“It’s my business to know things like that. Anyway, the business manager said the state police could take care of themselves and that you were too valuable for the paper to lose. He said that hundreds of people took the News just to read about the adventures you and Ralph go through.”
“What did Carson say?” asked Tim.
“Oh he explained what the state troopers were up against and they had it hot and heavy for a while. All of which gets back to what I wanted to say to you. Be careful, Tim, on this state police job. The troopers are paid to take chances with criminals; you’re not. Help them where you can but don’t risk your own life unnecessarily.”
“I don’t intend to take unnecessary risks,” said Tim, “but you know how I feel about crime. Anything I can do to stop it or, after it is committed, to bring the criminals to justice, I’ll do.”
“I realize that, Tim, and I admire you for it,” said Watkins. “All I ask is that you be careful. The News has done a great deal for you and it will do a great deal more if you give it a chance.”
Routine work filled the next ten days and there was no further news from Captain Raymond of the state police. The warm winds of spring swept in from the south and the last traces of the late winter blizzard disappeared. The grass sprang up and the trees started to leaf.
During the lunch hour the reporters gathered on the south side of the News building to exchange yarns and gossip. Gray skies of winter had been replaced by the cheerful ones of spring and life on the paper moved smoothly. The menace of the Sky Hawk’s gang had almost been forgotten when Tim was given an assignment that was to lead to many a strange and thrilling adventure.
CHAPTER TEN
When Tim returned to the editorial room after lunch that day the managing editor summoned him to his office.
“I’ve got an assignment that is somewhat different from your usual run of things,” explained Carson, “but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. The Southwestern railroad is speeding up the time of its midnight mail. The new schedule calls for an average speed of fifty-one miles an hour. The superintendent of this division has invited me to send a reporter on the first trip tonight. How would you like to ride the cab of the mail down to Vinton?”