“All right, let’s run for it.”
As best they could, they began sprinting in the direction of the railroad station, but their handbags were somewhat heavy, and this impeded their progress. Then, turning a corner, they suddenly found themselves confronted by a long sewer trench, lit up here and there by red lanterns. 111
“We’ve got to get over that trench somehow!” cried Joe.
“Can you jump it?” questioned Jim anxiously.
“I’m going to try,” returned the crack pitcher.
He threw his handbag to the other side of the sewer trench, and then, backing up a few steps, ran forward and took the leap in good shape. His chum followed him, but Jim might have slipped back into the sewer trench had not Joe been watching, and grabbed him by one hand.
“Gosh, that was a close shave!” panted Jim, when he felt himself safe.
“Don’t waste time thinking about it. We have still a couple of blocks to go,” Joe returned, and set off once more on the run, with Jim at his heels.
Soon they rounded another corner, and came in sight of the railroad station. There stood their train, and the conductor was signaling to start.
“Wait! Wait!” yelled Joe. But in the general confusion around the railroad station nobody seemed to notice him.