With lively interest Jack examined the case.
“Get in and let us see how it fits,” suggested the merchant. Jack did so.
“Fine,” he announced. “I could ride all night in it, easily—either sitting, or lying down curled up on my side.”
Detective Boyle glanced at his watch. “You may as well stay right there, Jack,” he said. “We will start just as soon as the wagon is ready.”
“It’s ready now. Judson, go and bring the dray around,” the merchant directed.
As the man left, the detective produced and handed Jack a small pocket revolver. “Here, take this, Jack,” said he. “I hope you’ll not have to use it, but we must take all precautions.
“Now to box you in.” So saying the detective fitted the “door” of Jack’s box into place, and Jack on the inside secured it with the hooks and wooden buttons, and announced “O K.” The detective then entered his own box, and with the merchant’s assistance closed the opening. As he tested it there was a rattle of wheels without, and the big door rumbled open.
A few minutes later the two boxes of “valuable silk” had been slid out onto the truck, and the first stage of the strange journey had begun.
As planned, it was dusk when the two boxes reached the freight depot. The station agent himself met them. “Everything O K, Boyle?” he whispered.
“O K. Place us right before the door, with the lettering out,” the detective directed. The agent did as requested, and with a final “Good luck!” closed and sealed the car door just as the clanging of a bell announced the approach of an engine. A crash and a jar told the two unsuspected travelers that their car had been coupled, there was a whistle, a rumble, a clanking over switch-points—and they were on their way.