Somewhat grudgingly the old man finally admitted them. He waited until they had produced a dollar, which was his demand for a double-bedded room. Then he led them to the apartment.
The boys made a very fair shift in getting comfortably landed in beds that sagged at one end and bumped up in the center.
They were supplied with a capital breakfast in the morning, to their surprise this being included in the one dollar paid in advance.
“Now then—what?” inquired Vic, as they came out upon the street.
“Why, my idea is to see the express agent here. It was by express that the film we saw at the New Idea came. It was stamped as coming from here. We’ll make for the depot first.”
The boys came across the man in charge of the railroad depot. He was a loose-jointed, lazy-acting man who pottered about as if he was tired of living.
“Are you in charge here, mister?” inquired Pep.
“Yes, depot agent, telegraph operator, real estate, loans and insurance on the side, baggage master——”
“Stop there,” said Pep. “That’s where we want you. We are looking up some packages that have been sent from here to the New Idea, a picture show in Boston.”
“Hello!” exclaimed the man with a start—“you’re the second one.”