In the fourth compartment sat three men, playing cutthroat auction. One of them had just bid "two without" when the porter knocked.
"Come in!" shouted the blond man. "Ah, George, what's the news?"
The porter became a very mysterious individual. He shut the door softly and leaned toward the blond man's ear.
"He's goin' int' town, suh."
"Going to take his things with him?"
"Yes, suh. I'm t' call fo' him thutty minutes aftuh de train stops. Dey's sumpin' I fo'got t' tell yo', suh. It's de way I has t' knock on his do' befo' I can git in. I hits two times, den I waits a moment, den I hits two times mo'."
One of the men started to say something angrily, but the blond man silenced him with a gesture.
"You should have told me that before, George," reproachfully.
"I know, suh; but I done fo'got."
"Remember my instructions. A misstep on your part and you land in jail."