asleep for a little
while, otherwise--well, he may oversleep himself." She would have passed
on, but he stayed her. "Where is it?" he demanded, with a meaning
glance.

She touched her jacket pocket, and he released his hold on her arm.

The shuffle and scuffle of the feet of hungry travellers who were piling
into the dining-room had disturbed them. Nora passed on to the rear,
Buck out to sit down and dine with the passengers, who always had a
shade the best of the bill.

From his favorite seat, facing the audience, he watched the trainmen
tumbling into the alcove off the west wing, in one corner of which a
couple of Pullman porters in blue and gold sat at a small table, feeding
with their forks and behaving better than some of their white comrades
behaved.

* * * * *

Cassidy came in a moment later, sat down, and looked over to see if his
rival was in his accustomed place. The big messenger looked steadily at
the other man, who had never guessed the messenger's secret, and the
other man looked down.

Already his supper, steaming hot, stood before him, while the table-girl
danced attendance for the tip she was always sure of at the finish. She
studied his tastes and knew his wants, from rare roast down to the
small, black coffee with which he invariably concluded his meal.

When Buck looked up again he saw Nora approach the table, smile at
Cassidy, and put a cup of coffee down by his plate.

The trainmen were soon through with their supper, being notoriously
rapid feeders,--which disastrous habit they acquire while on freight,
when they are expected to eat dinner and do an hour's switching in
twenty minutes.

Unusually early for him, Buck passed out. Nora purposely avoided him,
but watched him from the unlighted little private office. She saw him
light a cigar and stroll down the long platform. At the rear of the last
Pullman he threw his cigar away and crossed quickly to the shadow side
of the train. She saw him pass along, for there were no vestibules
then, and made no doubt he was climbing into Cassidy's car. As the
messenger reached for his change, the cashier-manager caught his hand,
drew it across the counter, leaned toward him, saying excitedly: "Be
careful to-night, John; don't fall asleep or nod for a moment. Oh, be
careful!" she repeated, with ever-increasing intensity, her hot hand
trembling on his great wrist; "be careful, come back safe, and you shall
have your ans