"Hello, B-D," it called. "What's the matter with Hudson? I've been trying to raise him for half an hour."
"I heard you. He must be asleep or sick—sick most likely."
"That's what I thought. There's a hand car with another operator ordered down. But it'll have to run behind the Thunderbolt. She's an hour late and trying to make up time."
"That's bad! It'll tie up the whole line."
"So long!"
"So long! I'll pass on word."
Jack's heart leaped within him. The train the robbers were waiting for was an hour late. All sorts of things might happen in an hour. He could only wait. But there was more chance now, at least.
The robbers waited patiently until the limited was twenty minutes overdue. Then they began to get nervous.
"Sure the tie will throw her off the rails?" asked one.
"Go out and see for yourself if you're nervous."