“Hey?” stared the engineer.
“Don’t pull out for a minute.”
“Why not?”
“I think there’s a mistake in your orders.”
“What’s the matter with you?” snapped back the fireman with affected gruffness. “I hain’t got no orders. Come here, till I oil the wheels in your head.”
“You must come up to the dispatcher’s office,” insisted Bates urgently, and the engineer followed him wonderingly. Ralph, tracing something unusual in the episode of the moment, kept them company.
The chief dispatcher was standing by the counter. He glanced sharply at Bates with the words:
“What’s up, kid? Seen a ghost? You look almost pale enough yourself to be one.”
“No,” quavered Bates in a shaky tone. “I haven’t seen any ghosts, but I am afraid I forgot to notify that track gang just west of here about this extra.”
The chief went to the order book and glanced at the train sheet.