Bert and his especial chums did not dance.  They walked about the trucks of the merry-go-round, looking at the wooden animals.  Mainly, however, they were interested in the steam engine which not only turned the machine around, once it was set up, but also played the organ.

“I’d like to see this thing going,” said Charlie Mason.

“So would I,” agreed Dannie Rugg.

“Maybe my father will take me to the Bolton County Fair,” remarked Bert.  “If he does I’ll have a ride.”

Then the ragged boy, who had been watering the horses, while the drivers dozed on their high seats, came up with an empty pail.  He looked at the engine, changed the organ so that it played a different tune and let some hot water run out of a little faucet.

“Do you know how to run the engine?” asked Bert.

“Sure I do!”

“What’s your name?” asked Charlie.

“Bob.”

“Bob what?” Dannie wanted to know.

“Bob Guess.”

“Bob Guess!  That’s a queer name,” remarked Bert.

“Well, it isn’t exactly my real name,” the ragged lad went on.  “I’m an orphan.  I haven’t had any real folks in a long time.  I was taken out of the asylum by this man, so he says.  He adopted me, I reckon, and he said he gave me that name ’cause he had to guess what my real name was.  So I’m called Bob Guess.”

“A queer name,” murmured Bert.  “But I’d like to know how to work a steam engine.”

“So’d I!” agreed the other boys.

“Pooh!  It’s easy,” said Bob Guess, who seemed to like to show off.  For he turned another little faucet, thereby sending out a cloud of steam, and causing Charlie Mason to jump back.

“Don’t be skeered!  It won’t hurt you!” laughed Bob.

“Isn’t it hot?”

“Not after it comes from the boiler.  Look, I can hold my hand right in it,” which Bob Guess did, letting a cloud of steam envelop both his rather dirty hands.

“Whew!” whistled Dannie, in amazement.

“I’m going to try it!” said Bert, rightly guessing that at a short distance from the faucet the steam cooled off; which was true, as you know if you have ever “felt” of the steam coming from a house radiator on a cold day.

But as Bert stretched out his hand to test the steam as Bob had done, Mr. Blipper called from where he stood talking to the driver of the last truck.

“Stop monkeying with that engine, Bob!” yelled the red-faced man.  “You want to get it all out of kilter again!”

“I was only testin’ the steam gauge,” the boy answered.

“Well, you let it alone, do you hear, and water the horses.”

“I have watered ’em!”

“Well, water ’em some more!  I’m not going to stop again till I get to the Bolton County Fair if I can help it.”

“He’s sort of cross, isn’t he?” asked Charlie, as Bob moved off.

“More than that—­he’s mean!” declared the ragged lad.