Royal Ainsley interrupted her impatiently.
"I was going to say that if you would be kind enough to hold the little one for awhile I would like to go into the smoking-car and smoke a cigar."
[CHAPTER XLV.]
Royal Ainsley thought the woman did not hear his question, for she did not answer, and he repeated, in his suave, winning way:
"Could I trouble you to hold the little one a few moments, while I enjoy a smoke in the car ahead?"
Widow Jones answered readily enough:
"To be sure I will take care of the little one, sir. Go right along and enjoy your cigar. I know just how a man feels when he is deprived of a smoke. My husband had to have his pipe every night after his supper, just as sure as the sun went down. If he missed it, he was fairly beside himself—like a fish out of water."
It suddenly occurred to Royal Ainsley that it wouldn't be a bad idea to know more about this woman.