At nine the train stopped at the important town of North Platte, built between the two arms of the river, which rejoin each other around it and form a...single artery a large tributary whose waters empty into the Missouri a little above Omaha. The one hundred and first meridian was passed. Mr. Fogg and his partners had resumed their game, no one—not even the dummy— complained of the length of the trip. Fix had begun by winning several guineas, which he seemed likely to lose, but he showed. " Hey," I said trying my best to sound groggy.She quickly replied, "I'm sorry, but could I ask you a favor?" Yeah, anything," I replied yawning."Could you come over?" she asked.I was silent for a moment, just long enough for her to ask if I was still there."Yeah, I'm here," I replied, "Why do you want me over there now? It's really late!" I know," she replied, "I just want some company."After another moment of silence, I replied, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."I took the quickest shower of. ‘Damn it, Stu, it’s about time you got out and lived again,’ Ken said forcefully. ‘It’s been two years now, and you know damn good and well that Shirley didn’t want to see you live alone the rest of your life. Besides, you know Shelby needs a mom. And Kristi would make a good one.’ So it was that my friend Ken did introduce me to Kristi Golden, and it turned out she knew who I was. ‘I see your picture in the paper with your column every week,’ she said after we shook hands in greeting. ‘What?. He appeared to be around his mid-forties with a head of silver white hair. His face was lean and brown from the sunlight. He wore horn-rimmed spectacles. You were aware of being in the presence of a very intelligent person.He looked and smiled. “Be at ease gentleman and grab yourselves a chair,” he remarked in a pleasant voice.Once they were seated he began. “You must be wondering why I called for this meeting. By the way you can smoke if you wish. I’ve read the report of the raid that.