Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1910-09-17
CHAPTER Vl-Continued.

Then you haven't heard the rest of
the tragedy" / asked, holding out the
case. Its frightfully bad luck for
me, but it makes a good story. You
see"
At that moment the conductor and
porter ceased their colloquy. The con-
ductor came directly toward me, tug
ging as he came at his bristling gray
Rustache.
VI would like to talk to you in the
car" he said to me, with curious
glance at the young lady.
Cant it waltz" l objected I'VE
are on our way to a cup of coffee and
a slice of bacon. Be merciful as you
are powerful"
I'm afraid the breakfast will have
to wait" he replied. Il won't keep
you long" There was note of au-
but, after all, the circumstances were
unusual
We'll have to defer that cup of
coffee for a WHILE" l said to the girl;
but don't despair; there's breakfast
somewhere"
AS we entered the car, she stood
aside. but l felt rather than saw that
she followed us. 1 was surprised to
see half dozen men gathered around
the berth in which l had wakened,
number seven. 1t had not yet been
made up.
As we passed along the aisle, / was
conscious of new expression on the
faces of the passengers. The tall wom-
an who had tainted was searching my
face with narrowed eyes, while the
ssQht woman of the kindly heart
avoided my gaze, and pretended to
look out of the window.
As we pushed our way through the
group. fancied that it closed around
me ominously. The conductor said
nothing. but led the way without cere-
mony to the side of the BERTH
Whats the natter" / inquired. l
was puzzled, but not apprehensive.
Have you some of my things? I'd be
thankful even for my shoes; these are
confoundedly tight"
Nobody spoke, and fell silent, too.
For one of the pillows had been turned
over, and the under side of the white
case was streaked with brownish
stains. ! think it was a perceptible
time before / realized that the stains
were blood and that the faces around
were filled with suspicion and dis
trust.
why, it-that looks like blood" l
said vacuously. There was an inces-
SAINT pounding in my ears, and the
conductors voice came from far off.
1T is blood" he asserted grimly.
l looked around with a dizzy at
tempt at nonchalance. Even if it is"
/ demonstrated, surely you don't sup
Nse for a moment that l know any
thing about it,"
The amateur detective elbowed his
way in. He had scrap of transpar-
ent paper in his hand, and pencil.
II would like permission to trace
the stains" he began eagerly. Also"
TO me-"if you will kindly jab your
finger with apin-needle-anything@"
IF you don't keep out of this" the
conductor said savagely, Il will do
dbme jabbing myself. AS for you,
sir" he turned to me. / was abb
solutely innocent, but 1 knew that l
presented a typical picture of guilt; l
was covered with cold sweat, and the
pounding In my ears kept up dizzily.
AS for you. sir"
The irrepressible amateur detective
made a quick pounce at the pillow and
pushed back the cover. Before our In
oreduious eyes he drew out a narrow
steel dirk which had been buried to
the small cross that served as head.
There was chorus of voices
around, q quick surging forward OF
the crowd. So that was what had
scratched my hand! I buried the
wound In my coat pocket.
weil." I said, trying to speak natur-
ally. doesn't that prove what / have
beeu telling you? The man who COM
nttted the murder belonged to this
berth. and made an exchange in some
var after the crime. How do you
know he didn't change the tags so I
would come back to this berth?" This
was an inspiration; was pleased
With it. That's what he did, he
changed the tags" I reiterated.
There was q murmur OF assent
around. The doctor, who was stand
ing beside me, put his hand on my
arri. "If this gentleman committed
this crime, and 1 for one feel sure he
did not, then who Is the fellow who
got away? And why did he go?'
1--WE have only one mans word for
that" the conductor snarled. I've trav-
eied some in these cars myself, and