"I don't care much about eating, Songbird," was the answer. "But I'll go along and take a bite. I wish I knew just where Tom had gone. I might telegraph ahead for him."
"Well, let us hope that conductor can tell you something."
With nothing to do but to wait, the boys took their time over the midday meal, and while doing this they had the team fed. Then they sauntered down to the depot to await the arrival of the man they wanted to interview. Presently the train came in and the depot master pointed out the conductor.
"Excuse me, but are you Mr. Dunkirt?" asked Sam.
"That's my handle," was the prompt reply.
"I am looking for the young man who jumped on your train just as it was leaving here yesterday."
"Ha! I thought somebody might be after that fellow!" exclaimed the conductor, quickly.
In a few words Sam explained as much of the situation as seemed necessary, the conductor listening with interest. He nodded his head several times.
"I thought he was a little bit off in his upper story," he said. "He talked rather wildly of going far away to get gold nuggets. He paid his fare to Chicago and that's as far as I carried him."
"What did he pay with?" asked Sam.