Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
Ididmybest,butthebestwaslittleenough.ThenextthingIheardtherehadbeenascandalatoneoftheNorthumberlandAvenuehotels:atravellerhadbeenfleecedofalargesumbytwoconfederatecard-sharpers,andthematterwasinthehandsofScotlandYard.ThefirstIlearnedofitwasintheeveningpaper,andIwasatoncecertainthatmybrotherandMacCoywerebackattheiroldgames.IhurriedatoncetoEdward’slodgings.Theytoldmethatheandatallgentleman(whomIrecognizedasMacCoy)hadgoneofftogether,andthathehadleftthelodgingsandtakenhisthingswithhim.Thelandladyhadheardthemgiveseveraldirectionstothecabman,endingwithEustonStation,andshehadaccidentallyoverheardthetallgentlemansayingsomethingaboutManchester.Shebelievedthatthatwastheirdestination.
"Aglanceatthetime-tableshowedmethatthemostlikelytrainwasatfive,thoughtherewasanotherat4:35whichtheymighthavecaught.Ihadonlytimetogetthelaterone,butfoundnosignofthemeitheratthedepotorinthetrain.Theymusthavegoneonbytheearlierone,soIdeterminedtofollowthemtoManchesterandsearchfortheminthehotelsthere.Onelastappealtomybrotherbyallthatheowedtomymothermightevennowbethesalvationofhim.Mynerveswereoverstrung,andIlitacigartosteadythem.Atthatmoment,justasthetrainwasmovingoff,thedoorofmycompartmentwasflungopen,andtherewereMacCoyandmybrotherontheplatform.
"Theywerebothdisguised,andwithgoodreason,fortheyknewthattheLondonpolicewereafterthem.
