Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Lost Special
"
Thistelegramwasreceivedatsix-forty.Atsix-fiftyasecondmessagewasreceivedfromManchester—
"Nosignofspecialasadvisedbyyou."
Andthentenminuteslaterathird,morebewildering—
"Presumesomemistakeastoproposedrunningofspecial.LocaltrainfromSt.Helenstimedtofollowithasjustarrivedandhasseennothingofit.Kindlywireadvices.—Manchester."
Thematterwasassumingamostamazingaspect,althoughinsomerespectsthelasttelegramwasarelieftotheauthoritiesatLiverpool.Ifanaccidenthadoccurredtothespecial,itseemedhardlypossiblethatthelocaltraincouldhavepasseddownthesamelinewithoutobservingit.Andyet,whatwasthealternative?Wherecouldthetrainbe?Haditpossiblybeensidetrackedforsomereasoninordertoallowtheslowertraintogopast?Suchanexplanationwaspossibleifsomesmallrepairhadtobeeffected.AtelegramwasdispatchedtoeachofthestationsbetweenSt.HelensandManchester,andthesuperintendentandtrafficmanagerwaitedintheutmostsuspenseattheinstrumentfortheseriesofreplieswhichwouldenablethemtosayforcertainwhathadbecomeofthemissingtrain.Theanswerscamebackintheorderofquestions,whichwastheorderofthestationsbeginningattheSt.Helensend—
"Specialpassedherefiveo’clock.—CollinsGreen."
"Specialpassedheresixpastfive.—Earlstown."
"Specialpassedhere5:10.—Newton."
"Specialpassedhere5:20.—KenyonJunction."
"Nospecialtrainhaspassedhere.—BartonMoss."
Thetwoofficialsstaredateachotherinamazement.
