Kit turned and the lantern searched the shack. Alison leaned against the wall and smiled, but Kit knew her smile was not for Bob. He saw Austin and another wrap a blanket round Alison, and one said: “Help me carry her to the cab.”
“The job’s mine,” said Kit, and clumsily lifting Alison, he started for the door.
He struck the post, but he reached the locomotive and somebody pulled Alison up the steps. Then he was on a tool locker in the cab and drank some thick, hot liquid from a nickel cup. The locomotive was going and that was all he knew.
CHAPTER XXX
ALISON STEALS AWAY
Kit, in Austin’s office at the bridge, heard escaping steam and a locomotive pump’s monotonous throb. When the train stopped, somebody pushed him from the cab, and although he had wanted to wait and see it start, firmly steered him to the office. The painful reaction from the cold was over, but he was dull and slack and could not rouse himself for the effort to go back to the line. By and by Florence Grey came in.
“We are going in two or three minutes and I cannot wait, but I hope you are not frost-bitten,” she said.
“I’m not much damaged, thank you,” Kit replied. “Anyhow, I’d sooner you looked after Alison and you mustn’t miss the train.”
“Carrie and Ted are with her, and Bob will call me. There’s something I must tell you: Alison ought not to have gone to the gravel pit.”
“It’s rather obvious,” said Kit. “I don’t yet see why you and Ted left her at the bridge.”
Florence’s look got embarrassed and she blushed. “Since my plan didn’t work, perhaps you ought to know.... Well, I didn’t want Alison to meet you, and when the train was starting I sent Ted to the smithy, although I knew she wasn’t there.”