“All belong here—now,” replied Clay, motioning for Case, who had an angry answer on his lips, to remain silent. “We all belong.”
“Where are the men who got on at the pass?” was the next question.
“This boy got on there,” answered Clay. “He needed rest and food, and we took him in. If any one else got on the train at the pass they are not in the boat—have no right here.”
“Humph!” growled the conductor. “This brakeman says he saw two rough-looking men swing on the train as it got under way and move back toward the platform car. Your bill calls for only three passengers to go with the boat, and I’m not going to have a gang of toughs loaded onto me. There’s been too many holdups in this section now.”
“We are going to Donald,” Clay replied, still keeping control of his rather unruly temper, “and we’ll pay the boy’s fare to that point, if you think we ought to. We are not trying to sneak an extra passenger in on you. The coming of the boy was accidental, as you have been told.”
“I didn’t come here to collect fares,” shouted the conductor. “I came back here to spot a couple of bruisers who headed for this car. If I find them they’ll hit the grit mighty sudden. Understand that?”
“Go as far as you like,” Clay smiled. “We have no interest in any men who might have taken your train at the pass. Shall I pay for the boy’s ride to Donald?” he added, putting his hand into a pocket.
“I’ll take the money for his fare, but I’ll throw the others off, just the same,” exclaimed the conductor. “I believe you know where the others are, and my advice to you is to point them out to me.”
“Why are you so particular about finding them in this car?” asked Clay, smoothly, for he knew that the railroad official could make them no end of trouble if he saw fit to do so. “Have you looked through the entire train? Are there no other hiding-places to look over?”
“There was an obstruction placed on the track at the pass,” the conductor said, then, in a more conciliatory tone, “and the men who got on my train and started back toward this car are the ones who did it. It is ten to one that they are up to further mischief.”