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Finally decided to take the Rutland to Malone and the Montreal sleeper from there to Buffalo. I wired ahead for a lower from Malone, bade goodbye to Neal, who headed for Boston, and waited for the Rutland 1:35 PM. It was hot and I was hoping for an air conditioned coach. As a matter of fact, it was one of the hottest days of the year. My headache was feeling better after a Bromo-Seltzer and lunch but still I wasn't in too good shape.

The 1:35 was prompt but that was all. It consisted of about 10 milk cars and an 1890 wooden coach attached to the rear. The few passengers rode in the coach but I think it would have been much more comfortable in a milk car. The coach windows were largely open admitting smoke, cinders, dust, etc. in great abundance. And when the train stopped it was stifling hot to boot. That was a swell ride to Malone – four hours of it while we stopped frequently. The only redeeming feature was an attractive up-country girl with the lovely straight figure and saddle oxfords who was met with a big kiss at Malone by a boy.

I immediately went to get my lower and was seriously jolted to find the train sold out – not even an upper! – because it was full of ^[[insertion]] the torpedoed [[/insertion]] Athenia survivors. It appeared I would have to ride a coach to Utica until about 2 AM, and I felt rotten anyhow. Had dinner at the Hotel Flanagan and waited glumly for the train at 8:30 But Lady Luck smiled at last. When the train arrived there was one section unclaimed at Montreal. So I got my lower and was soon asleep – even the suckey Adirondack Division never awakened me. I came to around Rochester.