The men walked quietly away, and in the depot Jet was congratulating himself upon having been able to give the alarm so quickly.
The operator had been very eager to learn why officers should be summoned from the city; but Jet professed entire ignorance of the matter, repeating again and again that he had only brought the message from a stranger a short distance up the road, and the questioner finally ceased trying to extract information.
There was no difficulty about getting a telegram through, and in a few moments Jet rejoiced at hearing the man say:
"It's done, and now you'll only have to wait until the parties arrive."
"How long before they can come?'
"There's a morning express which leaves Albany in an hour; but it doesn't stop here, so they'll have to wait for the five o'clock train."
Jet was not troubled as to where he should spend the time.
He was so tired that he could sleep anywhere, and walked across the track to the waiting shed, where he laid down on one of the benches, glad of an opportunity to rest his weary limbs.
While paying for the telegram he noticed with surprise that Harvey had intrusted him with twenty dollars, and he said to himself as his eyes were closing in sleep:
"I wonder why he gave me so much? It can't be possible he thought the message would cost all that."