"Nat Poole isn't back yet." "Who told you ?" "Tom Marvin.

He called this morning to see Nat about something.

Nat had sent a telegram home from a place called Halock, stating he had been carried off on a freight train." "Humph! then he went further than we supposed he would," mused Phil.
"Where is Halock ?" Nobody knew, and they consulted a time-table taken from a rack in the car.
"It's a flag-station not far from Buffalo," announced Roger.

"Say, he certainly was carried some distance!" "What if he didn't have any money to get home with ?" asked Laura.
"Maybe he telegraphed for some," said Phil.
"He could pawn his watch--he always wears one," added Ben.

"But it is queer that he didn't get off at Jack's Junction." "Perhaps he liked to ride--after he once got used to it," returned the senator's son.
On and on went the train, stopping at several towns of more or less importance.