CHAPTER VII
NOT SO BAD AS IT LOOKED
Sammy was the first to notice the absence of the strangers. After he had washed and dressed he saw that the berths in the neighboring section had been put up and the seat prepared for the day. But the seat had no occupants.
This did not disturb Sammy very much at first. The men might have gone forward for an early breakfast in the dining car. Even when he failed to see them there, he concluded that they might have finished their meal and might be enjoying an after breakfast smoke in the smoking car. Or they might be out on the observation platform of the last car. These theories kept him content for a while, and with them he quieted the growing uneasiness of the other boys.
But at last, as the men failed to show up, he grew nervous and called to the porter as he was going through the aisle.
"Do you know where the gentlemen are who had this seat in front of us yesterday?" he asked.
"Don't know where dose gemmen are now," answered the porter with a grin. "Dey got off de train jest befo' daylight dis mornin'."
There was a stir among the Fairview boys at this announcement and Sammy's heart sank within him.
"Do you know who the men were?" was all he could think of to ask at the moment.
"Nebbeh saw dem befo'," smiled the porter. "But dey wuz suttinly mighty fine gemmen. Gave me a dollar tip befo' dey got off."