"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 073 - Crooks Go Straight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

DIRECTLY across the aisle from the conversing men was another passenger. A tall, calm-faced
individual, he had been seated quietly, smoking a cigarette between thin, smileless lips. His immobile
countenance possessed a peculiarity hawkish expression, due to the presence of a high, aquiline nose.

Added to the stranger's appearance of dignity was the keenness of his eyes. Though placid, they carried
a sharp glint that signified a powerful brain behind them.

It was evident that this listener had heard all that had passed between the other passengers, regarding the
convicts and the chance stop at Dupaw. But his expression showed no interest in the conversation that he
had overheard.

It was not until the hawk-faced passenger had finished his cigarette that a change came over his
expression. Even then, his flicker of countenance was scarcely noticeable. A thin smile appeared upon his
steady lips. The tall passenger arose and strolled from the lounge.

His smile remained fixed as he went forward from the observation car. Through clattering vestibules,
through sleeping cars where aisles were walled by the green curtains of Pullman berths, the stroller kept
steadily onward. He passed through a dining car where waiters were dozing at clothless tables.

He came to a Pullman that bore the name, Callao; also cards that marked it as Car G 3.

The tall passenger stopped in the smoking compartment. The porter was seated there, shining shoes. He
did not observe the passenger's arrival until the tall personage spoke in a quiet tone. The porter started
and looked up.

"Is my compartment made up?" came the quiet question.

"Yes, sah," returned the porter, with a nod. "I figured you were back in the obsahvation cah. All made
up, sah. Sorry the conductah couldn't give you the drawing-room. I didn't know that it was reserved until
he told me."

"That's quite all right. When I learned that the compartment was unoccupied, I decided that it would be
preferable to the drawing-room."

"That's what I said, sah, when I came in to move your baggage. Compahtment's better than the
drawing-room. Plenty big enough for one person, sah, and it costs less money."

The porter was chuckling when the tall passenger left. He recalled how this gentleman had come aboard
the train and taken the drawing-room of Car G 3. Then the porter had learned from the conductor that
two other passengers had reserved the drawing-roomтАФ passengers due to come aboard the train at
Dupaw.

So the tall passenger had moved to the compartment that adjoined the drawing-room. He had been
offered drawing-room accommodations in another car; but after viewing the compartment, he had agreed
with the porter that it would be suitable.

All along the trip the porter had been wondering about those passengers from Dupaw. It was the first
time in his experience on this run that the limited had made that stop. It was odd the drawing-room
passengers should come aboard at Dupaw; odd, at least to the porter's way of thinking.