“Some one either picked my pocket, or else it was jarred out when that policeman ran into me,” he said. “Lucky there was this ten cents left. Now I _am_ up against it.” What was he to do? With no money, how could he get out of the town where, doubtless, every officer was on the watch for him, anxious to earn the reward? It was a serious problem. “I mustn’t hang around here,” thought Jack. “They’ll probably be watching the railroad stations. I’ve got to walk about and think a bit.” He hardly noticed where he turned his steps, but he was brought out of his unpleasant day-dream by hearing some one address him. “What’s de matter, cully?” a voice asked. “You look sort of cheesy.” Jack saw that the speaker was a tramp, but rather a good-natured looking one, and not quite so dirty and disreputable as the average. The boy also noticed, for the first time, that he was passing along a street which bordered the railroad freight yard, and that there were long strings of cars on a track adjoining the sidewalk. “Down on yer luck?” asked the man. Jack nodded. “What’s de matter?” went on the tramp. “Runaway, an’ sorry fer it?” “I’m not a bit sorry,” answered Jack, as he thought of the mean professor. “But I want to get out of town, and I’ve lost all my money.” “Oh, dat’s easy,” remarked the tramp, though whether he referred to losing the money or getting out of town, Jack was not quite sure. “If you want t’ make a git-away, I kin fix youse up,” went on the ragged man. “How?” asked Jack, becoming interested. “I’ll show youse how t’ git inter a side-door Pullman, an’ youse kin ride as fur as youse wants.” “A side-door Pullman?” “Sure. Freight car, wid de side door; ain’t youse wise to dem yet? Dat’s a swell way of travelin’ when youse ain’t got de chink. Come on, I’ll put youse next t’ one. Dere’s a freight bein’ made up, an’ dere’s a lot of empties in it. Be youse particular which way youse goes?” “No,” replied Jack. “Dat’s good. I am. I want t’ go west, but dere’s a train bound fer de east goin’ t’ pull out t’-night. I’ll help youse git inter one of de side-door Pullmans on dat. Come on.” Jack followed the man, who, after a cautious look around, to make sure that there were no police or trainmen watching, led the way into the freight yard. He stopped before an empty box car, with an open door. “In youse go,” he said cheerfully, helping Jack to climb up. “Dere’s yer baggage,” he added. “Now youse is all right, cully. Git off whenever youse feels like it. Yer ticket’s good anywhere,” and, sliding the door almost shut, he walked away, leaving Jack in the car. CHAPTER IX JACK LOSES SOMETHING “Well, things are certainly happening to me,” mused Jack, as he tried to find the softest board in the floor of the freight car, whereon to sit. He finally decided that his dress-suit case would make the best kind of a stool, and, turning it upon end, he sat on it, leaning back against the side of the “Pullman.”