little hand dangling over the arm of
the chair, and a small foot in a stout, workmanlike walking boot,
laced far up the ankle. I stood facing them; and though the sole
illumination came flickering from a newly kindled fire, or filtered
through the red shades of three large lamps, not only could they see
what manner of man I was, but I could study their personal
characteristics.

In these I was conscious of no lively interest; but as the men
continued to gaze over their shoulders at me, and the Boy's chair, I
decided that they were from the States. They were both young,
clean-shaven, good-looking; with clear features, keen eyes, and
prominent chins, reminiscent of the attractive "Gibson type" of
American youth.

"Well," said one to the other, turning away from his brief but steady
inspection of the newcomers, "I thought we were the only two fools
stranded here for the night in this weather, but it seems there are a
couple more."

Their voices had a carrying quality which brought the words distinctly
to our ears. Suddenly the "rocker" was agitated, and the Boy's feet
came to the ground. Nervously, he jerked the chair round so that its
back was completely turned to the men at the other end of the room.
His eyes looked so big, and his face was so deeply stained with a
quick rush of colour, that I feared he was ill.

"Anything wrong?" I asked, bending towards him, with my hand on his
chair.

"Nothing. I was only--a little surprised to hear people talking,
that's all. I thought we had the room to ourselves."

His voice was a whisper, and I pitched mine to his in answering. "So
did I at first, but it seems two countrymen of yours are before us. I
wonder if they have had adventures to equal ours? Probably we shall
find out at dinner, for this looks the sort of hotel to herd its
guests together at one long table."

The Boy's hand closed sharply on the arm of his chair. "I'm too tired
to dine in public," said he, still in the same muffled voice. "I shall
have something to eat in my room--if I ever get one."

"If that's your game," said I, "I'll play it with you. We'll ask them
to give us a sitting-room of sorts, and we'll dine there together like
kings."

"No, no. You must go down. I shall have my dinner in bed. I'm worn
out. What are--those men at the other end of the room like?"

"Like sketches from New York _Life_," I replied. "One is dark, the
other fair, with a deep cleft in his chin, and a nose so straight it