be blind if we didn't. Are you going to pull his chair out from under him, or merely toss him off the train?"
"Neither one," declared Andy stoutly. "I guess you think I don't know how to work tricks."
"I've seen you pull off one or two that you wished you hadn't tried," commented his brother, dryly.
"Not this time," said Andy. "What I'm going to do is this: Right across the aisle from the fussy man is an old maid. I'm going to change their valises, for they're just alike, and I'll put the man's where the lady's is, andterra firma."
"Terra firma?" repeated Billy, much mystified.
"Yes, that's Latin for opposite," said Andy, innocently.
"Oh, you meanvice versa," laughed Frank. "You're going to switch their bags; eh?"
"Sure thing. And when the fussy little old man opens the one he thinks is his, and finds a set of false curls and a box of face powder, he'll go up in the air; and as for the old maid, when she sees the man's things—Oh, well, she won't have a fit I guess! Oh, no!"
"How are you going to do it?" asked Frank.
"Oh, I'll work it somehow. You just watch me."
Frank and Billy laughed and then proceeded to admire the scenery, while Andy began planning how he might carry out his trick.
"I have it!" he finally announced. "I'll stroll past the old maid, and ask her if she doesn't want a drink of water. I've noticed her fidgeting for the last ten minutes, and I'm sure she's dry, and too bashful to ask the porter for a drink, or get it herself. Then I'll be near enough to switch the bags."
"Go ahead. You'll get caught, sure," declared Frank.
Andy only laughed recklessly, and started down the aisle of the swaying car intending to approach the maiden lady.
"Would you like a drink?" he asked her politely.
"Thank you, I would," she answered, with a smile. "I cannot walk in these swaying cars very well, and I'm afraid I don't know how to get water from those patent faucets."
"I'll get you one," said Andy, with as innocent a face as if he had never played a practical joke in his life. He accepted a collapsible cup, which the elderly lady held out to him, and, as he took it, he winked at his companions, farther down the aisle, and with a sly motion of his foot put the valise where he could easily reach it. At the same time he swayed over toward the old gentleman, as though the lurch of the train had tossed him off his balance.
"Oh, I beg your pardon!" gasped Andy. "I—er——"
"All right," growled the crusty old man. "Be more careful next time."
"I will," said Andy, and with another wink at his friends, he shoved the man's bag across the aisle so that it was beside that of the maiden lady.
It did not take Andy long to return with the water. As he was about to hand it to the lady, he made another quick motion with his foot, and the transfer of the bags was accomplished.
Andy was in the act of winking at his chums, to indicate that he had carried out his trick, when there was a sudden lurch of the train. The brakes went on with a quickness that almost made Andy turn a somersault.
The cup of water flew out of his hand, straight for the old gentleman, who was showered.
"What does that mean?" he fairly roared. "Some more of your carelessness. I'll report you to the conductor!"
"I didn't mean——" began Andy. But that was as far as he got.
The next instant the train stopped with a crash and a shock that threw nearly everyone from his or her seat, sliding them along the aisle of the car.
Andy shot along, colliding with Frank and Billy. The old maid found herself under a chair, two seats away, and the old gentleman who wore a wig that slipped down over his face, was catapulted across the aisle. Then came a silence, while several voices cried:
"It's a wreck! We've smashed into something!"