"If yoh doan mind, I'd laik to fix up yoh section; got so much to do won't git through 'fore midnight."
"All right, where can we go? This one across here is unoccupied," replied Jack, wishing to accommodate.
"Dat section, sah, will not be taken until we neah Albany, sah," came from the man of tips and corporation dignity.
They had been seated but a few moments when the occupant of the section next forward of their own was obliged to find temporary quarters as the ever-obliging servant of monopoly touched his cap for permission. A lady of prepossessing countenance, faultlessly gowned and of gracious manner, knocked, as it were, at Jack's door, addressing him, "May I occupy this vacant seat while the porter arranges my domicile? Pardon the intrusion, but all other avenues seem already taxed."
"Certainly, it is no intrusion; in fact, we shall be glad to have you, as you have had a long siege of solitaire," replied Jack.
"I do get so lonesome on my trips that I sometimes wish some one else had the position," answered the lady with that assurance which accompanies experience.
"Gathering from that, I judge you travel for business instead of pleasure," said Jack.
"Yes, I make two trips a year on business. I am buyer for Stoddersmith of Boston, and am on my way to Colorado and California. I shall visit Estes Park, Manitou and other points, then go to India and China."
Jack was no more surprised than if she had told him she was quartermaster in the navy, or a field marshal in the German army. He looked incredulous. The lady handed him her card, which read, "Miss Asquith, Stoddersmith's, Boston," remarking that if it would be agreeable she would tell them how it happened a woman occupied so important a position, and naively added, "The only firm in the world who employs one of our sex in this department, even as a saleslady."
"Oh, do tell us," said Hazel, and to Jack, "Just think of a woman going alone to India to buy goods!"