“Come back and report to me.”
Zeph started for the farmhouse. Ralph watched him enter it, the package in his hand. He came out in a very few minutes without the parcel.
He was rather glum-faced when he rejoined Ralph. 47
“Say,” he observed, “I’ve found out nothing, and old Ames took the package away from me.”
“What did he say?” asked the young fireman.
“He told me he would see that it was returned to the person who sent it.”
“That delays matters,” thought Ralph, “and I don’t know whether Ames will take it back to the silk thieves, or wait for some of them to visit him.”
Then the young fireman formed a sudden resolution. He regarded his companion thoughtfully, and said:
“Zeph, I am going to trust you with what is known as an official secret in the railroad line.”
The farmer boy looked pleased and interested.