Why had Avery gone at his accusation of him in that way? Connery had had the telegram in his pocket from the start of the questioning in the washroom; Avery had seen and read it; they could have condemned him with whomever they wished, merely by showing it. Why, then, had Avery chosen to drag this girl--strained and upset already by the attack upon her father and with long hours of nursing ahead of her before expert help could be got--step by step through their accusation of him? Eaton saw that--whatever Harriet Santoine's casual interest in himself might be--this showed at least that Avery's relation to her was not so completely accepted by her and so definite as appeared on the surface, since Avery thought it necessary to convince her rather than merely tell her. And what sent the blood hot and throbbing into Eaton's temples was the cruelty of Avery's action. So Avery was that kind of a man! The kind that, when an end is to be attained, is ready to ignore as though unimportant the human side of things. Concurrently with these thoughts--as always with all his thoughts--was running the memory of his own experience--that experience of which Eaton had not spoken and of which he had avoided speaking at any cost; and as he questioned now whether Avery might be one of those men who to gain an end they deem necessary are ready to disregard humanity,--to inflict suffering, wrong, injustice,--he realized that he was beginning to hate Avery for himself, for what he was, aside from the accusation he brought. No sounds came to him now from the washroom--the girl must have controlled herself; footsteps passing the door of his compartment told him then that the two had gone out into the open car. CHAPTER X THE BLIND MAN'S EYES Half an hour later, Connery unlocked the door of Eaton's compartment, entered and closed the door behind him. He had brought in Eaton's traveling bag and put it down. "You understand," said the conductor, "that when a train is stalled like this it is considered as if under way. So I have local police power, and I haven't exceeded my rights in putting you under arrest." "I don't recall that I have questioned your right," Eaton answered shortly. "I thought you might question it now. I'm going to search you. Are you going to make trouble or needn't I send for help?"