"I simply listened to Glen's grandfather at his dummy ticker. Poor old man! He fancies he is being sought for by great railroad systems all over the world to take charge of their business. He ticked off all kinds of telegrams to important people. Then I caught the thread of a message he seemed to have particularly on his mind. It is just ten words, and of course must be the one he wanted the marshal to send. There it is." Ralph showed a card on the back of which he had penciled down the following words: "Rajah Sun and Moon Aeroplane Spectacles exemplar. Pardon Star Mudji." Quick as a flash Zeph hauled out the written screed he had acquired while in the company of the conspirators. It comprised the formula of their cypher code. "Advise Jem and Parsons," he translated at once. "Barn loft plunder. Get me bail." "Who to, Ralph?" he inquired eagerly--"the telegram." "Mrs. Hannah Clifton, Dunbar Station." "A relative, I'll bet. You're right, we've got the clew! 'Barn loft plunder.' Ralph, Dunbar Station, quick!" "Yes," said the young dispatcher quietly, "that's our terminus, as quick as we can make it." Ralph's special pass furnished him by the road officer came in good. It brought them a lift on an urgency locomotive and another on the tender of the Daylight Express. At three o'clock that afternoon after due inquiry the two friends approached a house in a lonely settlement at the edge of Dunbar Station. As they neared the house a woman knitting on its steps arose hurriedly, ran into the house and shut every door and window about the place. "Acts sort of scared, eh?" suggested Zeph, as they approached the front of the house. "Or suspicious," remarked Ralph. "Stop right there. Who are you, and what do you want?" The boys paused summarily, a bit taken off their balance. Very suddenly the barrel of a long shotgun was thrust through the slats of one of the wooden shutters, and the voice which challenged them showed no timidity or nonsense. "We want to see Mrs. Hannah Clifton," replied Ralph politely, revealing himself. "What for?" demanded the uncompromising invisible challenger. "Why--er--that is--" began the rattled Zeph stammeringly. "Shut up," whispered Ralph unceremoniously. "In behalf of Mr. Rivers," added Ralph ahead. "He sent you, did he?" "We just came from him." "On business, I suppose?" "Yes, madam." "All right, then he gave you a word." "Password!" whispered Zeph desperately. "Sun and Moon," ventured Ralph recklessly. "Wrong!" cried the woman as quick as lightning. "I see your game. You're guessing. If you don't make yourselves scarce in two minutes, I'll fire." She did not wait the limit. The fowling piece scattered skithering bird shot with a flare just as the intruders got out of range. "She's too keen for us--get to the barn, Ralph," suggested Zeph breathlessly. "Yes, run," ordered Ralph.