Paul was just entering the car at the moment, and his first glance, not unnaturally, was directed toward the pretty young lady who had shown herself so generous to his little sister.
He was startled when he saw her pocket being picked, and was rather surprised that the gentlemanly looking person at her side should be the thief.
"What shall I do?" he asked himself.
His first impulse was to go forward, apprise Miss Dearborn of her loss, and denounce her seat companion. But this might enable Luke to drop the purse and assume the airs of an innocent man. Perhaps Denton in his rage might even attack him.
Paul therefore framed a different plan.
He passed through the car into the next, where he met the conductor. To him he briefly communicated what he had seen.
"You have done right, Paul," said the conductor, who personally knew him. "Ten to one the gentleman will be for getting out at Libertyville, unless we are beforehand with him. There is no time to be lost, as we are only about a mile from the station. Come back with me."
The conductor entered the car where Grace was seated, with Paul close at his heels.
Luke Denton was looking out of the window, having folded his newspaper.
"In five minutes I shall be safe," thought he, as not far ahead he caught a distant view of the few houses which constituted Libertyville.