CHAPTER VIII—THE OVERLAND MAKES AN UNEXPECTED STOP
It was near midnight when the Overland train, traveling north, came in sight of Curlew Spur. The Overland did not stop at Curlew Spur, nor did it stop at Red Arrow except on a flag, but this night, from beside the track at Curlew Spur, blinked a tiny red light.
It was something that no engineer would ignore. The big passenger train, roaring up through the Red Arrow Valley, suddenly slackened speed, and the engineer swore inwardly at the signal that would put him off his schedule.
The train ground to a stop, with the pilot of the engine just past the red lantern, which was sitting on a block of wood. There was no one in sight. On the right-hand side of the train was the shadowy bulk of the loading-pens. On the other side was nothing but open country. Here the track ran straight for nearly a mile, and as far as the powerful headlight bored out through the night, the track was open.
The engineer swung down from his cab and walked over to the lantern, where he was joined in a few minutes by the conductor and one of the brakemen. It was a common lantern, with an old red bandanna handkerchief wrapped around it.
“What’s it all about?” asked the conductor angrily. He was a portly individual, inclined to wheeze heavily.
“I dunno,” grunted the engineer. “You see it, don’t you?”
The conductor picked up the lantern, turning it slowly in his hands.
“Some smart jigger playing a joke,” decided the brakeman. “Maybe some bo flagged us down for a ride.”
“I’d like to get my hands on him!” snapped the engineer.