“There’s a man aboard I want to question,” he explained. “He was in the diner a few minutes ago and after finishing his meal started back for the Pullmans. He belongs in lower nine of car 43, but I’m sure he didn’t reach there. Get your brakeman out and search this train.”
The small gold badge Bob displayed worked magic with the trainman and he summoned his brakeman. Bob gave them a brief description of Hamsa and they started back through the train.
Every vestibule and every compartment was checked as the three worked methodically. They even looked into the kitchen on the dining car while the chef, a jolly negro, grinned at them.
Back in car 43 they found the Pullman conductor standing watch beside Tully.
“There’s no sign of Hamsa up ahead,” said Bob. “He didn’t come this way?”
“No one’s been through this car,” replied the Pullman official firmly.
Bob shook his head.
“A man can’t vanish on a train and we’ve been running too fast for him to jump off. That would have been sheer suicide.”
There were two more Pullmans and an observation lounge car behind car 43 and with the trainmen at his heels, Bob resumed the search.
The next two cars were practically deserted and even in the observation lounge there were only five passengers in addition to the porter. They looked up with evident interest at the wholesale invasion of the trainmen and the grim intentness of the expression on Bob’s face.