"I'm not an Englishman," said the guard, flushing slightly. "My
name's Sitzky, and I'm an American, sir."

"An American!" exclaimed Lorry. Sitzky grew loquacious.

"Sure! I used to be a sailor on a United States man-o'war. A
couple of years ago I got into trouble down at Constantinople and
had to get out of de service. After dat I drifted up dis way and
went to railroadin'." He hadn't exactly the manner of a man-of.
warsman.

"How long have you been on this road?" asked Grenfall.

"'Bout a year, I should t'ink. Been on dis branch only two
months, dough."

"Are you pretty well acquainted in Edelweiss?''

"Oh, I run in dere every other day--in an' out ag'in. It's a
fine place,--purtiest you ever saw in your life. The town runs
right up the mountain to the tip-top where the monks are--clear
up in d' clouds. Dey say it snows up dere almost all d' time."

Later on, from the loquacious guard, the two Americans learned
quite a good bit about the country and city to which they were
going. His knowledge was somewhat limited along certain lines,
but quite clear as to others.

'Dis Graustark, 's fer as I know, is eeder a sort o' state or