He had to deal with crowds, and to keep a sharp eye to see that no one defrauded the railway company by travelling without paying the fare.
A train was due at the next moment on the other side of the platform, and his services were urgently required at the opposite exit.
"Haven't you got your tickets ?" he demanded curtly.

"Then I must close the gate.

No one's allowed on the platform without tickets." The advancing train whistled as it ran through the cutting, and, disregarding the girls' remonstrances, the official locked the barrier.
He bolted across the line in front of the engine, just in time to take his place at the other gateway before the rush of passengers began, and probably never gave another thought to the three whom he had just excluded.

Left shut out on the top of the station steps, the unlucky trio ruefully reviewed the situation.
"What _are_ we to do ?" demanded Ingred breathlessly.
"Goodness only knows!" sighed Verity.
"We're in a very awkward fix!" admitted Beatrice.
They were much too far from Grovebury to make walking possible.
"I wonder Miss Giles didn't miss us!" fretted Verity, trying to throw the blame on somebody.
"It isn't her fault--fair play to her!" urged Beatrice.

"She wasn't looking after us officially to-day, you know.