Two hours later Barclay stood in the vestibule of his Pullman as the train pulled out on its long trip northward, and debated whether to enter the smoker or return to his section. The stronger inclination won and, nodding in a friendly fashion to the Japanese who stood on the opposite side of the vestibule, Barclay entered the car on his way to the smoker.
Except for Dwight Tilghman sitting at the further end, Barclay found the smoker deserted, and dropped into the nearest chair, lighted a cigar, opened a newspaper and soon became immersed in its contents. Some time later the conductor paused before Tilghman, removed the tickets from his hatband and, refraining from waking him, passed on up the car collecting fares.
The shadows of the winter day were lengthening when the dining car steward’s announcement: “First call for dinner,” aroused the half dozen men in the smoker.
Professor Norcross, who had been chatting with Julian Barclay, broke off to ask: “Where’s my dinner partner? Here, porter, go tell Mr. Tilghman it’s time for dinner. Won’t you sit at our table tonight?” he added, addressing Barclay. “Dr. Shively will make the fourth.”
“Thanks, I’ll be very glad to do so,” and Barclay rose with alacrity; he had not lunched at Atlanta, and his appetite was sharpened by the fast. Further speech was cut short by a shout from the porter.
“I can’t wake Mister Tilghman,” he called, his eyes rolling in fright. “He musta had a stroke.”
“Nonsense!” Dr. Shively dropped the book he was reading, and hastened down the aisle. But his air of skepticism disappeared as he bent over Tilghman who, owing to the vigorous shaking administered by the porter, was sprawling half out of his chair. The physician lifted the hat which had slipped over Tilghman’s face, and pulled down an eyelid. One glance at the glazing eyeball, a touch of the pulse, and Shively faced toward Julian Barclay and Professor Norcross who had followed him down the aisle.
“Dead,” he announced. “Stone dead.”
CHAPTER III
WAYS THAT ARE DARK
An awed silence followed Dr. Shively’s announcement.