"You'll never want to again," commented Tom. "What'll become of our feed if you go?"
"Oh, we can have it, just the same," returned another.
Bob, however, was too engrossed with the prospect of riding on a freight train, to overhear the remark.
At first, the station master had thought to protest against letting his charge go, but, as he noticed the boy's eagerness, he said:
"Hosmer, shake hands with Bob Chester. Don't let anything happen to him. He's a special friend of 'Old Man' Perkins. When you get to Kansas City, take him to the ticket agent, and be sure he gets the pass all right."
"Never fear; I'll stay with him till his train's in, and then introduce him to the conductor. Come on, Bob. Train's waiting."
Quickly saying good-bye to the station master and the others, and thanking them for their kindness, Bob followed the big conductor, and was soon started on his way to Fairfax again, aboard the freight train.
