realized the character of the place. "But please--please give me
something to eat."

"Hully gee, young feller!" exclaimed the bar-keeper. "You do it great.
You ought to be an actor. Step up and feed your face."

"What?" stammered Samuel, perplexed.

"EAT!" said the other, and pointed. "Maybe you understand that."

And Samuel turned and saw a lot of food set out upon a counter. He
rushed to it and began. At the first taste a kind of madness seized
him, and he ate like a wild beast, gulping things.

For several minutes he did this, while the other watched curiously.
Then he remarked, "Say, you'd better quit."

"What?" asked Samuel, seizing more food.

"I say quit," said the man. "Just for your own good. I see your
story's true, an' a little rest won't hurt you."

Samuel gazed longingly at the food, desiring more handfuls. "Come over
here," said the man. "What happened to you?"

"I was locked in an empty freight car."

"Humph! That's a new one! How long?"

"What day is this?"