"Where does that train go," I asked.
"It leaves in a few minutes for Mobile," he replied, parting with me at a nearby street corner.
No sooner was he out of sight than I started on a 2:40 pace for the engine.
All thoughts of breakfast fled. A man had been shot dead in the town, and as yet there was no clue as to the identity of the murderer. The citizens of the place would soon be up and astir on the streets, and I stood a fine chance of being arrested on suspicion.
With a single bound I was in the engine cab, and the next moment I was pleading with the engineer to take me to Mobile.
That my pleading was earnest need not be said, for I won the case.
"Wait until we get a good start and then swing the 'blind baggage.' I won't see you," he grinned, "but its rather risky going into Mobile on a passenger train in broad open day, for there's generally two or three cops hanging 'round the depot, and the yard is full of detectives."
The word "detective" as used here is what is termed in North Carolina a town constable.
In making arrests of this kind the constable is not required by the State to show a warrant.