"He gave me a ten-dollar gold piece. He had quite a lot of gold with him."
"Did he say where he was going from Chicago?"
"Oh, yes, he had it all mapped out. He was going to St. Paul first and then straight west to Seattle. From there he was going to Alaska."
"Alaska!" cried Sam and Songbird, in a breath.
"That is what he said."
"What part of Alaska?" asked Sam, faintly.
"He didn't tell me and I didn't ask him. I rather thought he was kidding me, he acted so queer-like when he talked."
After this the conductor told all he could remember about Tom. He said that the youth had left the train at Chicago in a large crowd and that was the last he had seen of the youth.
"I'll send another telegram to Dick," said Sam to his chum.
"Why not telephone to Ashton first?" suggested the other. "There may be a telegram for you there."