“Well, we must be gettin’ on,” said the conductor, eying Allan, curiously. “The investigation will show who was to blame.”
Allan was already calling up the D. W. & I. headquarters.
“Eng. 618,” he reported, “delayed by hot-box, just arrived here and wants orders.”
In a moment the answer flashed back.
“Eng. 618 will leave Byers Junction at 7.38 and run extra to Wellston.”
Allan repeated it, got it O. K.’d, and handed a copy to each of the two men. They read it aloud, glanced at their watches, and stalked out. A moment later, Allan and the trainmaster heard the exhaust as the engine started. As soon as the train was past the switch, Allan turned the semaphore and lowered the train-signal to show a clear track. Then he came back and sat down by the trainmaster, who was puffing his cigar reflectively.
“You’re fonder of fresh air than I am,” remarked the latter, as a little gust of wind rustled the orders which hung on the hook near the window. “We’d better have that down, hadn’t we?”
Allan, glancing at the window, noticed for the first time that the lower sash was raised.
“Why, I didn’t know it was open,” he said, and going to it, took out the stick which supported the sash and let the sash down. “Nevins must have raised it before he went away.”