“But you were going to throw them off,” suggested Clay.
“That was a bluff,” admitted the other. “I thought you might offer to pay their fare, as you did the boy’s. They will go down in irons if I find them.”
“I see,” Clay rejoined. “Well, I think you are next to your job, and I’m sorry I can’t help you. I don’t know why the men you speak of should seek refuge in this car, but what you say about their starting back here is probably true. If I see anything of them I’ll let you know. By the way,” he added, “we have some fine coffee, piping hot. Wouldn’t you gentlemen like a cup?”
Case made a sly face at the word “gentlemen,” and Captain Joe arose from his rug under one of the shelf-benches and snarled at the heavy shoes of the trainmen. Alex covered his mouth with one hand to check an outburst of laughter. The conductor stared at the boy and kicked at the dog, as if sensing ridicule, but addressed his conversation to Clay.
“Why, yes,” he said, taking in the fragrant odor of the coffee, “a cup of something hot wouldn’t come amiss. We are having coffee in the caboose right soon, but it is a cold night up here.”
“You’ll be welcome,” Clay answered, “and there are pancakes, too, if you like them. The boys can make some in a minute.”
The trainmen drank two cups of coffee each and greedily devoured a dozen pancakes, which Alex hastened to make. Alex was wishing that the coffee would scorch their throats!
The meal over, the conductor’s face took on a friendlier look.
“At Calgary,” he said, “we were ordered to load on jacks and extra wheels and pick you up here. News of the breakdown came there by wire just before we started out. At Laggan there was a message waiting for us saying that an attempt had been made to wreck a freight here. The crew had telegraphed from Field, just west of here.
“Well, I naturally got the idea into my head that the breakdown here—or back at the pass, rather—was just a plant, so I was suspicious when I came up. I was told in the message received at Laggan to keep my eyes open for the wreckers, and that is why I was so short with you.”