On the platform outside there was a piercing whistle and a shout of “All aboard!” Then the sound of doors slamming up and down the platform. The engine gave a mighty huff, and we lurched forward. At the last moment our carriage door opened and a man got in. My two captors nodded and jumped out. The train picked up speed. I looked at the man who had replaced my abductors. He was older than they, avuncular-looking actually, with a gray beard and horn-rimmed spectacles. He gave a sigh and promptly removed the beard and glasses. I stared at him again and gasped as I realized with a jolt of surprise that I recognized him.

Twenty-four

Mr. Wilkie, isn’t it?” I demanded.

He smiled benignly and removed his homburg. “It is indeed. A pleasure to meet you again, Miss Murphy.”

I didn’t return the smile. I fact I was furious, as one often is after a big fright. “So those unmannered louts work for you?”

“I’m afraid so. I hope they didn’t alarm you too much?”

“Only kidnap me, stick a knife into my side, and threaten to kill me,” I said. “I was on my way to Atlantic City.”

“I know. That’s why we had to act quickly. I apologize for their behavior but I did tell them to make sure you reached this carriage before the train pulled out.”

“They could have tried saying that Mr. Wilkie, head of the Secret Service, wanted to speak with me urgently. Maybe I’d have come along of my own accord.”

“Ah, but I couldn’t let them use my name or let anybody know that we were meeting. Actually I didn’t want anybody to even know I was anywhere near New York City. I slipped through the station, hopefully incognito.” He leaned closer to me. “And I had to speak to you in a place where I could guarantee that we were not followed or overheard.”

“Good heavens. Why all the secrecy? Or does the Secret Service always operate this way?”

The train was chugging along merrily across the Jersey marshes and the outer sprawl of civilization. “Where are we going, anyway?”

“The journey is what matters, not the destination,” he said. “You can get out when the train stops in Philadelphia if we’ve concluded our business by then, but I find it expedient to conduct strictly confidential cases on a train. It’s like a private world, isn’t it?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t set up a hot air balloon,” I said and he laughed.

“I like you, Miss Murphy. You’ve been through a scare and you’re feisty and witty as ever.”

“So why do you need to speak to me so privately?” I asked.

“Houdini, of course,” he said.

“Houdini? What is that to do with you?” I was taken completely off guard.