"No, sir. You'll have to get off here. I have no authority to let
you ride."

"Didn't I hear you say the train was late? Don't you think you'd
arrive earlier at the end of your run if your choo-choo got to
puffing?"

"You'll have to get off, sir."

"I hate to disoblige," murmured the owner of the jingling spurs,
the dusty corduroys, and the big, gray hat, putting his feet
leisurely on the cushion in front of him. "But doesn't it occur
to you that you are a man of one idea?"

"This is the Coast Limited. It doesn't stop for anybody--not even
for the president of the road."

"You don't say! Well, I ce'tainly appreciate the honor you did me
in stopping to take me on." His slight drawl was quite devoid of
concern.

"But you had no right to flag the train. Can't you understand
ANYTHING?" groaned the conductor.

"You explain it again to me, sonny. I'm surely thick in the
haid," soothed the intruder, and listened with bland good-humor
to the official's flow of protest.

"Well--well! Disrupted the whole transcontinental traffic, didn't