Mr. Damon chanced to be present at this conversation, and he
was highly amused, yet somewhat impressed, too, by the colored
man's statement.

"Bless my own antiquity!" he exclaimed. "I agree with Rad, Tom.
It's us old fellows who know what to do when an emergency of any
kind arises. Experience teaches more than inspiration."

"Oh," said Tom, laughing, "I do not deny the value of old
friends at any stage of the game."

"Bless my roving nature! I am glad to hear you say that. For I
tell you right now, Tom, I want to be out there when you make
your final test of the locomotive."

"Do you mean that you will go West when I take out the Hercules
Three-Oughts-One?" cried Tom.

"It's just what I want to do. Bless my traveling bag, Tom! I
mean to be present at your final triumph."

"What will happen to your buff Orpingtons while you are gone?"
asked the young inventor, gravely.

"I have got my servant trained to look after those chickens,"
declared Mr. Damon. "And this invention of yours is really more
important than even my buff Orpingtons."

"Just the same," remarked Tom to his eccentric friend, when Rad