United States or Spain ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And the day operator had worked for him that Friday evening, while he was at the landlady's daughter's birthday party! And he had come down to the station at about the time the Eastfield night freight came in! Jack sank back in the chair, completely crushed. "Changed your mind, eh?" remarked the sheriff sarcastically. Jack shook his head, but said nothing. What could he say!
"Not so bad I think, myself. Well, in the country between Claxton and Eastfield, where it is my theory the gang has its headquarters, there are no telephone or telegraph lines, and it struck me it would be a good plan to take someone along with me who in case of things going wrong could make his way back to the railroad, and cut in on the wire and call for help.
"That means Jack was back at the station before the time at which Watts claims he met him!" "Ward, why in the world didn't you think of this before?" the chief exclaimed. "It is the most important piece of evidence your friend could have. "Call Eastfield right away on the long-distance, and get Orr's lawyer, and tell him."
"Freight stealing! Could that be it?" On reporting for duty that evening Jack called Alex on the wire and asked if any freight had recently been reported missing from the Midway depot. "No, but I understand some valuable stuff has been mysteriously disappearing at Claxton and Eastfield," was the reply.
"Oh, you'll hear when you get there. It's Fletcher's idea; he wants to start a new magazine. Eastfield, who edits The Ronleian, is Maxton's cousin; so Maxton's going to interrupt and get some other fellows to do the same.
When presently he found still others, and several to Eastfield, he hurried back to the wire and calling Alex asked the nature of the goods lost track of at those stations, and breathlessly awaited the reply. "I'll ask," said Alex "Silverware and silk. Mostly silk." Jack uttered a shout. "Hurrah, Alex," he whirred, "I'm on the track of our friend the 'ghost. But keep mum.
Every week they are getting away with valuable stuff from one of the night freights between Claxton and Eastfield, while the train is actually en route, apparently. That sounds incredible, I know, but it is the only possible conclusion to come to, since the train does not stop between those places, and I made sure the goods each time were aboard when it left Claxton." Jack whistled.
Jack Orr was at the telegraph instruments in the Midway Junction station several minutes before the Eastfield freight reached there that night. It was he who reported her coming over the wire to me at Exeter." The lawyer for the prosecution looked up with surprise, then smiled in amusement, while Jack and his father started, and exchanged glances of new hope.
I came to Midway by the Eastfield freight, and when I saw another operator in the station office, I started up towards the boarding-house, and met Orr coming down. I mention this to show my story is all straight. "I heard he was going to give us away as soon as he had got enough loot himself, and claim he only went in with us to get us. That is why I am showing him up. "Yours truly, "W. Watts."
"Now Alex," he said, "this letter here, which has been put in evidence, declares that the writer, Watts, went to Midway Junction by the Eastfield freight on the Friday night in question, and that he then met the defendant coming down to the station from his boarding-house, and gave him the watch. "Have you anything to say to this?" "Yes, sir.
Word Of The Day