"The pay car goes through on regular schedule out of Stanley Junction."
"With enough ammunition ahead to settle the hash of any possible meddlers. We'll make the test. Then the other end. A split up at the end of each section, and if the gang get ahead of us on that arrangement, they are cleverer than I thought they were."
All this would have been Greek to a person not acquainted with the facts of the case. The colloquy terminated a whispered confidential talk between Ralph and Bob Adair in the chief dispatcher's office. The road officer seemed to throw the pay car off his mind after a statement that Ralph was one of six persons who knew what was about to happen, namely, the President and superintendent of the road, the assistant superintendent, the paymaster and Adair himself.
"There will be something to keep track of Tuesday night," observed Adair. "You've got your instructions for that occasion."
"Yes, well in mind," said Ralph. "One moment before you go, Mr. Adair. I have told you about the 'pacer' message."
"Yes," nodded the road officer, "and your explanation looks plausible."
"I don't want to judge from appearances. You see, I feel like giving Glen Palmer a show."
"That's fair enough, Fairbanks. I can't help thinking, though, that he or his grandfather have had some dealings with the crowd we are after."
"It is only a theory," persisted Ralph, "but I figure it out that the old man, Glen's grandfather, is some veteran telegrapher. He isn't right in his mind, and perhaps, without Glen knowing it, he was approached secretly by the conspirators. Perhaps they have benefited from his knowledge of telegraphy in tapping the wires."
"You say the boy, too, is an expert operator?"
"From what I learn, yes," answered Ralph. "His grandfather would naturally teach him."
Adair shrugged his shoulders. It was evident he considered circumstances against the Palmers, for he said:
"I don't like their sudden disappearance. I don't fancy, either, what Slump remarked about young Palmer being a jail bird."
"That looks bad enough," admitted Ralph, "but please consider that message on the piece of board thrown through the window of the station."
"Didn't that show that Glen Palmer was trying to get some word to me?"