“Just this,” explained Colonel Searle. “There’s a million in cold cash back in one of those mail cars. We got a tip after you were out of Raleigh that there might be trouble and there isn’t any question but that the timber was set afire in an attempt to stop the train. Whoever planned the robbery figured that the train crew would leave the train and go up for a closer view of the fire. When you decided to back up and run for it, you threw a monkey wrench into their plans. It must have been a small gang or they would have attempted to have stopped you even then.”
“Our fireman is missing,” put in Tim. “When we got the cinders out of our eyes after dashing through the fire we found Harry Benson gone.”
“Maybe he was in with the gang,” suggested Colonel Searle.
“Not Benson,” said the engineer firmly. “He’s one of the most loyal men on the line. Only one thing could have happened to him. He lost his balance and fell out the gangway.” Tears were in the engineman’s eyes and they were silent for a moment.
Gray streaks of dawn were making their appearance on the eastern sky when Tim and the head of the state police left the mail train.
Railroad officials had indicated that they would start an investigation of the cause of the fire, but Colonel Searle informed Tim that he intended to make his own inquiry.
They were leaving the station when the fresh engine which had been coupled on the mail sounded the “high ball” and another engineer took up the race for the coast.
They went to a hotel were Ralph, who had just dressed, greeted them. He wanted to know all about the events of the night and Tim painted a vivid word picture of what had happened.
“We’ll get something to eat,” said Colonel Searle, “and then fly down the line and take a look at that timber patch.”
“Do you think this may have something to do with the old Sky Hawk gang?” asked Tim, giving voice to a thought that he had harbored for some time.