The latter, however, was unconcerned. He walked quietly along with the watchman towards the depot, making no effort to escape.
"A mighty queer sort of a thief, that," remarked Knight.
"Yes," said Ralph--"oh, my!"
Ralph gave a quick start. He leaned far through the open sash, and stared fixedly at prisoner and watchman as they passed the switch tower in his direct range of vision.
The young leverman was greatly perturbed. A call to the 'phone had distracted Knight's attention. As the watchman and his prisoner disappeared in the direction of the depot, Ralph's face grew to a void of wonder, doubt, and anxiety.
"It was Van Sherwin!" he breathed excitedly--"Van Sherwin, surely. Van a thief? Oh, there is some mistake!"
Ralph was greatly worked up. There was nothing in the rough attire and smirched face of the prisoner to recall the neatly-dressed Van whom Ralph had last seen. Yet as the prisoner had passed the tower, a gesture, the bearing of the latter, a familiar feature had enlightened Ralph unmistakably.
"Mr. Knight," he said quickly, "can I have ten minutes off?"
"Sure thing. What's up, Fairbanks?--you look disturbed," spoke Knight curiously.
"I--I want to run up to the depot to ask about a friend," explained Ralph, rather lamely.