"If you do that again, I'll have you put off the train," he said.
"That's right, Dave, don't let him walk over you," added Roger.
"If he doesn't know his place, teach it to him," was Phil's comment.
"Have me put off the train?" cried Isaac Pludding. "I'd like to see you do it! I want you to know I am a stockholder of this line."
"Then it's a shame you don't provide seats for all your passengers."
"That's true, too," remarked a gentleman who was standing close by.
"I don't believe he owns more than one share of stock," observed Sam. "And that he most likely inherited from his great-granduncle."
"I own five shares!" howled Isaac Pludding. "And I want you to know----"
What he wanted the boys to know they never found out, for at that moment the train gave another lurch. It came so suddenly that the stout man was taken completely from his feet and sent sprawling in the aisle on his back. A valise from a rack over a seat came tumbling down, and, not to get it on his head, Roger shoved it aside and it struck Isaac Pludding full on the stomach, causing him to gasp.
[Illustration: Roger shoved it aside and it struck Isaac Pludding full on the stomach.--_Page 25._]
The boys uttered a shout of laughter, and many other passengers joined in. The floor of the car was wet from snow, and when Isaac Pludding scrambled up he was covered with dirt. Dave caught up the valise and turned it over to Sam, to whom it belonged.
"Who threw that valise on me?" demanded the stout man, eyeing the boys in rage.
"I guess you threw it," went on Isaac Pludding, and caught Dave by the arm.
"Let go of me," said Dave, eyeing the man steadily. "I did not throw it. Let go."
Isaac Pludding wanted to argue the matter, but there was something in Dave's manner that he did not like. He dropped his hold and drew back a little.
"Don't you dare to shove me again--not once," continued the youth. "If you do you'll regret it. I have stood all from you that I am going to stand."
"Oh, you're no good," muttered the stout man, lamely, and passed on to the end of the car.
The train was coming to a halt at a place called Raytown. They were now but eight miles from Oakdale, and the students began to wonder if anybody would be at that station to meet them.