Chapter 5, Friendly Phoenix, and Chapter 6, Outfitting Summary

Friendly Phoenix. As Ralph waits for the train to Phoenix, he decides to repay the conductor for his kindness. Ralph buys the man a box of cigars and gives it to him, telling him he won the box in a poker game. In return, the conductor tells Ralph that if he ever has to jump a train again he should jump a mail train because they rarely stop and the men on board cannot open the door to the car where the mail is stored, so they cannot check for jumpers. The man also suggests that if Ralph wants a job on a ranch he should by a car and travel to places where the railroad does not go.

Ralph returns to Phoenix and befriends a couple who run a small restaurant and...