“Nearly three years, I think. I suppose they both have forgotten each other by now, at least Jack has, hasn’t he? It’s funny, is all I can say.”
“Well, I’m for the hay,” said Smiles.
Some of the men still stayed about, others followed Smiles’ example. Red Mack, who was to meet the returning party early next morning, had long since retired.
A fast train, eating up the space, five hundred miles away, was bringing a surprise to all of them. Throughout the shadows of the night and on the wings of the morning the onrushing train with Mr. and Mrs. Dean and Ted Marsh was speeding.
At four, when the sun was about to herald the new day, Red Mack, driving a fast Packard, started on his five-hour journey. Skilled and expert, even as much the master of this steel steed as of his beloved Brownie, he raced onward at full speed, the joy of the morning and of the wind in his blood.
CHAPTER VI
DEAN MEETS COLONEL SANDS
FOR two days the fast Canadian Pacific flyer had raced through changing country and towns. To Ted, who had never before been on a railroad train, every moment held fascination. He watched the flying country, the busy stations and the people on the train. Very important people some of them seemed to be.
But the luxuries of the Pullman service and the dining car were his chief interest. It seemed so wonderful to be able to go the distance they were going and still be so comfortable.
Trim and neat was Ted. You would hardly have recognized him as the same boy. He was thoughtful, too. He realized that Mr. and Mrs. Dean liked to be alone, so he passed much of the time in the observation car.
He was sitting out there on the platform, the second morning, when an elderly, military-looking gentleman came and sat down beside him. They were the only people on the platform, for it was a little too cool for most of the passengers. Ted noticed that the man was looking at him and so he smiled in friendly fashion.