The Narrow Margin Page #3

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Okay, I'll share it with you.

I don't want them counting trays.

Here's some cigarettes. Get your appetite

under control while I find a waiter.

This is a modern train.

Why don't you ring for him?

I want to look around first.

Get in there and keep the door locked.

I like my bacon crisp and lots of butter

on the toast, please.

- It's all yours.

- Thanks.

I know you, I saw you sneak out of there.

You said you had a compartment.

- Take it easy.

- Take your hands off me.

He's a robber. Last night he snuck in on us

and I just saw him sneaking out of...

- That's a good boy. Let's go, son.

- Let me go!

Say, he's some little scrapper.

- Yeah, we're training him that way.

- Put me down!

Put me down!

Take your hands off me.

- Help!

- Here's your boy, madam.

Tommy, where on earth have you been?

- He got lost.

- I did not.

He's got a gun under his arm. I felt it.

Call the police.

- He's very excitable.

- You're probably feeding him wrong.

- Too many oats.

- The police will lock him up...

- and they'll take his gun away.

- Come along, Tommy.

- Find your case?

- No. But I'm still looking.

Good morning.

Oh, hello. How are you?

I was just on my way to the dining car.

So am I. Still rushing, I see.

Yeah, I'm kind of busy this morning.

- One, sir?

- Yeah.

This way, please.

Rushing around the way you do

must work up quite an appetite.

- What did you say?

- I said you must be hungry.

Oh, I can always eat.

- You people together?

- No, I'm not eating.

What?

Don't mind me.

I have something else on my mind.

Not food, obviously.

Your change. Remember?

You went off and forgot it last night.

I guess I forgot something else, too.

No, I took the tip out.

Your reputation's first-rate...

in the bar.

Meaning it's not so good here.

All right, consider yourself apologized to.

But I'm really not hungry.

Excuse me. Just a wire to the home office.

And I wish you'd get those nerves

quieted down.

Yeah, I'm working on it.

Toast and coffee.

The gentleman's not having any.

Yes, ma'am.

Pardon me.

I beg your pardon, sir.

Always meeting in a tight place,

aren't we?

This makes twice.

As a matter of fact, I'd like to speak

to you, if you'll pardon the intrusion.

- My name is Jennings. Sam Jennings.

- What's on your mind?

A little deal.

Possibly an accommodation for both of us.

Certainly for me.

The gentleman at the other table

says that...

you want to dispose

of a spare compartment.

I'd like to take it off your hands.

That's very kind of you, Mr. Jennings,

but I've decided to keep the compartment.

May I ask why?

You can't sleep in two rooms at once.

Sorry. That's my business.

But this is preposterous.

Yours is the only available space

on this train and I'm in an upper berth.

Young lady,

does that seem fair and equitable?

Me at 265 pounds in a hatbox...

while this fellow monopolizes

two spacious compartments.

Well, maybe he has his reasons.

I'm sorry, but that's the way it's got to be.

Possibly not.

We'll see what

the conductor has to say about this.

I guess I have some explaining to do.

Explain it to me sometime, too, will you?

Excuse me.

- Steward.

- Yes, sir?

Send me some breakfast, car 10, room A.

- Bacon, eggs, toast, let's see...

- Coffee, sir?

Yeah, that's right, plenty of it.

Thank you, sir.

There he is. If you don't believe me,

search him. The gun's under his arm.

If you're a good boy,

I'll show you the gun sometime.

Show it to me now!

Come on, son. You're blocking traffic.

Attaboy.

Then you have got a gun!

All robbers carry guns, madam.

I don't believe it.

I told you, didn't I? He never fooled me.

How's my little boy this morning?

Swell. We caught a robber,

but he got away.

Nanny wouldn't believe me,

would you, Nanny?

It was a little mix-up, Mrs. Sinclair.

This man got into our room by mistake.

Who was he?

Just a passenger.

I'm sure it was an accident.

It was not. He's sneaking all over the train.

That is odd.

I'd like to hear more about this, Tommy,

but not now.

What would you like for breakfast?

Tommy, you heard your mother.

What do you want to eat?

I'm not hungry.

All right. We'll just have to order for you.

Waiter.

We'd like some orange juice, oatmeal,

and milk for the boy.

Yes, madam.

Mr. Brown, I'd like a word with you.

Okay. I might as well tell you

I don't want to sell that compartment.

Isn't there some rule about this?

Not that I know of.

If a passenger pays for space

and doesn't use it, that's his business.

The point is I may be using that space,

or my partner will.

I thought he stayed in Chicago.

He took the plane. He'll join me later.

We're going on to LA together.

- All right, let's drop it.

- I'll see what I can do for you at La Junta.

Oh, conductor.

I was gonna ask him

how long we stop over there.

La Junta is a 12-minute stop.

We ought to be pulling in there

in two minutes.

Thanks.

I could've sworn I heard dishes rattle

and smelled coffee.

It's on the way. It'll be here any minute.

I may not last that long.

The train is stopping.

- Where are we?

- La Junta, Colorado.

Don't peek at the sights.

Why don't you go in and play cards?

I can't.

I ate the deck.

Central Pacific train number 5.

Golden West Limited...

westbound for Albuquerque

and Los Angeles...

will remain in the station for 12 minutes.

Passengers may obtain sandwiches

at the newsstand...

and souvenirs inside the depot.

- Good morning. Your breakfast.

- Fine.

- Is a table ready?

- No, I'll set it up myself.

- I'll be glad to do it.

- Don't bother. I'll do it.

All right, sir.

What're you giving me this for?

It's your breakfast, sir.

- You said...

- Nothing of the kind. I never eat breakfast.

Hello again.

For a man who's not hungry,

you get your food in strange ways.

Me? I didn't order this.

There must be some mistake.

Begging your pardon, sir.

It says, "Room A, car 10.

"Bacon, eggs, toast and extra coffee. "

- Somebody ordered it!

- Not here they didn't.

Why don't you try the next car?

Everybody makes mistakes.

- I guess so. Excuse me, ma'am.

- Yeah.

I'm never hungry before noon.

But you said you could always eat.

Not on trains.

I always eat light. Sandwiches...

- What's the matter?

- That man on the platform.

He keeps staring.

- At you or both of us?

- At me mostly.

He probably thinks I'm somebody else.

It's funny.

Sometimes it's not so funny.

I'm not going to worry about it.

Life's too short.

- Yeah, isn't it?

- I want to get something in the station.

Wait, I'll go with you.

I have a wire to send.

Might even work up an appetite

and grab a sandwich.

I think I'll find what I want in there.

I'll be with you in a minute.

A couple of sandwiches.

Did you see this?

Sad, isn't it?

Makes you wish you could do something.

Straight wire. Urgent.

That'll be $1.69.

Thank you.

Well, can I see the gun now?

Son, I'm going to need your help.

- I bet you can keep a secret, can't you?

- Well, maybe.

It's all right.

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