Then there were cries of astonishment and incredulity.
“A man?”
“Impossible!”
“Never!”
“Ridiculous!”
But an elderly lady, who wore gold-bowed spectacles, calmly said:
“The young gentleman is correct, I am quite sure. The person in question sat directly in front of me, and I discovered there was something wrong. I felt almost certain it was a man before he got up and went out on the platform.”
Then there was excitement in the car. A perfect torrent of questions was poured on Frank.
Merry explained that he had thought it rather remarkable that a woman should be standing all alone on the rear platform, and, after going out and speaking to the person, he became convinced that it was a man in disguise. Then he told how the man, on being accused, had attacked him furiously, and finally had seemed to fling himself over the iron gate.
It was a great sensation, but no one accused either Merry or Bart of throwing the unknown over, not a little to Frank’s relief.