The Tickets

Patrick moved first. He closed the sliding door.

“We win! Jones is gone!” Willie said. “Hurrah!”

The flowered carpetbag fell to the floor. Sally slowly climbed out of her hideaway.

“You don’t look well,” Patrick said. He went to help Sally down. He clasped her hand in his as she stepped over the luggage. Patrick felt her small hand trembling.

Beth hurried to Sally’s side. She wrapped Mrs. Lincoln’s blue cloak around Sally.

“Poor girl,” Beth said. “You must have been so scared when you heard Jones’s whip snap. I didn’t have time to tell you about the plan.”

“Or me,” Patrick said. “At first I had no idea why you put the trunk on the depot platform.”

“Sorry,” Beth said. “I’m glad Willie figured it out and helped me.”

“I thought I was caught,” Sally said. She wiped tears from her cheeks. “I thought I had to go back.”

Beth put her arm around Sally’s shoulders.

“You’re safe now,” Patrick said. That only made Sally begin to sob.

“I won’t . . . be . . . safe . . .” she said between breaths, “until . . . I’m . . . in . . . Canada.”

Beth squeezed Sally’s shoulders in a gentle hug. Sally leaned into her, and they both cried.

Patrick backed away. Crying girls made him uncomfortable.

Willie followed him.

Patrick whispered, “We have a new conductor now. He’s going to rearrange the luggage.”

Willie said, “I think we should take Sally to Mrs. Lincoln. She’ll make sure Sally is safe.”

Patrick said, “Will Sally need a ticket when the new conductor comes aboard?” He reached inside his pocket and fingered the single ticket. “I have an extra, but it’s for a ferry in Buffalo.”

“A ticket won’t matter if she’s with my mother,” Willie said. Then he called to the girls, “Wipe your tears. It’s time to go.”

Patrick whistled. He said to Willie, “You are responsible.”

Willie smiled and then said, “Don’t tell Wood. He’d make me help. I’d rather do pranks, because they make Mr. Lincoln smile.” He gave Patrick a playful punch in the arm.

“We’re ready,” Beth said. The girls were holding hands.

Patrick said, “People have seen Jones’s poster. We have to try to keep Sally’s face hidden.”

Beth released Sally’s hand and pulled up her own hood. Then she helped Sally pull the blue hood over her head. It was big enough to cover most of her face.

Patrick led the way out of the baggage car. They followed him across the connecting platform. They all entered the smoking car. He was for once glad of the smoky haze. It would make Sally’s face even harder to see.

Sally followed Patrick down the center aisle, keeping her head low. Beth and Willie were not far behind.

Patrick glanced around the car. No one paid attention to them except the red-haired, bearded man. He stood near the stove in the center of the train car.

As Patrick passed, the red-haired man smiled. He motioned for the children to stop.

Patrick slowed and said, “We’re in a hurry.”

“This will take just a moment,” the man said politely. “I’m Hal Ross from the Cincinnati Daily Press. I’d like to meet Mr. Lincoln. Perhaps you can help me.”

Patrick relaxed a little. The reporter probably just wanted news about President-elect Lincoln.

Ross took out a small pad of paper from his pocket. “Let’s start with the details. The girl in the green is Tad Lincoln’s nursemaid,” Ross said. “But who are the rest of you?” He pointed to Sally with his pencil. “Especially the girl in blue.”

Patrick heard Sally inhale quickly. She kept her head lowered so the hood hid her face.

Suddenly Willie said to Ross, “Want to meet Mr. Lincoln?”

The reporter moved toward Willie. Ross’s face wore an eager grin. “Can you get me in to see Mr. Lincoln?” he asked.

Willie put one foot forward and raised his arms. He waved his palms. “Ta-dah! I’m Mr. Lincoln!” he said. “William Wallace Lincoln, that is!”

Ross wasn’t watching Sally anymore. Patrick smiled at Willie’s joke. For once, Willie’s silliness was helpful. Patrick guided Sally away from Ross and toward the door.

Just then an unfamiliar man entered the smoking car. He wore a three-piece blue suit and a conductor’s hat. He was pushing Mrs. Lincoln’s second trunk with a little cart.

“I’m Conductor Morehead, representing the Buffalo and Erie Railroad Company,” he shouted. “Tickets out, please!”

Beth was right behind Sally and Patrick. She heard the conductor’s words, and her heart fluttered. Sally doesn’t have a ticket. He’ll put her off the train.

Beth quickly stepped toward Conductor Morehead to distract him from Sally. She reached into her cloak pocket and held out her ticket. “I’m punched all the way to Buffalo,” she said.

The new conductor took Beth’s ticket and inspected it. He punched the ticket again and handed it back to her. He smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Then Conductor Morehead stepped farther into the car, pushing the cart away from the door. He approached Ross. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I need to see your ticket.”

Ross shook his notepad. His ticket dropped out, and he handed it to the conductor. The conductor punched the ticket and returned it.

Patrick was next. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a ticket.

“This one is for the Black Rock Ferry,” said Morehead.

“Oh?” Ross said. “Are you going to Canada on the ferry?” He held the pencil over the notepad. “And is Mr. William Lincoln going with you?”

Beth looked to Willie to see how he would answer. But the boy was gone. And so was Sally!