or decline by wire or return to town to investigate the matter in person. If the Inter-City people professed ignorance of any development lately in connection with the Crosstown franchise, Speedy would go to other traction companies.
That much of his future course having been settled, Speedy, tired of mind and sore of body, fell into a doze. He suddenly awoke about four o'clock in the morning to find himself on his knees in bed lustily pummeling away at his pillow with both fists! In his sleep he was again fighting Callahanites. It was the first time in his life he had ever been afflicted with a semblance of nightmare and he grinned foolishly to himself in the dark as he crawled back under the sheets and fell asleep again. In what seemed to be the next minute his alarm clock merrily rang out and, scarcely rested at all, he got out of bed and started to dress.
Jane had again spent the night with the Ryans, and Speedy had accepted an invitation there for breakfast. The ample family, together with Jane, were eating when he arrived.
"Well, if it ain't Battling Speedy, the Boy Bandit Eater," sang out Danny as loudly as he could manage with a mouth full of oatmeal. "We thought you were going to sleep all day after your roughhouse."
"Nothing doing," smiled Speedy. "There's plenty of work to be done yet, Danny."
He slid into the vacant chair beside Jane indicated by Ma Ryan. The younger Ryans gazed at him in awed admiration, having learned already of his
