my landlady's daughter, and she 's the limit."

Vail and Neale both laughed.

"You 're slow, Craig," the former said good-humoredly. "I thought
better of you than that. However, you will have all day tomorrow. Get
on your new clothes, and look around. There 's plenty would jump at
the chance."

I shook my head.

"That's altogether out of my line," I averred. "I 'd rather go alone."

"Well, we 'll not war over that. You can leave your wife North if you
wish. I tell you what you do. Think it over, and call me up by 'phone
about three o'clock tomorrow--here's the number. If you decide on
taking a woman along I know one who will answer, and will have her at
the train."

"I am to leave then tomorrow night?"

"Yes, over the Eastern Illinois, at 8:10."

There was a moment's silence; then he rustled the paper on the table,
and held out a fountain pen.

"Sign here."

I was not hypnotized, or unduly controlled; my mind seemed clear, but I
yielded without a word and wrote my name at the bottom of the sheet.