their rival.

Phil Forrest was a hero in their eyes. Not a man of that crew,
now, but who would go through fire for him, if need be!

That afternoon the same plan was followed, Phil driving his men
out to their work.

"I am sorry, boys," he said. "I don't like to drive you like
this, but we've simply got to shake off Tripp and his crew.
In a day or so we will be straightened around again so we can
settle down to our regular routine, unless, perhaps, we run
into more trouble. You have all done nobly. If it hadn't
been for you I should have been whipped to a standstill by
that other outfit."

"Not you," growled the Missing Link. "They don't grow the kind
that can whip the likes of you," in which sentiment the entire
crew concurred.

No more was seen of Bob Tripp and his men on that run.
Tripp heard from his general agent, however, with a call-down
that made his head ache. The general agent kept the telegraph
wires hot for twenty-four hours, and in the end, sent another
car ahead of Tripp into the territory that Phil Forrest and
his men were working.

Phil, of course, was not aware of this at the time, but he found
it out before long.