Rex walked on now rapidly till he reached the lighted avenue. He had had all the experience he wanted of lingering in the side street. He halted on the corner and looked up and down in search of an Elevated Railroad station. He thought he had better get down to where the train started, so that he might be ready to take the first one.
The idea of telegraphing home had already occurred to him, but he dismissed it at once.
“No,” he said, “I’ve done enough harm as it is. Some one would have to come on for me, and mother would worry. They’ll think now till noon to-morrow, and perhaps later, that I’m with Scott. Perhaps I can even get back before they know I haven’t been there.”
If he only had his wheel! He had no clear idea of just how far the two cities were apart. He only knew that it hadn’t taken him very long to come over in the Chicago Limited.
He found the station of the Elevated, and after waiting a long time he boarded a train. The people scattered through the cars were nearly all asleep. Rex dropped off himself almost as soon as he sank into a seat. He was utterly worn out.
The next thing of which he was conscious was that the train was at a standstill and that the guard was shaking him, with the words:
“Here, wake up, young man. We’re at the Battery. The train doesn’t go any farther.”
Rex rubbed his eyes. It took him an instant or two to realize where he was.
The guard was not rough with him.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.