Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-16

warm night. and before turning In L
stood short time in the vestibule. The
train had been stopping at frequent IN
tervals. and. finding the brakeman there,
/ asked the trouble.
1t seemed that there was hot-box on
the next car. and that not only We're we
late. but we were delaying the second
section. just behind. l was beginning 10
feel pleasantly drowsy, and the air Was
growing cooler as we got into the noun
tains. ] said good night to the brakeman
and went back to my berth. To my sur
prise. lower ten was already occupied
suit case projected from beneath, palr
of shoes stood on the floor. and from be-
hind the curtains came the heavy. un-
mistakable breathing of deep sleep. 4
hunted out the porter and together we
investigated.
Are you asleep. sir?" asked the por-
ter. leaning over. deferentially. No an
swer forthcoming. he opened the curtains
and looked in. Yes. the intruder was
asleep-very much asleep-and an over
whelming odor of whisky proclaimed that
he would probably remain asleep until
morning. / was irritated. The car was
full. and l was not disposed TO take an
upper in order to allow this drunken in
terloper TO sleep comfortably In my
berth.
You'll have to get out of this" said,
shaking him. angrily. But he merely
grunted and turned over. As ne did So
i saw his features for the first time. II
was the quarreisome man o. the restau-
rant.
l was less disposed than ever to relin-
quish my claim. but the porter. after a
little quiet investigation, offered solu-
ton of the difficulty. There's no one IN
lower nine" he suggested, pulling open
the curtains just across. Its likely
mines his berth and he's made mis-
take, owing to his condition. You'd bet
ter take nine. sir
1 did, with firm resolution that IL
arc ,Serl,f f,rl nm
should be just as unavailable as the man
opposite. l undressed leisurely. making
sure of the safety of the forged notes.
and placing my grip as before between
myself and the window.
Being a man of systematic habits. ! ar
ranged my clothes carefully. putting my
shoes out for the porter to polish. ana
slowing my collar and scarf IN the htte
hammock swung for the purpose.
At last. with my pillows SO arranged
that / could see out comfortably. and
with the unhygienic-looklns blanket
turned back-I have always a distrust OF
those much-used affairs-I prepared 70
wait gradually for sleep.
But sleep did not visit me. The train
came to frequent, grating stops. and
surmised the hot box again. l am not
nervous man. but there was something
chilling in the thought OF the second sec
ton pounding along behind us. once.
as / was doing. our locomotive whlstled
a shrill warning-fou keep back whefe
you belong. II screamed To my uToNsy
ears. and from somewhere behind came
chastened albright Twill
/ grew more and more wide-awake. AT
Cresson l got up on my elbow and
blinked out at the station lights. Some
passengers boarded the train there and
I heard a womans low tones, southern
voice. rich and full. Then quiet again.
Every nerve was tense-time passed, per-
haps ten minutes possibly half an hour
Then, without the slightest warning. as
the train rounded a curve, q heavy body
was thrown into my berth. The Incident
trivial as il seemed. was startling in its
suddenness, for although my ears were
painfully strained and awake, mad
heard no step outside. The next instant
the curtain hung limp again; still with
out a sound, my disturber had slipped
away into the gloom and darkness. In
frenzy of wakefulness. / sat up drew
on a pair of slippers and fumbled Tor my
bath robe.
From a berth across, probably lower
ten came that particularly aggravating
snore which begins lightly, delicately,
family soprano, goes down the scale
note with every breath, and after keep
ing the listener tense with expectation,
ends with an explosion that tears the
very air. / was more and more irritable
Il sat on the edge of the berth and
hoped the snorer would choke to death.
(To be continued tomorrow