Nancy had guessed correctly. A moment later the stranger turned in at the station, disappearing inside the building.
“It will be simple to find out where he’s going,” Nancy told herself. “I’ll just saunter inside the station myself and wait until he buys his ticket.”
However, her plans were not destined to be carried into effect, for at that moment a long, piercing whistle reached her ears. The people standing on the platform began to gather up their packages and baggage, and the stranger, who had just entered the station, came hurrying out. Obviously, he had not had sufficient time to purchase a ticket.
Nancy began to run. She reached the tracks almost breathless, and dashed across to the platform only an instant before the interurban cars thundered into the station.
“All aboard,” the conductor shouted.
The stranger was one of the first to enter the coach.
“Oh, I’d give a nickle to know where he’s going,” Nancy thought desperately. “I know he didn’t have time to buy a ticket.”
“All aboard,” the conductor called again, glancing inquiringly toward her.
“I feel it in my bones he’s some relation to Mary Mason. There wouldn’t be more than one Mason family in Dockville,” Nancy went on to herself. “If I let him get away I may have passed up a valuable clue.”
She came to with a start as she saw that the train was slowly moving out of the station. Forced to a sudden decision, she ran forward and impulsively swung herself upon the last coach. The deed done, she considered her action with a little misgiving.