“It did,” was the answer.

“Did you see anybody get on?”

“No, but somebody might have gotten on. I wasn't looking.”

“Thank you.”

“Looking for a friend?”

“No,” said Joe, and moved on.

Without delay our hero ran to the front end of the newly-arrived train and got aboard. As he walked through he gave every grown passenger a close look.

At the end of the third car he came upon two suspicious-looking individuals, who were gazing at a bit of paper in the hands of one. Joe came closer and saw that the paper was a mining share.

“Caven and Malone, as sure as fate!” he murmured to himself. “What had I best do next?”

While Joe was trying to make up his mind, Caven chanced to glance up and his eyes fell upon our hero. He gave a cry of dismay and thrust the mining share out of sight.