Franklin was the first person up in the morning. His aunt soon followed, and by seven o'clock the youth had had his breakfast, bidden all good-bye, and was on his way to the depot.
Here he found there would be a train for Newark in ten minutes, and from that place he could get a train at the Erie depot for Paterson at ten o'clock.
He purchased a ticket, and it was not long before his train came along and he jumped on board.
The cars were crowded with business men on their way to New York, but Franklin did not mind standing, as he knew the ride to Newark would be a short one.
Just before reaching the next way station to Newark the train came to a sudden halt, and remained at a standstill for a long time.
"I wonder what's up?" thought Franklin after ten minutes had passed.
He knew they were but a few blocks from the station, and after spending another five minutes in the car he left, along with a number of others.
At the front of the train he found that a switch-lock had been broken some blocks beyond, and the train could not go ahead until the break was fixed.
"I guess I'll walk the rest of the way," said Franklin to himself. "It won't take but a few minnutes, and it won't do to run the risk of losing that Paterson train on the Erie road."
