"Not for some time, of course," was the answer.
"Are there any expresses before then?"
"Not one."
"Any freight trains?"
"No."
"Nothing at all?"
"Nothing whatsoever."
"Are you quite sure?"
"Of course I am, or I wouldn't have said so," yelled the agent.
"Then, Maria," says the old man, "if we're quite careful, I guess we can cross the tracks."