red fled from the shop, and hurried
with all possible speed in the direction of the railway station. They
could see the train coming along the top of the embankment, and it had
drawn up at the platform before they reached the passenger entrance.
They were not the only late comers. It was Saturday, and a crowd of work
people from various factories near were returning to Grovebury.

In company with a very mixed and motley crew they pushed their way up
the long flight of steps. A collector stood at the top, and just as they
were nearing their goal, he slammed the gate and refused further
admission to the platform. They could hear the whistle, and the general
bumping of chains that betokened the starting of the carriages. They
were exactly half a minute too late! When the train was well out of the
station, the collector once more opened his barrier, and the crowd
surged on. The three girls, who disliked pushing among a rough assembly,
stood on one side to let the people pass by. There was no hurry now, and
no object to be gained by forcing their way ahead. Last of all,
therefore, they presented themselves at the gate.

"Tickets, please!" repeated the collector automatically.

All three felt in their pockets, but felt in vain. Return tickets and
purses were alike missing, and even penknives and handkerchiefs had
vanished, Ingred's pocket, indeed, was neatly turned inside out. Here
was a dilemma! They had evidently been robbed on the stairs by a
professional thief, who had appropriated all their portable belongings.
In utter consternation they looked at one another.

"We've lost our tickets!" faltered Beatrice.

"They've been stolen!" added Ingred.

"Do please let us through!" entreated Verity.

In ordinary circumstanced the collector would no doubt have listened to
the girl's story, and taken them to interview the station-master, but
to-day he had to do double duty, and could scarcely cope with the extra
work. He had to deal with crowds, and to keep a sharp eye to see that no
one defrauded the railway company by travelling without paying the fare.
A train was due at the next moment on the other side of the platform,
and his services were urgently required at the opposite exit.

"Haven't you got your tickets?" he demanded curtly. "Then I must close
the gate. No one's allowed on the platform without tickets."

The advancing train whistled as it ran through the cutting, and,
disregarding the girls' remonstrances, the o