The Boy from the Ranch | Page 8

grand salute!" proposed Bruce, when they
came in sight of the station.
The cowboys drew their revolvers, aimed them into the air, and fired
them off as fast as they could pull their triggers. It sounded as though a
small battle was in progress.

"Give him a yell!" suggested Smoke Tardell, and the ranchers shouted
like wild Indians.
"Here comes the train!" called Billy Carew, as a whistle was heard, and,
down the long line of glistening rails, the smoke of a locomotive was
seen. The station agent went out to flag the express.
"Take care of yourself," advised Bruce.
"Bring me back a slice of New York," requested Smoke. "I want it well
done."
"Be careful you don't get 'well-done', Roy," advised Billy Carew.
"Don't buy any gold bricks, or Confederate money, and take care, Roy,
that them sharpers don't git ye!"
He waved his big sombrero, an example followed by all the other
cowboys, as Roy climbed aboard the express. His trunk and valises
were tumbled into the baggage car, the engineer blew two short blasts,
and the train was off again, bearing Roy to New York.
His last view was of his father's cowboys, waving a farewell to him
with their big hats, while some fired their revolvers, and others yelled
at the top of their lungs.
"I wonder when I'll see them again," thought Roy. "I sort of hate to
leave the old ranch, but I'm glad I'm going to New York."
He did not know all that was before him, nor what was to happen
before he again saw his friends, the cowboys.
CHAPTER IV
ROY IS PUZZLED
While Roy's father had given him some instructions as to the best
method of proceeding while in New York, Mr. Bradner had said
nothing to his son about what he might expect on his railroad trip.

Therefore the boy was totally unprepared for the novelties of modern
travel. Mr. Bradner had thought it wise to let his son find out things for
himself.
Roy had never been in anything but an ordinary day coach, and those
were of an old-fashioned type. But his father had purchased for him
tickets all the way to New York in the Pullman parlor and sleeping cars,
and it was in a luxurious parlor car, then, that Roy found himself when
he boarded the express.
At first the boy did not know what to make of it. The car had big chairs
instead of the ordinary seats, the windows were nearly twice as large as
those in other coaches, and there were silk and plush curtains hanging
over them. Besides there was a thick, soft velvety carpet on the floor of
the coach, and, what with the inlaid and polished wood, the hangings,
mirrors, brass and nickel-plated fixtures, Roy thought he had, by
mistake, gotten into the private car of some millionaire.
He had occasionally seen the outside of these fine coaches as they
rushed through Painted Stone, but he had never dreamed that he would
be in one. So, as soon as he entered the coach, he started back.
"What's de matter, sah?" inquired a colored porter in polite tones, as he
came from what seemed a little cubby-hole built in the side of the car.
"Guess I'm in the wrong corral," remarked Roy, who was so used to
using western and cattle terms, that he did not consider how they would
sound to other persons.
"Wrong corral, sah?"
"Yes; I must be mixed in with the wrong brand. Where's the regular
coach?"
"Oh, dis coach am all reg'lar, sah. Reg'lar as can be. We ain't got none
but reg'lar coaches on dis yeah express. No indeed, sah."
"But I guess my ticket doesn't entitle me to a ride in a private car."

"Let me see youh ticket, sah."
Roy passed the negro the bit of pasteboard.
"Oh, yes indeedy, sah. Youh is all right. Dis am de coach youh g'wine
to ride in. We goes all de way to Chicago, sah."
"Is this for regular passengers?" asked Roy, wondering how the railroad
could afford to supply such luxurious cars.
"Well, it's fo' them as pays fo' it, sah. Youh has got a ticket fo' de
Pullman car, an' dis am it, sah. Let me show yo' to youh seat, sah."
"Well, I s'pose it's all right," remarked Roy a little doubtfully. He saw
several passengers smiling, and he wondered if they were laughing at
him, or if he had made a mistake. He resolved to be careful, as he did
not want it known that he was making a long journey for the first time.
"Heah's youh seat," went on the porter, escorting Roy to a deep, soft
chair. "I'll be right back yeah, an' if youh wants me, all youh has to