rather surprised at his conduct, stood staring at him, "well, why
don't you look in my hip pocket. Maybe I've got a boat concealed
there."

"I didn't mean to go at you with such a rush," apologized Jerry. "But
you see--"

"That's all right," interrupted the freight agent. "Can I put my hands
down now? The blood's all runnin' out of 'em, an' they feel as if they
was goin' to sleep. That'll never do, as I've got a lot of way-bills
to make out," and he lowered his arms.

"Do you know anything about this?" asked Jerry, handing Mr. Hitter the
telegram.

"What's that? The Dartaway smashed!" the agent exclaimed, reading the
message. "Come now, that's too bad! How did it happen?"

The boys explained how they had shipped the craft north.

"Of course the accident didn't happen on the line of railroad I am
agent for," said Mr. Hitter, after reading the telegram again. "If it
had, we'd be responsible."

"What can we do?" asked Bob. "We want to get damages."

"An' I guess you're entitled to 'em," replied the agent. "Come on
inside, and I'll tell you what to do. You'll have to make a claim,
submit affidavits, go before a notary public and a whole lot of
rig-ma-role, but I guess, in the end you'll get damages. They can't