Tales of Terror and Mystery

The Man with the Watches

           Hisappearanceseemstohaveimpresseditselfupontheguard’smemory,forhewasprepared,afterwards,todescribeortoidentifyhim.Hewasamanofthirty-fourorthirty-fiveyearsofage,dressedinsomegreymaterial,sharp-nosed,alert,witharuddy,weather-beatenface,andasmall,closelycropped,blackbeard.Heglancedupasthedoorwasopened.Thetallmanpausedwithhisfootuponthestep.

           "Thisisasmokingcompartment.Theladydislikessmoke,"saidhe,lookingroundattheguard.

           "Allright!Hereyouare,sir!"saidJohnPalmer.Heslammedthedoorofthesmokingcarriage,openedthatofthenextone,whichwasempty,andthrustthetwotravellersin.Atthesamemomenthesoundedhiswhistleandthewheelsofthetrainbegantomove.Themanwiththecigarwasatthewindowofhiscarriage,andsaidsomethingtotheguardasherolledpasthim,butthewordswerelostinthebustleofthedeparture.Palmersteppedintotheguard’svan,asitcameuptohim,andthoughtnomoreoftheincident.

           TwelveminutesafteritsdeparturethetrainreachedWillesdenJunction,whereitstoppedforaveryshortinterval.Anexaminationoftheticketshasmadeitcertainthatnooneeitherjoinedorleftitatthistime,andnopassengerwasseentoalightupontheplatform.At5:14thejourneytoManchesterwasresumed,andRugbywasreachedat6:50,theexpressbeingfiveminuteslate.

           AtRugbytheattentionofthestationofficialswasdrawntothefactthatthedoorofoneofthefirst-classcarriageswasopen.Anexaminationofthatcompartment,andofitsneighbour,disclosedaremarkablestateofaffairs.

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Roboto Lora
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