CHAPTER VIII
THE BOY AT THE STATION
Bess was in a great bustle as the train slowed down for Freeling. She gathered all their possessions, that nothing might be missed this time, and then started for the door with only her shopping-bag and raincoat.
“You’re forgetting something, Bess,” cried Nan.
“Oh, no!” returned her chum, her eyes opening very wide and very innocently. “Can’t be possible. Suit-case, bag, coats, lunch box—I wish you would throw that away, Nan! Sure, that’s everything.”
“Yes. But you forget I’m not a dray-horse,” Nan said drily. “Come on and take your share of the load for once.”
“Oh! I forgot,” murmured Bess, faintly, as Nan proceeded to load her down.
They got out on the platform and the train steamed away. Professor Krenner had disappeared. They did not know that he had remained aboard the train, which stopped at a flag-station a mile up the track—a point nearer to his cabin than Freeling proper.
There were a few bustling passengers in sight, but none of them were girls. Even Linda Riggs had disappeared.
“What shall we do?” asked Bess, helplessly. “Not a soul to meet us, Nan!”