“You heard?” he asked.
The trainmaster nodded, and his face, too, was very grave.
“You’re sure there was no such order?” he inquired.
“I came on at 6.40,” said Allan, “and went over all the orders on the hook very carefully. I’m sure there was no such order there,” and he motioned toward the “flimsies” which hung on the wall beside the window.
Mr. Schofield took down the hook and began to go slowly over the orders. In a moment, a sharp exclamation broke from him.
“What is it?” asked Allan, a sudden horrible fear seizing his heart and seeming to crush it.
The trainmaster detached from the hook one of the sheets of tissue-paper, and spread it out before him, his face very stern.
“’Engine 315,’” he read, “’special west, will meet extra east, engine 618, at Byers Junction.’”
Then he leaned back in his chair and gazed at Allan with accusing eyes.