the latter suggested that
they go to the Junction Hotel for dinner.

"Might as well eat, Sam," he said, kindly "It won't help matters any to
go hungry."

"I don't care much about eating, Songbird," was the answer. "But I'll
go along and take a bite. I wish I knew just where Tom had gone. I
might telegraph ahead for him."

"Well, let us hope that conductor can tell you something."

With nothing to do but to wait, the boys took their time over the
midday meal, and while doing this they had the team fed. Then they
sauntered down to the depot to await the arrival of the man they wanted
to interview. Presently the train came in and the depot master pointed
out the conductor.

"Excuse me, but are you Mr. Dunkirt?" asked Sam.

"That's my handle," was the prompt reply.

"I am looking for the young man who jumped on your train just as it was
leaving here yesterday."

"Ha! I thought somebody might be after that fellow!" exclaimed the
conductor, quickly.

In a few words Sam explained as much of the situation as seemed
necessary, the conductor listening with interest. He nodded his head
several times.

"I thought he was a little bit off in his upper story," he said. "He
talked rather wildly of going far away to get gold nuggets. He paid
his fare to Chicago and that's as far as I carried him."

"What did he pay with?" asked Sam.

"He gave me a ten-dollar gold piece. He had quite a lot of gold with
him."

"Did he say where he was going from Chicago?"

"Oh, yes, he had it all mapped out. He was going to St. Paul first and
then straight west to Seattle. From there he was going to Alaska."

"Alaska!" cried Sam and Songbird, in a breath.

"That is what he said."

"What part of Alaska?" asked Sam, faintly.

"He didn't tell me and I didn't ask him. I rather thought he was
kidding me, he acted so queer-like when he talked."

After this the conductor told all he could remember about Tom. He said
that the youth had left the train at Chicago in a large crowd and that
was the last he had seen of the youth.

"I'll send another telegram to Dick," said Sam to his chum.

"Why not telephone to Ashton first?" suggested the other. "There may
be a telegram for you there."

"I'll do it," said Sam, and got the station master at Ashton on the
wire as soon as possible.

"Yes, a telegram came in for you an hour ago," was the answer, over the
telephone wire. "I sent it up to Brill."

"Will you have the operat