Part 23 (1/2)

Sharply the foreman kicked at it, and called, ”h.e.l.lo, in there! Your little game is up, my friend! Come out!”

There was no response, and he drew his revolver. ”Open up quick, or I'll shoot!”

”Oh, all right! All right!” cried a m.u.f.fled voice hurriedly.

The next moment the Midway Junction ”ghost” stepped grimly from his box, and stood before them.

”But look here, youngster,” ticked the chief despatcher, who some minutes later followed Alex Ward on the wire in congratulating Jack on the solution of the mystery, ”don't you talk too much about this business, or first thing you know they'll be taking you from the telegraph force, and adding you to the detective department. We want you ourselves.”

”No fear,” laughed Jack. ”I might try a matter like this once in a while, but I want to work up as an operator, not a detective.”

”You'll work up OK,” declared the chief.

XII

IN A BAD FIX, AND OUT

”Good evening, young man!”

With a start Jack turned toward the quietly opened door of the telegraph-room to discover a short, dark, heavily-bearded man, over whose eyes was pulled a soft gray hat.

”I suppose you don't have many visitors at the station at this time of night?” said the stranger, entering.

”No; but you are quite welcome. Have a chair,” responded Jack courteously.

To the young operator's surprise, the stranger drew the chair immediately before him, and seating himself, leaned forward secretively. ”My name is Watts,” he began, in a low voice, ”and I've come on business. For you are the lad who worked out that 'ghost' mystery here, and caused the capture of the freight robber, aren't you?”

”Yes,” confirmed Jack, in further wonder.

”I thought so. I thought as much. I know a clever lad when I see one. And that was one of the cleverest bits of detective work I ever heard of,”

declared Mr. Watts, with a winning smile. ”If the railroad detectives had done their work as well, the whole freight-stealing gang would have been landed. As it was none of the rest were caught, were they?”

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE STRANGER DREW THE CHAIR IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HIM, AND SEATING HIMSELF, LEANED FORWARD SECRETIVELY.]

Instead of being pleased, the man's flattery and ingratiating manner had ruffled Jack, and briefly he answered, ”No, sir.”

”No. I knew that already. I was one of them myself.”

At this startling statement Jack stared. ”I beg your pardon, sir?” he exclaimed.

”I was a member of that gang myself,” repeated Jack's strange caller, again smiling broadly. ”Don't you think I look the part?” So saying, he pushed his hat back from his face.

Jack had no doubt of it. The small dark eyes were repellent with low cunning and greed. Instinctively he half turned to cast a glance toward the door. At once the smile disappeared, and the self-confessed law-breaker threw open his coat and significantly tapped the b.u.t.t of a revolver. ”No. You just sit still and listen,” he ordered sharply; but immediately again smiling, added, ”though there needn't be anything of this kind between two who are going to be good friends.

”Listen. What I called for was this: We want another man in the gang in place of Joe Corry--that is the man you caught.

”And we decided to invite you.”