At that moment the burly fellow near the freight cars made a dive for the trucks of a baggage car, with the evident intention of stealing a ride. He had almost reached the trucks when Dave came up behind him and hauled him back.
“Not so fast!” said our hero, firmly. “I want to talk to you.”
“Hey, you let me alone!” growled the burly fellow. He was ragged and unshaven and evidently a tramp.
“Where did you come from?” went on Dave, and he continued to hold the man, while the train moved off.
“Wot business is that o’ yours?” was the sulky return. “Wot did yer make me miss that train for?”
“You’ll find out in a minute or two,” answered our hero, and just then Officer Anderson came running up.
“Got somebody, have you?” he panted.
“I guess he is only a tramp,” was Dave’s reply. “But we may as well hold him and see what he has got to say.”
“It’s Applejack Joe,” said the policeman, as he eyed the prisoner. “We warned him out of town this morning. What was he going to do, steal a ride?”
“I think so. I caught him making for the trucks of a baggage car.”