November 28, 1924

The Job

Pancho Barnes received a telegram from Mr. Brian Courtemanche, Esq. of Courtemanche, Ashman, & Partners in the city of Arkham and were assigned to find what happened to artist Victoria Foster. The Resistance believed that Foster had some kind of unknown sensitivity toward the world around her that was reflected in her paintings.Seven weeks ago, when the artist started having nightmares that impaired her art, the Resistance sent her to The Jasiak Clinic on Sleep in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Since then, the Resistance lost all contact with the Jasiak Clinic. Courtemanche asked the investigators to go to Eureka Springs and find out what happened.

The team agreed and were each provided with $50 and rail passage to Memphis via New York and Chicago.

Arkham to New York

The train from Arkham to New York was a commuter train that made many stops. The carriages were all full, but the investigators managed to find separate seats in a second class car. Barnes sat toward the rear of the car. Dr. No sat across from a Middle Eastern man who babbling continuously under his breath in a variety of languages. Luther and John sat together near the front of the car.

The trip was long an boring. John noted a large muscular man sitting in the seat in from of him. The man was making lewd comments to a poised young woman who was actively ignoring him, though her discomfort was evident. Every so often, a spectacled man sitting across the aisle gave the big man disparaging looks, who then held his tongue for a while.

Fracas on the Platform

Luther was watching a strange fellow seated across the aisle from him. The man appeared to be dressed in an eastern style robe and turban, but Luther could tell that it was actually a blanket held by a belt and a towel around his head. The man was holding onto a carpetbag protectively. The former cook stared at the imposter until the man got up.

Luther watched him enter the bathroom at the rear of the car. Several minutes later, when the man exited the bathroom, he was wearing a suit and did not have the bag. He had expertly changed his appearance such that if Luther had not been watching, he would not have recognized the man, who took a seat near the rear of the car. Luther confronted the stranger, who suggested that they have a private conversation on the platform.

When they got up, Julius followed discretely. As soon as they were outside the main compartment, the stranger asked Luther to leave him alone and go away. When Luther refused, the stranger, who had a pistol under his coat, took at swing at Luther. Julius stormed in, and the two of them beat up the stranger, relieving him of his wallet. They returned to their seats, and the stranger followed a few minutes later, after cleaning himself up, and went to the cafe at the front of the car.

An Unexpected Acquaintance

Later in the journey Pancho recognized another passenger traveling alone. Allie Harring, the selfless hostess. Pancho greeted the socialite, who welcomed her warmly. Allie told Pancho that she was en route to Chicago for the unveiling of the first complete tyranosaurus skeleton at the Wainwright Museum in two days. She invited Pancho to join her, but the aviatrix told her that their connecting train left in the morning. They spent the rest of the trip in friendly conversation.