Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
Thesmokingcarriageinwhichtheshort,red-facedmanwiththeblackbeardhadbeenseenwasnowempty.Saveforahalf-smokedcigar,therewasnotracewhateverofitsrecentoccupant.Thedoorofthiscarriagewasfastened.Inthenextcompartment,towhichattentionhadbeenoriginallydrawn,therewasnosigneitherofthegentlemanwiththeastrakhancollaroroftheyoungladywhoaccompaniedhim.Allthreepassengershaddisappeared.Ontheotherhand,therewasfounduponthefloorofthiscarriage—theoneinwhichthetalltravellerandtheladyhadbeen—ayoungmanfashionablydressedandofelegantappearance.Helaywithhiskneesdrawnup,andhisheadrestingagainstthefartherdoor,anelbowuponeitherseat.Abullethadpenetratedhisheartandhisdeathmusthavebeeninstantaneous.Noonehadseensuchamanenterthetrain,andnorailwayticketwasfoundinhispocket,neitherwerethereanymarkingsuponhislinen,norpapersnorpersonalpropertywhichmighthelptoidentifyhim.Whohewas,whencehehadcome,andhowhehadmethisendwereeachasgreatamysteryaswhathadoccurredtothethreepeoplewhohadstartedanhourandahalfbeforefromWillesdeninthosetwocompartments.
Ihavesaidthattherewasnopersonalpropertywhichmighthelptoidentifyhim,butitistruethattherewasonepeculiarityaboutthisunknownyoungmanwhichwasmuchcommenteduponatthetime.
