Bob pressed the buzzer for the porter, who put in an almost immediate appearance.
“Get the Pullman conductor here at once,” he commanded.
“Sorry, boss, but he’s eating supper up ahead.”
“Get him,” retorted Bob, and the manner in which he gave the order sent the porter scurrying up the aisle.
“How could this have happened?” asked Tully, and from the heaviness of his voice Bob knew that his companion had not fully thrown off the effects of the attack which had overcome him that afternoon.
“The secret of this is somewhere on the Limited,” replied Bob. “Only three people, in addition to myself, were in the compartment with you. One was the Pullman conductor, the other was Hamsa, and the third was the porter. I think we can rule out the porter for he was in there only once or twice. There’s just a chance the conductor might have come back in while I was in the diner.”
“What motive would he have in taking such a report?” Tully wanted to know and Bob confessed that there apparently was none.
The conductor, evidently irritated at being called from his dinner, entered the car and hurried down to the section.
“What’s the matter?” he asked crisply.
Bob did not like the tone of his voice and he drew forth the little badge which identified him. The conductor’s eyes widened in astonishment and there was an instant change in his attitude. He looked toward Tully significantly.