Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Man with the Watches
HisticketwasinMacCoy’spocket,andsowastheticketforsomebaggagewhichtheyhadleftatthedepot.LikemostAmericans,hehadfounditcheaperandeasiertobuyanoutfitinLondonthantobringonefromNewYork,sothatallhislinenandclotheswerenewandunmarked.Thebag,containingthedust-cloak,whichIhadthrownoutofthewindow,mayhavefallenamongsomebramblepatchwhereitisstillconcealed,ormayhavebeencarriedoffbysometramp,ormayhavecomeintothepossessionofthepolice,whokepttheincidenttothemselves.Anyhow,IhaveseennothingaboutitintheLondonpapers.Astothewatches,theywereaselectionfromthosewhichhadbeenintrustedtohimforbusinesspurposes.ItmayhavebeenforthesamebusinesspurposesthathewastakingthemtoManchester,but—well,it’stoolatetoenterintothat.
"Idon’tblamethepoliceforbeingatfault.Idon’tseehowitcouldhavebeenotherwise.Therewasjustonelittlecluethattheymighthavefollowedup,butitwasasmallone.Imeanthatsmall,circularmirrorwhichwasfoundinmybrother’spocket.Itisn’taverycommonthingforayoungmantocarryaboutwithhim,isit?Butagamblermighthavetoldyouwhatsuchamirrormaymeantoacard-sharper.Ifyousitbackalittlefromthetable,andlaythemirror,faceupwards,uponyourlap,youcansee,asyoudeal,everycardthatyougivetoyouradversary.Itisnothardtosaywhetheryouseeamanorraisehimwhenyouknowhiscardsaswellasyourown.Itwasasmuchapartofasharper’soutfitastheelasticclipuponSparrowMacCoy’sarm
