The station-master turned away and drew a long breath.

He himself was conscious of a sense of nausea, a giddiness which was almost overmastering.

This was a terrible thing to face without a second's warning.

He had not the slightest doubt but that the man who was seated at the table was dead! At such an hour there were only a few people upon the platform, and two stalwart station policemen easily kept back the loiterers whose curiosity had been excited by the arrival of the special.

A third took up his position with his back to the entrance of the saloon, and allowed no one to enter it till the return of the station-master, who had gone for a doctor.