“Oh, reporters!” cried Allan, suddenly understanding. “I can’t give you anything now, boys; I’ve got to catch a train. I’ll give you the whole story as soon as I get back.” “When will that be?” “Sometime this afternoon.” “But, look here,” began one of the men desperately; but Allan tore his way through and sprang down the steps two at a time. At the foot, another man was waiting for him, and Allan recognized the special delegate. “See here, Mr. West,” he began, excitedly, “I understand the Brotherhood’s accused of having a hand in this thing, and I just want to say to you that it didn’t—” “All right,” said Allan, and swung himself on to the rear platform of the train. “I’ll be back this afternoon. Drop in and talk it over.” “I will. There isn’t a bit of truth in the—” But the delegate’s voice was drowned by the rumble of the train as it started. Allan, entering the coach, found Stanley awaiting him. They dropped into a seat together. “Well, did they get you?” asked the detective, grinning. “I managed to break away. But I nearly missed the train. Then that fellow in charge of the strike held me up to say the Brotherhood hadn’t anything to do with this thing.” “Oh, no,” said Stanley, “of course the Brotherhood didn’t. But that isn’t saying that none of its members did.” The conductor came up at that moment and stopped for a moment’s chat. “We want to drop off about a mile and a half this side of Schooley’s,” said Allan. “I’ll show you the place.” “All right. Going out to look over the ground?” “Yes; and to solve the riddle if we can. By the way, I’m glad to see the conductors and brakemen still at work. I hope you’re going to stick.” “Well,” answered the other, “we had a meeting last night, but of course I can’t tell you what happened there. I can say this, though—you don’t need to lose any sleep over it yet awhile.” “That’s good,” said Allan, his cheeks flushing with pleasure. “Here we are!” he added, as he glanced out the window. The conductor pulled the signal cord sharply and Allan and Stanley dropped off as the train’s speed slackened. Then the conductor gave the go-ahead signal, and the train sped eastward on its way. They had been carried a little past the place where the derelict had been discovered. Allan led the way back, pointed out the spot, as nearly as he could—very nearly, however, for he found the fusee which the fireman had burnt—and then sat down on the bank beside the roadway, while Stanley prowled up and down like some sort of wild beast. His great hooked nose seemed to grow longer and more hooked, and his little close-set eyes sparkled with a strange brilliancy. For Stanley was really a man of considerable ability and had been successful in clearing up more than one abstruse problem. Allan watched him with a good deal of curiosity, and the thought came to him that he would not care to have this fellow on his trail.