The End of the Line

Beth and Patrick sat together in first-class seats near the front of the car. She told Patrick everything that had happened to her. And he told her about the robbery in the first-class car.

Jesse James had stolen everything valuable in the express car. So Agent Wilson had nothing to guard. Mr. Alford let Agent Wilson stay in the first-class section too.

Beth whispered to Patrick, “Is Agent Wilson watching me?”

Patrick looked over his shoulder for a moment. “Yes,” he whispered. “Maybe he thinks you’re going to jump out the window.”

The train whistled three times. The bell rang. The Iron Mountain Express number 7 moved away from the Gad’s Hill station.

Mr. Alford checked his pocket watch. Then he came to punch their tickets. Beth and Patrick each handed him their tickets.

“Remember the paper Jesse James gave you?” Patrick asked the conductor.

Mr. Alford nodded.

“What did it say?” Patrick asked.

Mr. Alford chuckled. “It was a summary of the robbery for the newspapers.”

“A press release?” Beth asked.

“Yes,” Mr. Alford said. “I can’t show it to you. It’s evidence now. But the headline was ‘The Most Daring Robbery on Record.’”

Beth giggled. She said, “I think it should have said, ‘Daring Orphan Saves Diamonds.’”

Mr. Alford leaned forward. He said in hushed tones, “Mrs. Scott is going to pay for Leonard to go to boarding school.”

“But he needs parents,” Beth said, “not just an education.”

Mr. Alford patted Beth on the shoulder. “That’s what Miss Cookson said too. Reverend Hagerty plans to look for homes for all the orphans. He hopes to find the right home for Leonard. Some Christian couple will have a great son.”

“If his new parents can keep him out of trouble,” Patrick added. He motioned with his head.

Beth looked in that direction.

Reverend Hagerty was asleep. His head was tilted back in the seat. His chest rose and fell with each snore.

Leonard stood next to him. He was braiding the reverend’s beard!

The train finally stopped at Little Rock, Arkansas. It was dawn.

Patrick looked out the window. He nudged Beth.

“Is that Mr. Pinkerton?” he asked.

A man was on the platform. He had a white shirt on. And he was scowling.

“Yes,” Beth said. “That’s the famous detective.”

Mr. Alford came through the first-class section.

“Everyone off the train,” the conductor said. “This is the end of the line.”

Miss Cookson gathered all the orphans on the train platform. Patrick and Beth waited with the group.

Patrick watched as Mr. Pinkerton and Agent Wilson spoke.

Patrick asked Beth, “What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Us,” Beth said. “They’re coming our way.”

The detective and the agent moved toward the orphans. But the men didn’t talk to the cousins. Mr. Pinkerton went straight to Miss Cookson.

Whatever the detective said made Miss Cookson smile. She rushed to Patrick and Beth.

“This is glorious news!” she said. “Detective Pinkerton has found your guardian.”

Patrick glanced at Beth. She was pale. Her hands were shaking.

“Guardian?” Patrick said.

“Yes!” Miss Cookson said. “A man named Eugene. I’m surprised you didn’t tell me about him.”

Miss Cookson kissed Beth on the cheeks. “Farewell, my dear,” she said. “Remember to be on time.”

Miss Cookson took Patrick’s hand and leaned in close. She whispered in his ear, “I knew you didn’t take the apple.”

The kind woman bid farewell again. Then she gathered the orphans and herded them off the train platform.

Patrick closed his eyes. He prayed a little prayer. He asked God to find good homes for the children.

Patrick opened his eyes. Mr. Pinkerton and Agent Wilson were standing in front of him.

Agent Wilson said, “We found this on the floor of the sleeper car.” He held up an envelope. “We need to go to the courthouse so you can explain a few things.”

It was Eugene’s letter with the name Patrick clearly written on it.

We’re doomed, Patrick thought.