I stumbled out to get the air. The minute I glanced over at
the express office I guessed it all out. It's a burglary, right and
proper, Stirling, and the fellows who did it knew I was on the watch,
got into the switch shanty, fixed the coffee and put me to sleep."
Bart rapidly turned over in his mind all that the watchman had
disclosed.
"See here," he said promptly, "how many keys are there to the switch
shanty?"
"Only one that I know anything of," responded McCarthy. "There can't be
many, or the old switchman wouldn't have to lend me his key."
"Lem Wacker subbed for him once, didn't he?" inquired Bart pointedly.
"Yes, for a day or two--say! you don't think--" began the watchman, with
a start of suspicion.
"I'm not thinking anything positive," interrupted Bart--"I am only
seeking information. When Wacker subbed for the old switchman, did he
have a special key?"
"N--no," answered the watchman hesitatingly, "for I remember Wacker
loaned me the old switchman's key the first night. Hold on, though!"
cried McCarthy with a spurt of memory, "it comes back to me clear now.
The next night he told me to keep the key till the old switchman came
back on duty--so he must have had an extra one of his own.
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