will still be as far away as it is now," was Chris's blunt, picturesque way of putting it.
Dire were the threats made against the person of Steven Carter if he were ever again caught in the neighborhood.
Having consumed an hour or more in explaining to her grandfather's willing but baffled comrades what had happened, Jane started for home, wondering what her next move was to be. She was too upset to remain idle. She was worried about the car and now about Speedy. She must help him in some way. She remembered what Speedy's plans had been for the day, plans which had now been direly knocked into bits. He had intended to make a trip or two in the car and then visit the offices of the Inter-City Company to discover, if possible, why there was this sudden interest in putting the Crosstown Railways out of business.
Well, Jane thought, no trip could be made in the car. But possibly she could substitute for the absent Speedy and secure the desired information from the Inter-City people. At any rate it would give her something with which to occupy her time until she heard from Speedy. With Pop away and herself practically living at the Ryans, there was little to do around the Dillon house. She was too nervous to sit still. It was intolerable to think of sitting there, in suspense, alone.
She walked over to the subway, caught a downtown express and in fifteen minutes walked into the outer offices of the Inter-City Railways Company.
A very bored-looking freckle-faced boy was sit-