Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Lost Special
MooreshouldsharetheexpenseofMonsieurCaratal’strain,andshouldtravelintheotheremptyfirst-classcompartment,ifMonsieurCaratalobjectedtohavinghimintheonewhichheoccupied.Itwasdifficulttoseeanyobjectiontosuchanarrangement,andyetMonsieurCaratal,uponthesuggestionbeingmadetohimbyMr.PotterHood,absolutelyrefusedtoconsideritforaninstant.Thetrainwashis,hesaid,andhewouldinsistupontheexclusiveuseofit.Allargumentfailedtoovercomehisungraciousobjections,andfinallytheplanhadtobeabandoned.Mr.HoraceMooreleftthestationingreatdistress,afterlearningthathisonlycoursewastotaketheordinaryslowtrainwhichleavesLiverpoolatsixo’clock.Atfourthirty-oneexactlybythestationclockthespecialtrain,containingthecrippledMonsieurCaratalandhisgiganticcompanion,steamedoutoftheLiverpoolstation.Thelinewasatthattimeclear,andthereshouldhavebeennostoppagebeforeManchester.
ThetrainsoftheLondonandWestCoastRailwayrunoverthelinesofanothercompanyasfarasthistown,whichshouldhavebeenreachedbythespecialratherbeforesixo’clock.AtaquarteraftersixconsiderablesurpriseandsomeconsternationwerecausedamongsttheofficialsatLiverpoolbythereceiptofatelegramfromManchestertosaythatithadnotyetarrived.AninquirydirectedtoSt.Helens,whichisathirdofthewaybetweenthetwocities,elicitedthefollowingreply—
"ToJamesBland,Superintendent,CentralL.&W.C.,Liverpool.—Specialpassedhereat4:52,welluptotime.—Dowster,St.Helens.
