The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

32 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. . shaking of the car, when a hand touches me on the arm. 3 “Would the signor mind allowing me to havea dash of that Jamaica ginger?” says a voice. I turn and see the old violinist. His request is a simple one, and can be readily granted without trouble. Little courtesies like this are frequent between travelers on an Amercian railway. We become social and well disposed to- ward our fellow-passengers; indeed, often on long journeys the inmates of a sleeper act like members of a family, and care for each other’s wants as far as practicable. This may seem strange to foreign eyes, but we live in a queer country anyhow. There a? is perfect freedom here, untrammeled by the re-— straints of custom. At the same time, should a rascal take advantage of this opportunity and insult a lady, the chances are he would be tossed from the car by his indig- nant fellows. 1 am convinced, however, that this man has a motive in following me to the end of the sleeper. If, as I believe he is the party who has warned me that the Rabbi is in communication with these confidence people, it may pay me to make his ac- quaintance. | - He hands my little bottle. of ginger back and drinks the water he has dashed with the extract. I stand there leaning against the entrance to the smoking compartment, which I believe is empty, the English sportsmen having gone forward to see some friend, or enjoy the luxuries to be indulged in aboard this wonderful train, which include a bath- room, barber chair, and all the latest stock quota- tions. There are some people so wedded to their ‘comicbooks.co