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The Wrecker opened his eyes He rang for the porter

“George,” he said to Jonathan “Why have we stopped?”

“Stopped for water, suh”

“Why did a train overtake us?”

“Don’t know, suh”

“We are the Limited”

“Yes, suh”

“What train would be faster than this one, damn you?”

The porter flinched Senator Kincaid’s face was suddenly wracked with rage, his eyes hot, his mouth twisted with hate Jonathan was terrified The Senator could order him fired in a breath They’d throw hiht here on top of the Rocky Mountains “It weren’t no train passing us, suh It was just a locomotive all by hisself”

“A single locomotive?”

“Yes, suh! Just him and his tender”

“So it must have been a chartered special”

“Must have been, suh Just like you say, suh Going lickety-split, suh”

The Wrecker lay back on the bed, clasped his hands behind his head, and thought hard

“Will there be anything else, suh?” Jonathan asked warily