gesture which rivetted his attention upon the two men on the rear
platform. Cranston had turned suddenly and was peering in at him;
almost automatically Podmore's eyes dropped quickly to the open
magazine on his knee. There was a certain hint of caution on the
railroad detective's face that did not escape the astute secretary.
The latter's vigilance was rewarded presently by seeing Cranston reach
into an inside pocket, pull out a bulky blue envelope and quickly pass
it across to the President. The latter as quickly stowed it out of
sight in an inner pocket of his tweed coat and himself cast a hasty
glance over his shoulder to see if he had been observed. But again Mr.
Podmore's gaze dropped in time and when he raised his eyes casually
from his magazine it was to note an expression of satisfaction upon the
faces of both gentlemen. They got up and came inside, laughing rather
loudly.

"That there steak and onions Taylor's cookin' is sure goin' to hit the
spot," cried Cranston, sniffing with relish. "Eh, Hughey?" He dropped
into the chair alongside the secretary with a familiar slap on the
latter's knee, and thrust his legs out in the sprawling abandon of a
comfortable stretch.

Unfortunately he did this just as President Wade, having turned to toss
away the end of his cigar, took a step forward with a hand thrust into
an inside pocket of his coat, evidently intending to put away in the
safe the envelope which Cranston had given him. The result of
Cranston's sudden movement and Wade's awkward position was that the
President tripped, lost his balance and would have measured full length
on the car floor if Cranston had not caught him. In his effort to save
himself the blue envelope was jerked out of his pocket and fell
directly at Podmore's feet.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir!" apologized Cranston hurriedly.

"That's all right, Bob," laughed Wade good naturedly. "Thanks,
Hughey," as his secretary handed him the envelope. "Why, what's the
matter?"

Podmore's face had gone suddenly white and he was trembling visibly.

"Aint you feelin' well, Hughey?" enquired Cranston with concern. He
rang quickly for highballs.

"It's all right,--thanks," stammered Podmore hastily. "I--I guess it's
just a little faintness due to the fact that I ate practically no
lunch--I'm all right now."

Nevertheless when Taylor arrived with the decanter Podmore poured
himself an extra stiff drink. He had need of it. For a second