Secrets of the Andes

ssly T

while Joe dashed forward to mak

an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that term

Perhaps this was due to his wide experience in riding freight trains. At a

l have to ride with me to Chicago. May be sever

nted Bob. "It may be days, or even wee

o be downhearted, but their

like this many a time, and I've always got out all right. One

xperienced vagabond, and the

" asked Joe, after th

hobo to come along. Somehow he got ahold of a file and had me o

muttered Bob, who, along with Joe, did no

oving. Although pulled by a large engine, there was little chance of high s

of the town at which they had stopped. But aside from a number

ittle opening there is," suggested Joe. "We

e. "I want to see if anything in

ales, and crates that were packed in each end

ed excitedly. "Gee whiz

tly nailed crates, which

e a hand! You don't expect me to open 'em wh

ommanded Bob. "Who

hey? I don't

to get in a box car and e

back out of a chance like this,

outly

d you're not either! Get that and get it straight! Of course

ersisting, and Spike finally walked sullenly

he said with an ironic smile. "Yo

ted him. "We will and you won't, unless

blo

tching the farms, the forests, the rivers and creeks slip by. They were beginning t

uture. What lay in store for them? Would they be able to get home in time to accompany their fathers to the Andes Mountains, or woul

ovised beds moved them to action. There was a large pile of burlap sacks in a far

smiled Joe. "They look almost brand-new. A

ho realized the necessity of a

the mountains. Although Bob and Joe were tired, they had an uneasy feeling about res

se and walked o

need plenty of energy tomorrow. It's possi

e his friend, but Spike announced t

m their experiences in dangerous lands they ha

however, and they awoke the n

untains," observed Joe, as he stre

better time," Bob said,

y without breakfast. Spike insisted that they o

youth consoled him. "If we have to, we

and villages. Along toward noon it stopped at Charleston, West Vir

ht sight of a trainman not far away. The man's fa

Joe said. "Let's ask

eaded Spike, pu

y n

ut he won't let me keep

me? We don't want to r

s moving up to the door. "Spike can find another

man to come to the box car. There was a look of surprise on the

rying to steal a ride, huh? Come on out of ther

ed in, I guess. That's what we wanted of

I see that locked chain now. Sorry, but

said persistently. "We haven't had

esitated

money?"

es

s see

up a ha

a block from here. Want

es of food that would be sufficient to last for several days. It was with a feelin

oe a sack of groceries in return for money. In recogn

," said Bob, smacking his

it. When they had scraped up the last cru

ident. Darkness was just setting in when, w

were again on their way. Every mile left behind would mean that they were nearer Chicag

Bob, as he and his friends turned in, to get

er than before. Although several stops were made, the train made

," said Joe. "They might keep us

next day. About four o'clock another engine was attached, a much shorter trai

lieve their eyes. Were they

und themselves speeding along to Chicago, after havin

in Indiana," said Bob gloomily. "Even though this i

the train entered the city limits of Chicago. Gary and

metropolis, the freight stopped at a busy switch yard

track. The youth recognized this fellow as the one who had snapped the lock

an, who, upon hearing, t

that car?" he demanded angrily,

!" Bob's voice was

in there? I thought I

ll tell you all abo

immediately unlocked the door. Bob hurriedly rolled i

could have cried out in joy. But there was little time to do t

oarding the train, shielding Spike as much as possible. Wh

rd master," he said to Spike, "and se

d of the boy's arm an

t do any harm. He's promised to quit runn

ympathy from me. I got no use

so violent that the latter slipped and

gry. He stepped boldl

demanded, his eyes seemi