Part 31 (1/2)

The wheels had been drumming over the rail-joints for perhaps half an hour, and the disappearance of the light which had filtered through the car door had announced the fall of darkness, when there came a screeching of brakes.

”Where do you suppose we are now, Mr. Boyle?” asked Jack from his box.

”It's the grade just north of Axford Road. When we hit the up-grade two miles beyond we may begin to expect something. It was along there I figured that the--

”What's that?”

Both listened. ”One of the brakemen, isn't it?” suggested Jack.

”What is he doing down on the edge of the car roof?”

The next sound was of something slapping against the car door.

Suddenly the detective gave vent to a cry that was barely suppressed.

”Jack, I've got it! I've got it at last!” he whispered excitedly.

”The freight thieves have bought up one of the brakemen! He lets himself down to the car door by a rope, opens it, and throws the stuff out!”

Jack's exclamation of delight at this final revelation of the heart of the mystery was followed by one of consternation. ”But won't we get an awful shaking up if we're pitched off, going at full speed?” he said in alarm.

”We may. We'll have to take it. It's all in the game you know,” declared Boyle grimly. ”Sit tight and brace hard, and it'll not be so bad, though.

”s.h.!.+ Here he is!”

There was a sound of feet sc.r.a.ping against the car door, a rattle as the seal was broken and the clasp freed, then a rumble and the sudden full roar of the train told the two in the boxes that the door had been opened.

Swinging within, the intruder closed the door behind him, and lit a match. Peering from a knot-hole, Jack saw that the detective's guess was correct. It was a brakeman.

As Jack watched, the man produced and lit a dark-lantern, and turned it on the cases before him. Jack held his breath as the light streamed through the cracks of his own box.

”Just to order,” muttered the brakeman audibly.

”And the bigger one, too. I'll not have to haul any out.”

Then, to Jack's momentary alarm, then amus.e.m.e.nt, the man seated himself on the box, above him.

Presently, as Jack was wondering what the trainman was waiting for, from the distant engine came the two long and two short toots for a crossing, and the man started to his feet. With his eye to the knot-hole Jack watched.

Again came a whistle, and the creaking of brakes. Immediately the brakeman slid the car door back a few inches, flashed his lantern four times, m.u.f.fled it, and ran the door open its full width.

The critical moment had come. Gathering himself together, Jack braced with knees and elbows. The trainman seized the box, swung it to the door, and tipped it forward. The next instant Jack felt himself hurled out into the darkness.

For one terrible moment he felt himself hurtling through s.p.a.ce. Then came a crackle of branches, the box whirled over and over, again plunged downward, and brought up with a crash.

A brief s.p.a.ce Jack lay dazed, in a heap, head down. But he had been only slightly stunned, and recovering, he righted himself, and found with satisfaction that he had suffered no more than a bruise of the scalp and an elbow.

He had not long to speculate on his whereabouts. From near at hand came a sound of breaking twigs, and a voice.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE NEXT INSTANT JACK FELT HIMSELF HURLED OUT INTO THE DARKNESS.]