Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Lost Special
Weheardtherattle,rattle,rattle,asthedebrisstruckagainstthewalls,andthen,quitealongtimeafterwards,therecameadeeproarastheremainsofthetrainstruckthebottom.Theboilermayhaveburst,forasharpcrashcameaftertheroar,andthenadensecloudofsteamandsmokeswirledupoutoftheblackdepths,fallinginasprayasthickasrainallroundus.Thenthevapourshreddedoffintothinwisps,whichfloatedawayinthesummersunshine,andallwasquietagainintheHeartseasemine.
"Andnow,havingcarriedoutourplanssosuccessfully,itonlyremainedtoleavenotracebehindus.Ourlittlebandofworkersattheotherendhadalreadyrippeduptherailsanddisconnectedthesideline,replacingeverythingasithadbeenbefore.Wewereequallybusyatthemine.Thefunnelandotherfragmentswerethrownin,theshaftwasplankedoverasitusedtobe,andthelineswhichledtoitweretornupandtakenaway.Then,withoutflurry,butwithoutdelay,weallmadeourwayoutofthecountry,mostofustoParis,myEnglishcolleaguetoManchester,andMcPhersontoSouthampton,whenceheemigratedtoAmerica.LettheEnglishpapersofthatdatetellhowthroughlywehaddoneourwork,andhowcompletelywehadthrownthecleverestoftheirdetectivesoffourtrack.
"YouwillrememberthatGomezthrewhisbagofpapersoutofthewindow,andIneednotsaythatIsecuredthatbagandbroughtthemtomyemployers.Itmayinterestmyemployersnow,however,tolearnthatoutofthatbagItookoneortwolittlepapersasasouveniroftheoccasion
