[“‘Hello, what are you doing?’”]
[“‘I never in my life!’ she exclaimed”]
[“He leaned over and seized the sinking figure by the collar”]
MAP OF THE “HAYSTACK”
ALONG THE MOHAWK TRAIL
CHAPTER I
THE NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK
Gordon Lord flung his duffel bag into the bench on the station platform and, casting himself precipitately beside it, smiled the smile of the Scouts. It was the genuine, original, warranted scout smile, done to perfection. It had often been remarked of Gordon that when he smiled his lips formed a perfect crescent, so that if the words “Be Prepared” had been printed on his white, even teeth, the effect would have been perfectly natural. Moreover, it was somewhat to his credit that he smiled on the present occasion, for several commuters who were in the same predicament as himself stalked up and down the platform in anything but an amiable humor. One of them was muttering unflattering comments on his chauffeur; another was looking scornfully at the gold watch which had deceived him; two others were discussing the dilatory habits of domestic servants; and the rest were denouncing the railroad.