Page:O'Higgins--The Adventures of Detective Barney.djvu/280

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264
DETECTIVE BARNEY

was not too ignorant to know that he could get through the gates by paying his fare on the ferry—three cents—which he took from his newspaper pennies in his coat-pocket. He was puzzled to know how to discover for what destination he should buy a ticket; for if the man was traveling on a pass he could get off or on the train wherever he pleased, with no questions asked.

A ferry boat was waiting in its slip, and the man entered the woman’s saloon while Barney went in among the smokers. He had had enough experience in tailing to know that he ought not to be visible to his subject when he could cover him from ambush; and he walked confidently to the forward end of the boat, to wait there until his man should come out to disembark. He was worried about his railroad ticket. He foresaw that without one he would not be able to pass the gates in the railroad station; and he might not have time to run back to buy a ticket after he had seen what train he ought to take.