been close behind them, and who shot a sharp glance at him and his companion before stepping aside with a muttered apology. Not until they had passed him did Stewart remember that he had seen the man before. It was the surly passenger in the crowded compartment on the journey from Cologne.

His companion had not seemed to notice the fellow, and went on talking of the voyage home and how glad she would be to get there. Not until they turned again at the farther end, and found the platform for a moment clear around them, did she relax her guard.

“That man is a spy,” she whispered, quickly. [Pg 90]“We are evidently still suspected. What sort of railroad ticket have you?”

[Pg 90]

“A book of Cook’s coupons.”

“I feared as much. You must rid yourself of it—it is quite possible that you will be searched at the frontier. No, no,” she added, as Stewart put his hand to his pocket. “Not here! You would be seen—everything would be lost. I will devise a way.”

Stewart reflected with satisfaction that only a few coupons were left in the book. But why should he be searched? He had thought the danger over; but he began uneasily to suspect that it was just beginning. Well, it was too late to draw back, even had he wished to do so; and most emphatically he did not. He was willing to risk a good deal for another hour of this companionship—and then there was that explanation at the end—his reward——

There was a sharp whistle down the line, and the train from Cologne rolled slowly in.

“First class,” said Stewart to Hans, as the latter picked up the luggage; and then he realized that they would be fortunate if they got into the train at all. The first five carriages were crowded with soldiers; then there were two carriages half-filled with officers, upon whom no one ventured to intrude. [Pg 91]The three rear carriages were already crowded with a motley throng of excited civilians, and Stewart had resigned himself to standing up, when Hans shouted, “This way, sir; this way!” and started to run as fast as the heavy suit-cases would permit.

[Pg 91]

Stewart, staring after him, saw that an additional carriage was being pushed up to be attached to the train.

“That fellow has more brains than I gave him credit for,” he said. “Come along!”

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