Billy, to a small table in a corner of the compartment, and the
enjoyment of a mild cigar.

Later, when Calvert had been eliminated by Miss Bessie, Winton looked
to see the true inwardness of the dinner-bidding made manifest by his
host.

But Mr. Darrah chatted on, affably noncommittal, and after a time
Winton began to upbraid himself for suspecting the ulterior motive.
And when he finally rose to excuse himself on a letter-writing plea,
his leave-taking was that of the genial host reluctant to part company
with his guest.

"I've enjoyed your conve'sation, seh; enjoyed it right much. May I
hope you will faveh us often while we are neighbors?"

Winton rose, made the proper acknowledgments, and would have crossed
the compartment to make his adieus to Mrs. Carteret. But at that
moment Virginia came between.

"You are not going yet, are you, Mr. Winton? Don't hurry. If you are
dying to smoke a pipe, as Mr. Adams says you are, we can go out on the
platform. It isn't too cold, is it?"

"It is clear and frosty, a beautiful night," he hastened to say. "May
I help you with your coat?"

So presently Winton had his heart's desire, which was to be alone with
Virginia.

She nerved herself for the plunge,--her uncle's plunge.

"Your part in the building of this other railroad is purely a business
affair, is it not?"

"My personal interest? Quite so; a mere matter of dollars and cents,
you may say."

"If you should have another offer, from some other company--"

"That is not your argument; it is Mr. Darrah's. You know well enough
what is involved: honor, integrity, good faith, everything a man
values, or should value. I can't believe you would ask such a
sacrifice of me--of any man.

"Indeed, I do not ask it, Mr. Winton. But it is only fair that you
should have your warning. My uncle will leave no stone unturned to
defeat you."

He was still looking into her eyes, and so had courage to say what
came uppermost.

"I don't care: I shall fight him as hard as I can, but I shall always
be his debtor for this evening. Do you understand?"

In a flash her mood changed and she laughed lightly.

"Who would think it of you, Mr. Winton. Of all men I should have said
you were the last to care so much for the social diversions. Shall we
go in?"

IX. THE BLOCK SIGNAL.
If Mr. John Winton, C. E., stood in need of a moral tonic, as Adams
had so delicately intimated to Miss Bessie Carteret, it was
administered in quantity