It was a little after eight when they left Cobmore’s. At half-past nine McCormick drove recklessly through the long village street, and, pulling up with a jerk in front of the small station building, leaped out and ran inside, leaving Joblots staring in dismay at the reins which had been tossed into his lap, as if he hadn’t the least idea what he was to do with them. Presently he laid them cautiously on the seat and slipped quietly out of the buggy. Luckily one of the natives lounging by the door, took it upon himself to tie the horse to a hitching post, or there is no telling how McCormick would have managed to return the rig intact. Percy Joblots, safe from the perilous position alone in the buggy, drew a quick breath and hastily followed Archie into the building. He found him at the window in the act of handing a telegraph message to the station agent, but the latter had read it aloud to verify it so quickly that it was all over before the dapper little fellow could sidle quietly within hearing distance. “Will you please send it off at once?” McCormick asked, handing the man a dollar bill. “Just keep the change for your trouble.” The fellow’s eyes brightened instantly, and he lost much of his languid, indifferent manner. “Yes, sir,” he returned promptly. “If I can get an open wire, I’ll push it right along.” He dropped down in his chair and the sharp click-click of the instrument sounded through the office. “It’s all right,” the man said, as he looked up. “She’s gone.” “How long will it take for an answer to come back?” McCormick asked eagerly. “All depends. Couple of hours, anyhow.” The Yale man frowned. Two hours seemed a long time to wait, but there was no help for it. As he turned away from the window, his eyes fell upon the dapper Joblots standing quietly beside him. “Humph!” he exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here? Where’d you leave the horse?” Percy gasped. “Thaketh alive! Outthide, of courthe. You thouldn’t have left me alone with him. I never could thand hortheth.” “Idiot!” growled McCormick, rushing to the door. He gave an exclamation of relief as he saw the animal safely tied, and then turned back to Joblots. “You’ve got about an hour to wait for your train,” he said shortly. “I’m going for a walk, so I’ll say good-by to you now.” The little fellow seemed reluctant to part company with the Yale man, but Archie had reached the point when very little more of the other’s company would drive him distracted, so he made short work of the parting and hurried out of the station to the street and thence for a tramp along the country road. His astonishment can better be imagined than described when, returning a couple of hours later, the first thing which greeted his eyes as he pushed open the station door was the familiar form of the little pest he fancied he was rid of for good, sitting complacently on one of the benches. Joblots smiled quite happily into the frowning countenance of the Yale man.