After making ready, the
men went off to breakfast, Teddy hanging about the car, busying
himself with trifling matters. The car seemed to hold an unusual
interest for him that morning.
At six o'clock the livery rigs drove up and the rural route men
were soon off for their day's work. Phil started the
lithographers and banner men out soon thereafter.
About that time the operator arrived; Phil wrote a message to
the liveryman at the next town, inquiring if his rivals had
reached there.
The answer came back that nothing had been seen of them.
They had not even passed through. The operator at the
other end said they were at Salina, where Phil's car was
at that moment.
This was a puzzler.
"I am afraid it will take a better railroad man than I am to
figure this problem out," mused Phil. "Hey, Teddy!"
"Yep?"
"What do you suppose could have become of those other cars?"
"How should I know?"
"They were on this train last night, when we started, and
they have not arrived at the next stand yet. They surely
are not here."
"Maybe they got a hot journal and had to stop," suggested Teddy.
"Nonsense! Something has happened to them. However, it is not
my business to worry about my rivals. As long as I know they are
not ahead of me I shall not disturb myself. It is up to me to
improve the opportunity and bill this town from one end to the
other," decided Phil, starting off over town.
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