Miss
Cullen. I have thought about those pictures since then, and have
concluded that when cigar-smoke behaves like that, a man might as
well read his destiny in it, for it can mean only one thing.

After enjoying the combination, I went to No. 218 to have a look
at the son, and found that the heart tonics had benefited him
considerably. On leaving him, I went to the dining-room, where
the rest of the party were still at dinner, to ask that the
invalid have a strong cup of coffee, and after delivering my
request Mr. Cullen asked me to join them in a cigar. This I did
gladly, for a cigar and Miss Cullen's society were even
pleasanter than a cigar and Miss Cullen's pictures, because the
pictures never quite did her justice, and, besides, didn't talk.

Our smoke finished, we went back to the saloon, where the
gentlemen sat down to poker, which Lord Ralles had just learned,
and liked. They did not ask me to take a hand, for which I was
grateful, as the salary of a railroad superintendent would hardly
stand the game they probably played; and I had my compensation
when Miss Cullen also was not asked to join them. She said she
was going to watch the moonlight on the mountains from the
platform, and opened the door to go out, finding for the first
time that No. 97 was the "ender." In her disappointment she
protested against this, and wanted to know the why and wherefore.

"We shall have far less motion, Madge," Mr. Cullen explained,
"and then we sha'n't have the rear-end man in our car at night."

"But I don't mind the motion," urged Miss Cullen, "and the
flagman is only there after we are all in our rooms. Please leave
us the view."

"I prefer the present arrangement, Madge," insisted Mr. Cullen,
in a very positive voice.

I was so sorry for Miss Cullen's disappointment that on impulse I
said, "The platform of 97 is entirely at your service, Miss
Cullen." The moment it was out I realized that I ought not to
have said it, and that I deserved a rebuke for supposing she
would use my car.

Miss Cullen took it better than I hoped for, and was declining
the offer as kindly as my intention had been in making it, when,
much to my astonishment, her father interrupted by saying,--

"By all means, Madge. That relieves us of the discomfort of being
the last car, and yet lets you have the scenery and moonlight."

Miss Cullen looked at her father for a moment as if not believing
what she had heard. Lord Ralles scowled and opened