 Why did Miss Jervis think that Don worked for the government?
Radio messages stated simply that Superior had seceded from Earth. Communicating by radiophone across the vast pit, they confirmed that the town undoubtedly was missing. A National Guard officer volunteered to take a jeep down into the pit, having found a spot that seemed navigable. The Pentagon and the Atomic Energy Commission denied that they had been conducting secret experiments. The object loomed out of a cloudbank at twelve thousand feet and Studley changed course to avoid it. Don Cort had been dozing in what passed for the club car on the Buckeye Cannonball when the train braked to a stop. When Don had entered the club car he'd seen her hatless head from above and noticed that the hair along the part was dark. Don hesitated, shrugged at the redhead, said, "Excuse me," and followed the conductor. Don made his way up to the locomotive and found a bigger knot of people gathered in front of the cowcatcher. Don saw two men who must have been the engineer and the fireman talking to an old bearded gentleman wearing a civil defense helmet, a topcoat and riding boots. Nevertheless, Don could see that it apparently was a neat, sharp edge, not one of your old ragged, random edges such as might have been caused by an explosion. "If what Mr. Cort and the fireman say is true.
 Because he was handcuffed to a briefcase.
 Because it seemed as though everyone in the area worked for the government.  His appearance made her think so.  Because he was familiar with Senator Bobby Thebold.  Because he was handcuffed to a briefcase.