At last the speed of the train began to slacken.  They were nearing a station.  Albert sprang up and shook Mr. Randal violently.

“Wake up! wake up!” he called sharply.  “This is Harrowtown.  You must get off here!”

Thus roughly roused, the old man started from his seat and gazed around in a bewildered way.  The change from daylight to darkness, the unaccustomed awakening on a moving train, and the glare of the lights added tenfold to his confusion.

“Wh—­what did you say, boy?” he asked helplessly.

“This is Harrowtown.  The place where you want to stop.  You must get off.  Be quick, or you’ll be carried by.”

The noise of the brakes, and ignorance of the real locality on the part of those near enough to have heard him, prevented any correction of the boy’s cruel falsehood.

Mr. Randal knew it was not the conductor who had aroused him; but, supposing Albert to be some employee of the road, he hurried to the car door with tottering steps.  The name of the station was called at the other end of the car,—­a name quite unlike that of “Harrowtown,” but his dull ears did not notice it.  He got off upon the platform, and before he could recover himself or knew his error, the train was again in motion.

[Illustration:  “This is Harrowtown.  Be quick, or you’ll be carried by.”]

Albert was in ecstasies over the success of his “joke,” and shook all over with laughter, in which, of course, his companion joined.  “O dear! that’s jolly fun!” he cried, “isn’t it, John?”

John assented that it was very funny indeed.

Neither of the boys had noticed that the seat lately occupied by the poor old man had just been taken by a fine-looking gentleman, wrapped in a heavy cloak, who appeared to be absorbed in his own thoughts, but who really heard every word they said.

They kept up a brisk conversation, Albert speaking in a loud tone, for he was feeling very merry.  “Ha, ha, ha!—­but I did think the old fool would hear the brakeman call the station, though.  I didn’t suppose I could get him any farther than the door.  To think of his clambering clear out on the platform, and getting left!  He believed every word I told him.  What a delicious old simpleton!”

And having exhausted that edifying subject for the moment, he presently began to boast of his plans and prospects.

“I don’t believe you stand much of a chance there; they say Luke Conway’s awful particular,” the stranger heard John remark.

“Pooh! shut up!” cried Albert.  “Particular!  That’s just it, and that makes my chance all the better.  I’ve brought the kind of recommendations that a particular man wants, you see.”

“But there’ll be lots of other fellows trying for the place.”

“Don’t care if there’s fifty,” said Albert, “I’d come in ahead of ’em all.  I’ve got testimonials of character and qualifications from Prof.  Howe, Rev. Joseph Lee, Dr. Henshaw, and Esq.  Jenks, the great railroad contractor.  His name alone is enough to secure me the situation.”