“Ah, I see we are to be neighbors.”
Mrs. Mallow looked up sharply.
“Young man,” she said somewhat sternly, “if you have snakes in that suitcase, I feel it my duty to report you to the conductor. I can’t bear the thought of—”
She broke off abruptly, as she caught sight of the conductor coming down the aisle, for in spite of her threat she hesitated to report the young man. However, the railroad official already had been informed of the situation and bore angrily down upon the magician.
“I hear you’re carrying a menagerie! There’s a strict rule against bringing animals in the cars, you know. You’ll have to open up the suitcase.” Ollie Weiser looked the picture of innocence, as he reached down to drag forth one of the bags. It seemed to the girls that he took a long time at it, but presently he slapped the suitcase down upon the seat.
“Someone must have given you the wrong dope,” he remarked easily, “but take a look for yourself and then maybe you’ll be satisfied.”
The conductor somewhat nervously unfastened the straps and threw back the cover. The suitcase was empty! Ollie Weiser smiled triumphantly and winked at Doris and Kitty.
“There, you see!” he said.
“I’m very sorry, sir,” the conductor apologized. “I only took the word of one of the passengers. It’s my duty to investigate.”
“Sure, that’s all right. No hard feelings.”
After the conductor had left the car, Doris, who was watching closely, saw the magician slip three snakes from his coat pocket back into the suitcase. In spite of the feeling of distaste which she felt for the man, she could not help but smile.
Ollie Weiser turned to Mrs. Mallow and said gravely:
“The snakes are quite harmless, Madam, but I assure you they will be kept securely locked up. You’ll not report me, will you?”
The stern lines of Mrs. Mallow’s face relaxed. “I’m afraid it would do no good,” she replied with a faint smile. “However, I trust you will keep your promise. Come, girls, we must go to the diner, or we’ll miss our luncheon. I heard the second call some time ago.”
Without another glance at the magician she arose and walked toward the front of the train, Kitty and Doris following her. As they took seats in the diner, they saw Mr. Baker at a table at the far end of the car. He bowed in recognition and the three returned the greeting.
“He’s a nice looking old man, isn’t he?” whispered Doris. “And nice to talk with, too.”
“Maybe,” offered Kitty. “Certainly two different kinds of people we’ve talked with on the train. One can’t remember anything, and the other wants to tell you everything.”
“I can’t say I like that magician,” Mrs. Mallow commented, as she gave the waiter her order. “I consider him entirely too presumptuous and impertinent.”
“I think he means all right, but it’s just his bold way,” Doris returned with a smile. “However, I don’t like him myself.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Mrs. Mallow observed, obviously relieved. “I wanted to warn you girls about talking too much with him.”
“He does all the talking,” Kitty interposed. “We just listen.”
“I hope you don’t consider me dictatorial,” Mrs. Mallow said apologetically. “I mean only to be helpful.” She lowered her voice. “You see, we’re on a mysterious errand and so must be a trifle wary of strangers.”
Doris nodded soberly.
“I understand. Kitty and I haven’t mentioned our business to anyone. We did ask Mr. Baker a few questions but took care not to tell him why we are going to Cloudy Cove.”
“Until everything is settled, we can’t be too careful, Doris. I knew I could trust you to be discreet.”
The waiter appeared with a tray of steaming food, and conversation ceased. Yet Ollie Weiser was not to be dismissed lightly, for, as Mrs. Mallow and the girls soon learned, his ways were most aggressive.
CHAPTER VI
More About Snakes
Ollie Weiser did not allow himself the luxury of luncheon in the diner. When Mrs. Mallow and the girls returned to their own cat, they observed that he had spread out a meal of sandwiches and fruit which he had brought with him. He merely glanced up as they passed, and the three were hopeful that he would no longer annoy them with his attentions.
To pass away the time Mrs. Mallow brought out a deck of cards, but scarcely had the three started their game, when the magician, having cleared away his lunch, arose and sauntered over to their section.
“Need a fourth?” he inquired, and then, before Mrs. Mallow could reply, he sat down. “I’ll show you a few tricks.”
The three travelers were amazed at the speed with which the magician shuffled the deck. His long, thin fingers were exceedingly deft. Under his manipulation the cards behaved in an uncanny fashion, disappearing and reappearing in strange places.
Though Ollie Weiser was much too bold and sure of himself, he was a master hand at entertainment, and before many minutes had elapsed, Mrs. Mallow was smiling. If he had been wise, he would have ended his demonstration while that lady was more favorably disposed toward him, but instead he launched into a lengthy tale of his varied stage experiences. After all hour of it Mrs. Mallow took the girls and went back to the observation car, leaving the magician in possession of the section.
“What a pest that man is!” she exclaimed. “I do hope we lose him when we change at the junction.”
When the three ventured to return to their car later in the afternoon, they were relieved to find Ollie Weiser gone. Perhaps he realized that he had been snubbed; for, when he reappeared near dinner time, he did not press his attentions upon them.
That evening in the diner Mrs. Mallow and the girls were seated, quite by chance, at a table occupied by Silas Baker. He made himself very agreeable and told them a great deal concerning the history and development of Cloudy Cove. The girls learned that it was a delightful summer resort town, situated some two miles from the Bay of Thor.
“You will find it very pleasant there at this season of the year,” the old gentleman assured them. “Late in the fall the district is subject to violent storms and thick fogs. I suppose that’s why they gave it the name of Cloudy Cove.”
During the course of the conversation Mr. Baker repeated a great deal of what he had told the girls earlier in the day. However, realizing that he was forgetful, they listened politely. He finished his dinner before the others were through and arose to leave without paying his bill. Mrs. Mallow became a trifle dismayed. Fortunately, the head-waiter halted him at the door and presented the slip. Stammering apologies, Mr. Baker paid his account, added a generous tip, and with a sheepish expression hurried away.
“Oh, dear, that man is hopeless!” Kitty laughed. “It wouldn’t have been so fupny, though, if we’d had to pay the bill.”
By nine o’clock the berths were made up, and, since the girls knew they must be awake early the next morning in order to change trains at Benton Junction, they decided to retire immediately. Mrs. Mallow was to occupy the lower berth and Kitty and Doris the upper. They felt very adventurous indeed as they mounted the ladder to their “crowsnest.”
“What if Ollie Weiser’s snakes should get loose tonight!” Kitty giggled. “Wouldn’t it be a scream?”
“Not if they came up here.”
“Snakes can’t climb, can they?”
“I’ll bet Ollie Weiser’s can do almost anything.”
“Oh, well,”