“Say!” cried Steele, a thrill with the portent of a sudden idea, “couldn’t you persuade Rockervelt to hitch his car to the Burdock ‘Thunderbolt’? I’ll run him through to Portandit, and save him that dreary daylight trip from Tobasco.”
Manson shook his head.
“No; Mr. Rockervelt would not go over any other road than his own. I could not propose such a thing, and Mr. Blair would not.”
Steele walked down to the Grand Union Station deep in thought. He had determined to take Rockervelt’s private car from its place with one of his own pony engines and attach it to his own express, and he was formulating his plans. Once away from the Junction, the Government itself could not stop him. And now we need a railway map to explain the situation. From Warmington to Portandit or to Tobasco is a long night’s ride. The “Thunderbolt” leaves the Junction on the Burdock Route at 8 p.m. The “Pacific Express,” on the Midland, departs at 8.20; one train from the south side of the station, the other from the north.
At ten minutes to eight Philip Manson received a telephone message asking him to remain within call. A short time after, when the men were coupling the private car to the west-bound train, Steele rushed in to the telephone cabin and shouted:
“That you, Mr. Manson?”
“Yes; who are you?”
“Steele. I’ve just coupled Rockervelt’s car to the ‘Thunderbolt.’ Release Number Three, for she will wait in vain. Telegraph all those people that Rockervelt was to meet at Tobasco to-morrow morning to take the midnight train for Portandit and meet him there.”
“Steele, are you out of your senses?”
“No. It’s all as I say. Nothing can stop us.”