Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-17

the real import OF things to penetrate
my dazed intelligence. Then ] gave q
vindictive kick at the offending ensemble.
They're not mine. any OF them." 1
snarled. They are some other fellows.
I'll sit here until take root before put
them on
They're nice lookin' clothes" the por-
ter put in. eying the red tie with appre-
citation. Amt everybody would have
left you anything"
Call the conductor" I said, shortly.
Then a possible explanation occurred TO
me. "oh. porter-whats the number of
Seven. sir II you can't wear those
Seven. In my relief almost
shouted it. why. then, it's simple
all. My berth is nine Only-where the
deuce is the man who belongs hereT'
Likely in nine. sir" The darby was
enjoying himself. You and the other
gentleman just got mixed in the night
thought i had been drinking.
/ drew a long breath. or course, that
was the explanation. This was number
seven's berth, that was his soft hat. this
his umbrella, his coat, his bag My rage
turned to irritation at myself.
The porter went to the next berth and
I could hear his softly insinuating voice.
Time to get up, sir. Are you awake?
Time to get up
There was no response from number
nine. / guessed that he had opened the
curtains and was looking In. Then he
came back.
Number Mines empty" he said
Empty! Do you mean my clothes
aren't there?" / demanded. MY valise?
Why don't you answer me?'
You doan' give me time" he retorted
There amt nothin' there. But it's been
slept in
The disappointment was the greater for
my few moments of hope. / sat up in a
white fury and put on the clothes that
had been left me. Then, still raging,
sat on the edge OF the berth and put on
the obnoxious tan shoes. The porter,
called to his duties. made little excur-
sions back to me. to offer assistance and
to chuckle at my discontinue. He stood
by. outwardly decorous. but with little
irritating grins OF amusement around his
mouth, when i finally emerged with ths
red tie in my hand.
BET the owner of those clothes didn't
become them any more than you do" he
said. as he piled the ubiquitous whisk
broom.
when get the owner OF these
Clothes" retorted. grimly. he will need
shroud. Where's the conductor"
The conductor was coming. he assured
me; also that there was no bag answer
ing the description OF mine on the car.
] slammed my way to the dressing room,
washed. choked my fifteen and-a-half
neck into a fifteen collar. and was back
.
as well as its occupants. was gradually
taking on a daylight appearance. hob
bled In, for one Of the shoes was abom-
inably tight. and found myself facing
young woman in blue with unforget-
table face. (''Three women already" Nc
knight says: That's going some. even
IL you don't count the Gilmore nurse.'D
She stood. half turned toward me. one
hand idly dropping. the other steadyine
her as she gazed out at the flying land
scape. ! had an instant impression that
had met her somewhere. under dinerent
circumstances, more cheerful ones. 1
thought, for the girls detection now was
evident. Beside her. sitting down,
small dark woman. considerably older.
was talking In rapid undertone. The
girl nodded indifferently now and then
/ fancied, although i was not sure. that
my appearance brought a startled look
into the young woman's face. ] sat down
and, hands thrust deep into the other
mans pockets. stared ruefully at the
other mans shoes.
The stage was set In q moment the
curtain was going UP on the first act OF
the play. And for while We would All
say our little speeches and sing our little
center stage while the gallery Missed.
The porter was standing beside lower
ten. He had reached In and was Knock
ing valiantly. But his efforts met with
no response He winked at me over his
shoulder; then he unfastened the cur
tains and bent forward. Behind him. l
saw him stiffen, heard his muttered ex-
clamation, saw the blush pallor that
spread over his face and neck. AS he re-
treated q step the interior or lower Ten
lay open to the day.
The man in 1t was on his back. the
early morning sun striking full on his
upturned face. But the light did not
disturb him. A small stain or red dyed
the front Of his night clothes and trailed
across the sheet; his half-open eyes We're
fixed, without seeing, on the shining
wood above.
/ grasped the porter's shaking shoulders
and stared down to where the train i'm
parted to the body a grisly suggestion OF
motion Good Lord" I gasped- The
mans been murdered
(To be continued tomorrow