“I’d much rather it had been somebody else,” said Allan, “for I knew the man, and I think it’s my duty to tell you.” The train-master looked at him keenly. “You knew him?” he repeated. “Better and better. No doubt he’s the one who’s been giving us all this trouble. Who was he?” Allan gulped down a lump which had arisen suddenly in his throat. “Reddy Magraw,” he answered, hoarsely. “Reddy Magraw!” echoed the train-master, with a stare of astonishment. “Are you sure?” “I wouldn’t say so if I wasn’t sure, sir,” answered Allan, with a little flush of resentment. “I couldn’t be mistaken.” “Of course,” agreed the train-master, kindly. “But I didn’t think Reddy would do anything like that.” “I don’t believe he would have done it, sir,” said Allan, “if Dan Nolan hadn’t got hold of him,” and he told of the conference he and Jack had witnessed on the river-bank. “I believe Dan put all this meanness into his head,” he concluded. “I’m sure it’s with Dan he stays all the time he’s away from home.” Mr. Schofield nodded again. “No doubt you are right,” he assented. “Perhaps we ought to have suspected him before. Of course, the boys never thought of watching him, and so let him stay around the yards as much as he wanted to. But we’ll have to protect ourselves. This sort of thing can’t go on.” “You mean Reddy will have to be arrested?” questioned Allan, with sinking heart. “No,” and the train-master smiled at his anxious face. “I’ll file an affidavit of lunacy against Reddy before the probate judge, and we’ll have him sent to the asylum at Athens. He’ll be well taken care of there, and maybe will get well again much sooner than he would at home. He’s not getting any better here, that’s certain; and he’s caused us a lot of trouble. Besides, he’s only a burden to his wife.” “Oh, she never thinks of that,” said Allan, quickly. “It’s his staying away that hurts her.” “Yes,” agreed Mr. Schofield, “I know. I’ve talked with her. She’s like all the rest of these big-hearted Irish women,—ready to work herself to death for the people she loves. Though,” he added, “that’s a characteristic of nearly all women.” CHAPTER XV. A SHOT FROM BEHIND Mr. Schofield filed his affidavit before the probate judge without delay, but, when the officer of the court went to look for Reddy, he was nowhere to be found. From his wife it was learned that he had not been home for two days, nor was he to be discovered in any of his accustomed haunts around the yards or in the shops, and the quest for him was finally given up in despair. Allan concluded that Reddy had recognized him that morning, as he came out from under the engine which he had tampered with, and knew that he was found out at last; but, whether this was the case, or whether he had got wind of the proceedings against him in some other way, certain it is that Reddy disappeared from Wadsworth, and nothing more was seen of him there for many days.