I was sure that a catastrophe was impending, but
something kept on telling me: "If I do not go,
Charley will be killed." As I did not know any-
body at Montgomery Junction Station to whom
I could telegraph to tell Charley that I was not
going, I started, greatly against my will.

On arriving at the junction, my train pulled
up on one side of the platform, and exactly at the
same time (reminding me of our experience at
Chipping Norton when boys) the New Orleans train,
in which I expected Charley, drew up at the
opposite side. The sleeping-car of the New
Orleans train had to be transferred to the North
and South train, which went to Birmingham. I
stepped out of my car, and, immediately I did
so, saw Charley come out of the sleeper, face to
face with me.

Directly he caught sight of me he appeared
dumbfounded, and cried: "Hello, John, I did not
expect to see you to-day! Have you been waiting
for me since yesterday, when I asked you to meet
me?" It was now my turn to look astonished, and
I showed him the wire I had received. He said:
"You ought to have received that the day before."

The mystery of our meeting impressed us both,
and Charley evidently did not like it at all.

I had come up from West Point with a friend of
mine, Dr. Pierce. I introduced him to Charley,
who decided to leave his sleeper and join us in our
day-car--a most lucky occurrence for him, as it

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