him out at the rear door of the car
and reclosed the door behind him. Eaton went on into the observation
car. As he passed the club compartment of this car, he sensed an
atmosphere of disquiet which gave him first the feeling that some of
these people must know already that there was something wrong farther
forward; but this was explained when he heard some one say that the
door of the car ahead was locked. Another asked Eaton how he had got
through; he put the questioner off and went on into the
observation-room. No suspicion of anything having occurred had as yet
penetrated there.

"How long you've been!" Harriet Dorne remarked as he came near. "And
how is it about the roof promenade?"

"Why, all right, I guess, Miss Dorne--after a little." Controlling
himself to an appearance of casualness, he turned then to Avery: "By
the way, can I see you a moment?"

Without alarming Harriet Dorne, he got Avery away and out of the car.
A few passengers now were collected upon the platforms between this car
and the next, who questioned and complained as Eaton, pushing by them
with Avery, was admitted by the negro, who refused the others
admittance.

"Is it something wrong with Mr. Dorne?" Donald Avery demanded as Eaton
drew back to let Avery precede him into the open part of the car.

"So the conductor says."

Avery hurried forward toward the berth where Connery was standing
beside the surgeon. Connery turned toward him.

"I sent for you, sir, because you are the companion of the man who had
this berth."

Avery pushed past him, and leaped forward as he looked past the
surgeon. "What has happened to Mr. Dorne?"

"You see him as we found him, sir." Connery stared down nervously
beside him.

Avery leaned inside the curtains and recoiled. "He's dead!"

"The doctor hasn't made his examination yet; but, there seems no doubt
he's dead." Connery was very pale but controlled.

"He's been murdered!"

"It looks so, Mr. Avery. Yes; if he's dead, he's certainly been
murdered," Connery agreed. "This is Doctor Douglas Sinclair, a Chicago
surgeon. I called him just now to make an examination; but since Mr.
Dorne seems to have been dead for some time, I waited for you before
moving the body. You can tell,"--Connery avoided mention of President
Jarvis' name,--"tell any one who asks you, Mr. Avery, that you saw him
just as he was found."

He looked down again at the form in the berth, and Avery's gaze
followed his;