ed upon his sallow cheeks, but it
seemed that his eyes had glowed with a sudden intentness. A second later
when Renwick looked at him again, the man was staring dully at the
passing cornfields and vineyards and he thought he had been mistaken. He
would have liked to know more of this fellow, and was again tempted to
try to draw him out but the recollection of his former venture dismayed
him. So he relapsed into silence and lying back in his seat, one hand in
his pocket, he closed his eyes and feigned slumber, watching the man
through his eyelashes. For a long while nothing happened. Then at last
as Renwick's breathing became regular the giant's head turned, and his
eyes regarded the Englishman stealthily. Renwick did not move. But he
saw his companion lean slightly forward while one hand left the umbrella
handle, unbuttoned his coat and then moved very slowly behind him. That
was enough for Renwick, who started upright and covered the man with his
automatic. But the other had merely drawn a large and rather soiled
handkerchief from a pocket of his trousers and was in the act of blowing
his nose when he looked up and saw the impending blue muzzle of
Renwick's weapon.

Then his jaw dropped and his eyes flew wide open.

"_Herr Gott!_" he stammered in a husky whisper. "Don't shoot!"

Whether it was the pleasure of discovering that the man had at last
found his tongue or whether the innocence of his purpose was explained,
Renwick found himself much relieved.

"Are you crazy?" the other was saying. "To draw a pistol upon me like
that! What do you mean?"

But Renwick still held the pistol pointed in his neighbor's direction.

"I will trouble you to stand," he said quietly, "with your hands up and
back toward me."

The man stared at him wide eyed but at last obeyed, lifting his huge
back to its full height, and Renwick ran an investigating hand over his
hip pockets. They were empty.

"Thanks," he said at last, "you may be seated." He felt a good deal of a
fool but he managed an uncomfortable laugh as he returned the automatic
to his pocket. "You see," he explained, "I owe you an apology----"

"Yes, sir--such an outrage upon my dignity. I do not understand----"

"Let me explain," went on Renwick, feeling more idiotic every moment; "I
have an enemy who seeks my life and when you put your hand in your
pocket I thought that you----"

"It is strange that a gentleman in a railway carriage may not be
permitted to blow his