“I suppose you know, of course, that the West, just like any other part of the world, contains a lot of bad men as well as good—­only out West the bad men are more noticeable because they act more openly, gambling and drinking and fighting.

“You must be very careful whom you choose for your companions.  If you make up your mind to treat every one politely and with kindness, you will soon be able to determine who are the ones whose friendship is worth having, and whom to avoid.  But if you wish to succeed, you must keep away from the saloons and gambling dives.

“This may seem a good deal of a lecture to you, but if you follow my advice, some day you will thank me for giving it to you.  And now, what do you propose to do, in case you don’t find Mrs. Cameron?  You know in big cities people often move, and it may be some time since her sister saw her.  Then again, perhaps her husband won’t prove very accommodating.”

“I’ve thought of that, Mr. Perkins.  If I can’t find them, I shall try to get some work somewhere, so that I can earn money enough to pay my fare from Chicago.”

“You’ll succeed all right, Bob,” said the railroad president.  “You have the right spirit of grit.  But I have a plan which will do away with the necessity of depending upon the good nature of Mrs. Cameron or her husband.”

And taking one of his cards from his pocket, Mr. Perkins wrote several words on it, and then handed it to Bob.

“If you’ll take this card to the offices of the Grand Pacific, which you will find in the building directly across from the station where we arrive in Chicago, they will give you a pass, which will carry you to any part of Oklahoma you desire to go.  I want you to accept it as a present from me.  You can tell them to what place to make it out, and as it will take many hours to reach your destination, I want you to accept this money, so that you can buy your food.”  And he handed Bob a twenty-dollar bill.  “If you are careful, you will have something left when you reach that part of Oklahoma to which you decide to go.”

Before Bob could recover sufficiently from his surprise to express his thanks, Mr. Perkins had arisen, and saying that it was necessary for him to get off the train at the next station, went back to his car, leaving Bob in contemplation of his pass and money.

CHAPTER IX

A TALE OF THE PLAINS

Placing in his pocket the money and the precious piece of pasteboard which possessed the magic power of procuring for him transportation to the land of his dreams, Bob rose from the breakfast-table and made his way back to his chair.

As the train stopped at one station after another, people kept getting aboard, and soon the car in which Bob was riding was filled to its capacity.

Having nothing better to do, the lad amused himself by studying each new passenger, and he was amusing himself in trying to assign them to their proper vocations, when he was attracted to the man who came in and took the seat directly in front of him.