"You are sure?"
"Of course I am."
Ruggles was disappointed. Could it be possible that he had been led on a fool's errand after all, and that Madge Scarlet, with her prize, had been concealed on the train, and continued on to New York? The thought was intolerable.
In the meantime, how fared it with Dyke Darrel, who lay stunned and bleeding across the railroad track.
It was almost sun-up before he opened his eyes and groaned. His bed was a hard one, and it seemed as though every bone in his body was broken. The fact was, he was yet sore from his serious fall through the trap into the basement on Clark street, consequently it is little wonder he was badly demoralized, both in mind and body, at his last mishap.
Presently a strange rumbling jar filled his ears. A bend in the road to the west hid the track, but the dazed brain of Dyke Darrel took in the situation nevertheless—a train was thundering down upon him.
A minute more and he would be doomed!
He tried to move—to roll from the track. He could not. His limbs seemed paralyzed. Another second and the train would be upon him!