For a time, it seemed that these precautions had been effective. There were no more robberies reported, and few tramps attempted to steal rides. To be sure, the station at Madeira caught fire one night and burned to the ground, but there was no proof of incendiarism. Still the road did not relax its vigilance. Threatening rumours came to it from the underworld. The detectives, assuming tramp garb and fraternizing with the “hoboes,” became aware of something sinister in the air, but could never quite fathom the mystery. They were sure of only one thing—something was going to happen.
CHAPTER XIV.
ALLAN MAKES A DISCOVERY
During all this time, Allan had been taking his trick of track-walking with the other men on Section Twenty-one. Jack had arranged it so that the boy’s trip over the road was made in the early morning, from four o’clock to seven, when, in his opinion, there was the minimum of danger. For Jack still feared Dan Nolan, although that rascal had not been seen in the neighbourhood for months. But Jack had an uneasy feeling that Nolan was still plotting mischief, that he was still watching his opportunity to do Allan an injury.
The boy himself, confident in his growing manhood, laughed at these fears.
“Nolan has cleared out for good,” he said to Jack. “He’s gone somewhere where he’s not known, and has got another job. We’ll never see him again.”
But Jack shook his head stubbornly.
“I know better,” he said. “Mebbe he’s gone away for awhile, but he’ll come back ag’in, an’, if he ever gits a good chance t’ hit y’ from behind, he’ll take it. I’ve got a sort of idee that Nolan’s at th’ bottom of most of th’ devilment that’s been goin’ on on this here road. Th’ tramps would ’a’ cleared out long ago if there hadn’t been somebody back of them urgin’ ’em on.”
“Oh, come, Jack,” protested Allan, “you’ve let that idea get such a hold on you that you can’t shake it off.”
“Anyway,” said Jack, “I want you t’ keep your eyes about you when you’re out there by yourself. An’ you’re t’ carry that club I made fer you, an’ t’ use it, too, if Nolan ever comes near enough for you t’ git a good lick at him.”
Allan laughed again, but he carried the club with him, nevertheless, more to quiet Jack’s fears and Mary’s than because he thought he would ever need it. Jack had gone down to the carpenter shop the first day the order to patrol the track was posted, and had selected a piece of seasoned hickory, which he had fashioned into an effective weapon. Most of the other section-men were similarly armed, and were prepared to meet force with force.