Mysterious Signal Read Online Free PDF Page A

trick me into making a fool of myself. Say all you like, but I find it hard to believe that an escaped jailbird is on this train.”
    “Those men are blocking the aisle.” Caleb was angry now. “They aren’t even letting the passengers walk through the car. They’re a nuisance to the women and children on board. They shouldn’t be allowed on this train!”
    “And I am the conductor, young man! I am running thesecars and taking care of passengers. Perhaps the three of you are the ones who should be thrown off this train.”
    The conductor stomped off, then looked back. “Young whippersnappers! I’m not going to fall for a trick like yours!”
    When the conductor left them, the railroad car seemed strangely silent. Feeling both scared and discouraged, Libby stared out the window. The train was passing through prairie that stretched for miles around them. Wherever there had been enough water, prairie grass as tall as Libby waved in the wind. Between the long stems grew blue and white flowers with now and then a scattering of red. Even now, in the morning, heat seemed to rise from the ground in waves.
    Looking at the flowers, Libby breathed deep and tried to put away her anger at the conductor’s refusal to help. Only then did she remember Allan Pinkerton. Besides being an excellent detective hired by railroad companies to protect passengers from crime, Mr. Pinkerton played an active part in the Underground Railroad. Reaching into a pocket of her dress, Libby pulled out his letter. Quickly she read the short note, then showed it to Caleb and Peter:
    I need to go on, but if you travel through the Junction I can help you. Before I was a detective I was a cooper—a barrel maker. In the neigboring city of Bloomington, I have a friend named Ryan O’Malley who has the tools I need. I’ll stop there and make a barrel big enough for your largest freight. Ryan also has barrelsfor smaller freight. If you want extra barrels for the Christina, ask my friend for whatever you need
.
    Caleb’s pleased grin lit his blue eyes. “Barrels are just
exactly
what we need! I was wondering how to hide Jordan and his father. Mr. Pinkerton probably knew they needed to pass through the Junction. We’re even headed in the right direction!”
    A moment later Caleb said, “We just have one more thing we need to figure out. We’ve got to do something to protect Peter. If Dexter sees him …” Pointing to Peter, Caleb gave Dexter’s sign name, then their secret sign for
Danger!
    But Peter straightened, sitting tall as if not wanting anyone to fight his battles for him. “I’ll make sure Dexter doesn’t see me. I’ve done that before.”
    Again Caleb gave the sign for Dexter, then pointed to himself. Using a combination of signs and writing, Caleb explained. “I can recognize Dexter, but he doesn’t know me.”
    With Libby it was different. “Dexter knows you,” Caleb said. “He knows you stopped him from getting what he wanted.”
    “Caleb’s right, Libby,” Peter said. “You stopped Dexter twice—once with Jordan, once with me. He knows you, and he’ll never forget your red hair.”
    Uneasy now, Libby pulled a long strand forward. The light through the window brought out the auburn color. As always, the deep red and gold and the length of her hair filled Libby with pride.
    “It’s your red hair that’s the problem,” Caleb said.
    Libby’s stomach tightened. She didn’t like the way this conversation was going. More than once she’d heard Caleb makeplans to rescue someone. When Caleb planned something, he meant to see it through, and as far as Libby knew, he always did. Deep inside, Libby had a feeling that she didn’t want to know what Caleb was about to say.
    Now he pointed at Peter. Then Caleb looked Libby straight in the eyes. When he was sure he had her attention, he began writing on the slate so that Peter would understand. “Something bothers me, Libby. Even if Peter manages to hide, you will give him