Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Lost Special
OurstokerdidhisbusinesssoclumsilythatSlaterinhisstrugglesfellofftheengine,andthoughfortunewaswithussofarthathebrokehisneckinthefall,stillheremainedasablotuponthatwhichwouldotherwisehavebeenoneofthosecompletemasterpieceswhichareonlytobecontemplatedinsilentadmiration.ThecriminalexpertwillfindinJohnSlatertheoneflawinallouradmirablecombinations.AmanwhohashadasmanytriumphsasIcanaffordtobefrank,andIthereforelaymyfingeruponJohnSlater,andIproclaimhimtobeaflaw.
"ButnowIhavegotourspecialtrainuponthesmalllinetwokilometres,orrathermorethanonemile,inlength,whichleads,orratherusedtolead,totheabandonedHeartseasemine,onceoneofthelargestcoalminesinEngland.Youwillaskhowitisthatnoonesawthetrainuponthisunusedline.Ianswerthatalongitsentirelengthitrunsthroughadeepcutting,andthat,unlesssomeonehadbeenontheedgeofthatcutting,hecouldnothaveseenit.ThereWASsomeoneontheedgeofthatcutting.Iwasthere.AndnowIwilltellyouwhatIsaw.
"Myassistanthadremainedatthepointsinorderthathemightsuperintendtheswitchingoffofthetrain.Hehadfourarmedmenwithhim,sothatifthetrainranofftheline—wethoughtitprobable,becausethepointswereveryrusty—wemightstillhaveresourcestofallbackupon.Havingonceseenitsafelyonthesideline,hehandedovertheresponsibilitytome.Iwaswaitingatapointwhichoverlooksthemouthofthemine,andIwasalsoarmed,asweremytwocompanions.
