n him when they parted.

Reaching town, he found himself with an hour to spare. He got his bag
from the station and bought a ticket. There was only one upper
available, said the agent with the usual optimistic suggestion of ticket
agents that something better might be found when the train came in. He
spent half an hour at a hotel cleaning up and changing to the clothing
he had discarded at Cleveland.

... Grubbs carried Putney's luggage across the platform with dogged
stride, passing Archie without a sign of recognition. He was followed by
a tall man in a gray suit whose left arm was supported by a sling.
Grubbs took hasty leave and the two travelers were left alone.

"A warm night," Congdon remarked.

Archie agreed to this, a trifle huskily. Congdon was not a bad looking
fellow; his tone and manner, and his face, as revealed by the platform
lights, encouraged the belief that he was a gentleman.

"No red caps here, I suppose," said Congdon with a glance toward the
station.

"I fancy not," Archie replied. "I'll be glad to help you with your
bags."

"Oh, thank you! I have a game shoulder,--nearly well now, but it gives
me a twinge occasionally. The train's on time, I believe."

A blast from the locomotive and a humming of the rails woke the station
to life. Archie grabbed the larger of Congdon's bags and led the way
toward a voice bawling "Chicago sleeper." Congdon showed his ticket for
lower three and climbed in; Archie remaining behind to negotiate for
space.

"Nothing left but uppers; you can take upper three."

He found Congdon in the aisle disposing of his effects.

"I've got the upper half of the section," said Archie, "But I promise
not to be a nuisance to you."

"That will be all right. I asked for a stateroom but you can never get
what you want at these way stations. I'm going to smoke for a while."

Archie threw his suitcase into the upper berth and clung to the
curtains as the train started with a jerk. Here was a situation so
utterly confounding that his spirit sank under the weight of it. He was
not only traveling with a man he had shot; he was obliged to sleep over
him. The propinquity made it possible to finish the business begun at
Bailey Harbor and be done with him. He felt the perspiration trickling
down his cheeks. The possibilities of the next few hours were hideous;
what if he were unable to resist an impulse to give Putney Congdon his
quietus; what if--

He staggered toward the smok