"Something livelier in the way of reading, sir, if you wish it!" broke
in the voice of the newsboy who had stopped beside the parlor-car chair
of the military-looking traveler, interrupting the reading of the
little green-covered book. "I have a new detective story--"

"Look here! If you interrupt me again when I'm reading my Izaak Walton
I'll have you put off the train! Gad! I will, sir, if I have to do it
myself!"

The military-appearing traveler snapped the green book against the palm
of one hand with a report like that of a pistol, thereby causing an old
lady, asleep in a chair across the aisle, to awaken with a start.

"Are we in? Have we arrived? Is this Colchester?" she asked, sitting
up and looking about in startled surprise, her bonnet very much askew.
The newsboy, with an abashed air, slid down the aisle.

"Madam, I sincerely beg your pardon," said the tall man who had caused
the commotion. He arose, his green book in one hand, and bowed his
apologies. "I regret exceedingly that I startled you. But that
insufferable young puppy had the extreme audacity to inflict himself on
me when I was reading, and I lost my temper. I am sorry but I--"

"You didn't strike him, did you?" asked the old lady, reproachfully.

"No, madam. Though such conduct would have been justified on my part,
I merely spoke to him. It was this--this book that I used rather
roughly and which awakened you."