Mr. Gardner pursed his smooth-shaven lips again and was gone.
The moment the door closed after him, Larry wished he had told him of the strange actions of the group of new hands whom he had seen outside the entrance that noon.
"But he may know more about it than I do. His eyes see about all there is to see," the boy reasoned.
And he gave the matter scarce another thought until the great whistle delivered its parting roar that night.
Although the six o'clock whistle was the signal for stopping the machinery and for the workmen to go to their homes, the engineer had to stay half an hour longer to see that the engine and boilers were left in proper shape for the night; then, when the night watchman came at half-past six, Larry could go home.
But to-night, after firing up for the last time and blowing the whistle, Joe Cuttle did not go directly home.
Instead, he went out into the yard and sauntered out toward the further end of the extensive works where the foundry was located.
Larry, still distrustful, noticed this, and he wished then that he had mentioned what he had seen that noon to the superintendent.
He stood in the doorway and furtively watched Joe until the latter disappeared beyond an angle of the building. Then he went in and meditatively drew the water from the glass gauges, tested the safety valve, wiped off the engine and finally locked the door of the engine-room.
His work was done for the day. It yet lacked ten minutes of the half-hour, which would bring the night watchman, and he waited with his feeling of uneasiness growing stronger every moment until the time was up; and the watchman had not come.