Wedgewood began to titter. "We were out of Scotch, so I sent him for some more."
"When?"
"Two stations back. I fancy we must have left him behind."
"Well, why in thunder didn't you say so?" Ashton roared.
"It quite escaped my mind," Wedgewood grinned. "Rather good joke on you fellows, what?"
"Well, I don't see the point," Ashton growled, but the triumphant Englishman howled: "That's where you pay!"
Wedgewood had his laugh to himself, for the others wanted to murder him. Ashton advised a lynching, but the conductor arrived on the scene in time to prevent violence.
Fosdick informed him of the irretrievable loss of the useful buffet waiter. The conductor promised to get another at Ogden.
Ashton wailed: "Have we got to sit here and die of thirst till then?"
The conductor refused to "back up for a coon," but offered to send in a sleeping-car porter as a temporary substitute.