ccasion, related the history of it to Gertie, who of course
told Loo. She naturally mentioned it to her lover, Will Garvie, and he
conveyed the information to John Marrot. Thus far, but no further, the
thing went, for John felt that there might be danger in spreading the
matter, and laid a strict injunction on all who knew of it to keep
silence for a time.

While at the station the day following, just after having brought in the
"Flying Dutchman," he was accosted by the superintendent of police, who
chanced to be lounging there with, apparently, nothing to do. Never was
there a man who was more frequently called on to belie his true
character. It was a part of Mr Sharp's duty to look lazy at times, and
even stupid, so as to throw suspicious men off their guard.

"A fine day, John," he said, lounging up to the engine where John was
leaning on the rail, contemplating the departure of the passengers whose
lives had been in his hands for the last hour and a half, while Will
Garvie was oiling some of the joints of the iron horse.

John admitted that it was a fine day, and asked what was the noos.

"Nothing particular doing just now," said Mr Sharp. "You've heard, I
suppose, of the mad fellow who caused such a confusion among Miss
Tipps's Sunday-school children last night?"

"Oh yes, I heard o' that."

"And did you hear that he turns out to be the man who jumped out of your
train on the day of the attempted robbery?"

"Yes, I've heard o' that too. They haven't got him yet, I believe?"

"No, not yet; but I think we shall have him soon," said Mr Sharp with a
knowing glance; "I've heard rumours that lead me to think it would not
be very surprising if we were to see him hanging about this station
to-day or to-morrow. I've got a sort of decoy-duck to attract him,"
continued Mr Sharp, chuckling, "in the shape of a retired East India
doctor, who agrees to hang about on the condition that we keep a sharp
eye on him and guard him well from any sudden attack."

"You don't mean _that_?" said the engine-driver in an earnest undertone.

Instead of replying, the superintendent suddenly left him and sauntered
leisurely along the platform, with his eyes cast down and softly humming
a popular air.

The act was so brusque and unlike Mr Sharp's naturally polite character
that John knew at once, as he said, that "something was up," and looked
earnestly along the platform, where he saw Thomson himself walking
smartly about as i