Barclay stared in blank dismay at the seat before him, and gradually awoke to the realization that he was gazing directly at Professor Norcross, who had seated himself there a second or two before. With an effort Barclay pulled himself together.
“I’m glad you haven’t turned in,” said the professor. “For my own part I can’t sleep. Listen, Barclay,” he moved over and sat down by the latter. “I have made the most astounding discovery——”
“What is that?” asked Barclay, as the professor paused to permit a passenger promenading the aisle to pass out of hearing.
“We have let a murderer slip through our fingers,” groaned the professor.
“Then you have identified——?”
“Ito?” breaking in on Barclay’s question. “Yes.”
“But——”
“Listen!” Norcross spoke slowly and emphasized each point. “Ito was the only person on the train who had a motive for the crime. Tilghman insulted him grossly; nothing so infuriates a Japanese as to be classed with a negro; they are the proudest race in the world. Ito took prompt retaliation on Tilghman for——”
“But how, Professor?” Barclay interrupted in his turn. “It has been proved by the librarian that Ito was at the Atlanta library at noon today, and Tilghman was poisoned at that same hour in the smoking car of this train.”
“Tilghman was killed here at noon, but not at the identical hour. Ito was at the library—man, you forget that Atlanta goes by central time, which is one hour slower than the eastern time, which prevails on this train——”