The Drums of Jeopardy

A fog‑laden March morning finds a lone, cloaked stranger stepping off a train in Albany, his battered kitbag clutched tightly as he disappears into the mist. The eerie atmosphere is amplified when a second, squat figure materializes from the haze, moving with uncanny agility and hinting at a hidden pursuit that has followed the newcomer across continents.

Seeking shelter, the mysterious traveler hails a cab and heads for a nearby hotel, where he registers under the name John Hawksley, insisting on a room “with a bath” on the second floor. The sleepy clerk and bellboy are unsettled by his ominous appearance—a dark beard, burning eyes, and a demeanor that suggests danger is closing in. As the elevator doors close, listeners are drawn into a tense cat‑and‑mouse game that has only just begun, promising intrigue and danger lurking in the fog‑shrouded streets.