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 To be sure, he might look up their home addresses, but the city seemed suddenly very big and empty and distasteful to him. It looked as though everyone was getting out of it, so great were the throngs hurrying toward the gates, and Wade experienced a desire to himself take train and go somewhere. In the end he returned to the hotel and packed a bag and in the middle of the afternoon found himself speeding northward to his old home city. He spent the night with a distant relative, who was far more surprised than pleased to see him, strolled around the town on Sunday morning with results far from cheering, and took a train back to New York at eleven with a distinct sensation of relief.

The station was almost deserted as he made his way toward the cab-stand and when a waiting-room door swung open and a group of four persons hurried through his attention was attracted.

A porter, laden with bags led the way. Then came a slight, elderly lady with silvery