The agent touched a signal and picked up the end of a tube.
"The head ticket counter," said he. "At once." Then he laid down the tube and continued to his visitors. "He is the man who can supply that sort of information instantly."
The ticket counter was a heavy-set young man, in spectacles and with his hair much rumpled. He peered curiously at the strangers.
"Does any conductor on our lines use a punch which cuts out a keystone?" inquired the General Passenger Agent.
"Yes, Purvis," replied the heavy young man. "Runs the Hammondsville local."
"I am obliged to you both," said Ashton-Kirk. "This little hint may be immensely valuable to me. And now," to the agent, "if I could have a moment with Conductor Purvis, I would be more grateful to you than ever."
"His train is out in the shed now," said the ticket counter, looking at his watch. "Leaves in eight minutes."
"I'm sorry that I can't have him up here for you," said the passenger agent. "Just now that is impossible. But," inquiringly, "couldn't you speak to him down on the platform?"
He and Pendleton arose; the little man with the large white whiskers was thanked once more, as was the heavy young man with the rumpled hair.
"You'll find the Hammondsville train at Gate E," the latter informed them.
Then the two shot down to the platform level and made their way toward Gate E.
The Hammondsville local was taking on its passengers. It was a sooty train, made up of three coaches and a combination baggage and smoking car. The gateman pointed out its conductor, inside, and the two approached him.
He was a spare, elderly man with a wrinkled, shrewd face, and a short, pointed manner of speech.
"Oh, the General Passenger Agent sent you?" said he, examining them. "All right. What's wanted?"
"Your train stops at a station called Cordova, does it not?"
"It stops at every station on the run. Cordova's one of them."
"There is an institution at Cordova, I believe?"
"Of course some of the people from there ride in and out with you at times."
"I don't get many of the youngsters. But the folks that run the place often come to the city."
"You are acquainted with them, of course. I mean in the way that local conductors come to be acquainted with their regular riders."