"Sure thing," replied the conductor, sitting on the arm of the seat. "Fire away."
"It's this," began Sammy, putting as much impressiveness in his tone as possible. "We believe there were two men on the train last night who've been mixed up in a murder."
The conductor gave a genuine start and this evidence of shock pleased the boys immensely.
"What do you mean by that?" asked the conductor.
"Just what I say," replied Sammy, solemnly. "I heard them talking of a man that had been killed with a knife and how they had laughed at his kicks and squeals."
The conductor was really agitated.
"Who were the men," he asked sharply, "and where are they now?"
"I don't know where they are now," answered Sammy. "The porter says that they got off the train before daylight this morning. But all yesterday afternoon and evening they were sitting in the seat right in front of us."
The conductor taxed his memory for a moment. Then to the amazement of the boys he almost doubled up with laughter.
The boys looked at each other, amazed and offended.