ld, mad inspiration to flash
like lightning athwart the clouded horizon of Sally's doubt and
perplexity. Surely it were strangely inconsistent with her role of
adventuress to permit this man to escape, now that destiny had
delivered him into her unscrupulous hands!

"Owl train? De luxe room or ordinary stateroom--all I got left."

"Good enough. I'll take--"

If Blue Serge failed promptly to nominate his choice, it was only
because Miss Manvers chose that juncture to furnish him--and
incidentally herself, when she had time to think things over--with
what was unquestionably for both of them the most staggering surprise
of that most surprising night.

Peremptorily plucking a blue-serge sleeve with the brazenest impudence
imaginable, she advised her victim:

"Take both, if you please!"

Had she schemed deliberately to strike him dumb in consternation, her
success must have afforded Sally intense satisfaction. Since she
hadn't, her personal consternation was momentarily so overpowering as
to numb her sense of appreciation. So that for the period of a long
minute neither of them moved nor spoke; but remained each with a blank
countenance reflecting a witless mind, hypnotised by the stupefaction
of the other.

Then, perhaps a shade the quicker to recover, Sally fancied that her
victim's jaw had slackened a bit and his colour faded perceptibly; and
with this encouragement she became herself again, collected,
aggressive, confronting him undismayed before recognition dawned upon
Blue Serge, and, with it, some amused appreciation of her effrontery.
Even so, his first essay at response was nothing more formidable
than a stammered "I beg your pardon?"

She explained with absolute composure: "I said, take both rooms,
please. I'm going to Boston, too."

"Oh!" he replied stupidly.

She nodded with determination and glanced significantly aside, with a
little toss of her head, toward the middle of the lobby.

"There's a Central Office man over there," she observed obliquely,
dissembling considerable uncertainty as to what a Central Office man
really was, and why.

"There is!"

"If you go to Boston, I go," she persisted stolidly. His countenance
darkened transiently with distrust or temper. Then of a sudden the man
was shaken by a spasm of some strange sort--the corners of his mouth
twitched, his eyes twinkled, he lifted a quizzical eyebrow, his lips
parted.

But whatever retort he may have contemplated was checked by