“Natural explanations!” bubbled Jack through his handkerchief. “And imagine anyone being frightened at it—beating it for home!”
When the man on the box had concluded his second “demonstration,” and descended, Jack had cause to thank himself for his precaution in leaving the dummy. Evidently puzzled at the silence in the operating-room, the man placed his eye to the knot-hole in the partition, and peered through. Muttering something in surprise, he listened closely, and looked again, while Jack looked on, shaking, and holding his mouth. Apparently at last satisfied that the “operator” within was asleep at his post, the intruder turned about and threw a shaft of light up toward the wires of the loop. Expectantly Jack waited. Had he also guessed right here?
But to his disappointment, after a brief debate with himself, the “ghost” muttered, “If he’s asleep, what’s the use?” And catching up the pole, he returned it to the hole in the floor, and replaced the plank.
Then, in final confirmation of Jack’s deductions, the intruder turned his attention to the packages of merchandise about him, speedily selected a box, and proceeded to open it.
For several hours the unsuspecting freight robber worked, frequently returning to the crack in the partition to assure himself that the negligent “operator” there was still in the land of dreams, each time to Jack’s great amusement. And finally, having secured all the booty he could handle, and having carefully closed the cases from which it had been taken, he moved the plunder into his own box, crept in after; again came the squeak of the screw-driver—and the robbery was complete.
At once Jack crept from his place of concealment, and back to the window; dropped out, and was off on the run for the boarding-house. And twenty minutes after he returned with the freight-house foreman and several freight hands, armed, and with lanterns.
Entering by the door, he led them directly to the robber’s box.
Sharply the foreman kicked at it, and called, “Hello, in there! Your little game is up, my friend! Come out!”
There was no response, and he drew his revolver. “Open up quick, or I’ll shoot!”
“Oh, all right! All right!” cried a muffled voice hurriedly.