Ahead of the Show; Or, The Adventures of Al Allston, Advance Agent

by Fred Thorpe

  CHAPTER XXV.

  ON THE TRACK.

  "But why," questioned Al, "should Miss Hollingsworth lend herself tosuch a scheme?"

  "For several reasons," Mr. Wattles replied. "In the first place, she isa woman who likes mischief for its own sake--there are such people, youknow. Then, she is under the influence of Farley; that is a fact that Ihave known for a long time. That man can make her do almost anything hewishes."

  "Is she in love with him?"

  "Sometimes I have thought so, and sometimes I have thought she almosthated him. He seems to exercise a sort of hypnotic influence over her;that is the only way in which I can explain it."

  "If she is in love with him," suggested Al, "it is rather strange, isn'tit, that she should help him to abduct a rival?"

  "Not when you consider everything. Remember that the woman has a grudgeagainst you. You haven't forgotten that episode at the Boomville OperaHouse, have you? You were the indirect means of throwing her out of anengagement."

  "That is so."

  "You can depend upon it," went on the manager, "that the woman in thecase--and in the carriage--was Miss Olga Hollingsworth. But we mustn'tstand talking here any longer."

  Mr. Wattles had observed that the stableman was listening to thedialogue with considerable interest.

  "Where did the couple say they were going?" he added.

  "They said," was the reply, "that they wanted to catch a train, but thatthey had to make a call first."

  "Did they say where they were going to call?"

  "They did not."

  "Did they say what train they wanted to catch?"

  "No, sir."

  "Where is the driver that took them out? Has he returned yet?"

  "He came back long ago, and has gone home."

  "Did he say where he took them?" questioned Al.

  "No, sir, he said nothing about the matter; all we were talking aboutwas the theater fire."

  "Well," said Mr. Wattles, with a wink at Al, "we are much obliged foryour information. Good-night."

  And he took the boy's arm and walked him rather unceremoniously out ofthe place.

  "I wanted to ask a few more questions," said Al, when they were outside.

  "It wouldn't have done any good, my boy. The man told us all he knewabout the case."

  "I'm not so sure about that," demurred Al. "It seems rather queer to methat the driver should say nothing at all about such a peculiar casewhen he got back to the stable. According to the report of the stagehand he must have been posted about Farley's intention. He was really aparty to the crime."

  "Exactly; and that, of course, is just the reason he said nothing whenhe got back. But we can find out all that later on. Now, in my opinion,they--Farley, Hollingsworth and their victim--did really take a train.The question now is, what train?"

  "Perhaps we can learn that at the railway station."

  "Just what I was going to say. We will go to the station now and findout what trains leave at about the time that our friends would have beenlikely to reach the place."

  "Rockton is not a very big place; there are not many trains a day."

  "No; we shan't have any trouble in getting the information we want."

  They found the station agent at the depot. He was a small, shriveled-upold man, and he glared suspiciously at them when they questioned him.

  It took them some minutes to elicit the information that two trains leftthe station at nine-ten--about the hour that the carriage would havereached the place if it had gone there direct from the theater.

  "And where do these two trains go?" asked Mr. Wattles.

  "One goes to New York."

  "And the other?"

  "The other is the Boston express."

  The manager then described the occupants of the carriage.

  "I remember them; what of it?" said the station agent, crustily.

  "What do you remember about them?"

  "I remember that one of the ladies--the smaller one--seemed to be sick;at any rate, she had to be helped into the waiting room, where they allthree stayed till the train arrived."

  "Which of the two trains did they take?" cried Al.

  "That I don't know."

  "You don't know?"

  "That's what I said. Do you suppose I keep tabs on everyone that comesinto this place? Hardly."

  "The New York train and the Boston train were here at the same time?"

  "Yes."

  "And they might have taken either?"

  "They might."

  "It is of a good deal of importance to us," said Al, "to learn which ofthose two trains they took."

  "I can't help that," was the reply. "I'm no clairvoyant orfortune-teller."

  "Isn't there some one about the station who could give us someinformation?"

  "I don't think there is. The ticket-seller that they bought theirtickets from might tell you something, but he's off now; there isanother man in his place."

  Al and Mr. Wattles stared at each other in perplexity.

  Just then a hang-dog looking young fellow of about Al's age cameslouching up.

  "Here, Smith," called out the station agent, "these folks want someinformation; perhaps you can give it to 'em. Tell this chap what youwant, gents, and maybe he can help you out."

  Al explained the situation to the fellow, who said, readily enough:

  "Oh, yes; I remember that party."

  "And which of the two trains did they take?"

  "The one goin' to Boston."

  "At last," exclaimed Mr. Wattles, "we have a little information. Now,then, my boy, what shall we do?"

  "I shall follow them," replied Al, promptly.

  "I wish I could go with you, but----"

  "I know it would be impossible, Mr. Wattles; and probably I shall getalong just as well alone."

  "Maybe; but I'd like to be with you to witness the discomfiture of thatarch-villain. Well, come along and get your ticket for Boston."

  They were now walking in the direction of the ticket office.

  "No," said Al, "I shall get a ticket for New York."

  "Eh?"

  The boy repeated the statement.

  "But that fellow said they went to Boston; you must have misunderstoodhim."

  "Oh, no, I didn't."

  "He certainly said Boston."

  "I know he did."

  "And yet you are going to get a ticket for New York?"

  "I am."

  "I don't understand you."

  "I'll explain. You didn't see the wink he gave the station agent when hetold us the Boston train yarn, did you?"

  "No."

  "I did."

  "You think he was lying to us?"

  "I am sure of it. Farley probably paid him to put us off the track."

  "Allston, you are a smart young fellow, but there is such a thing asbeing too smart. It may be that by going to New York you will losethem."

  "I don't think so, Mr. Wattles; I am sure I am right. At any rate, Iwill take the chances."

  Twenty minutes later Al was on his way to the metropolis.