“Oh, yes!” yawned Tom coolly. “For you are lying. The message that came back over the wire from our operator at Brewster’s read in these words: ‘Showed your order to train conductor. He refused order, saying that it was not signed properly. Train has proceeded.’”
It was an incautious speech for Tom Reade Black fairly glared into his eyes.
“So you can pick up telegraph messages by the sounds” ’Gene demanded.
“’Most anyone can who has ever worked over a telegraph key,” Tom admitted.
Now that the secret was out, Black plainly showed his anger over the fact that the conductor had refused train orders at Brewster’s. “You S.B. & L. fellows have put up some trick to beat us off!” he declared, looking accusingly into Tom’s face.
“What of it?” Reade inquired. “It’s our railroad, isn’t it? Can’t we do what we please with our own road?”
“It won’t be your road after tonight!” Black insisted, grinding his teeth in his rage. “Fortunately, we have other ways of stopping that train from getting through. You’ll soon know it, too.”
Black called to the tramp operator.
“My man, call up the box relay fellow below here.”
The sounder clicked busily for some moments. “I have the other box relay man,” declared the operator.