The suburban citizen., 1902-12-27

saw the disappearance Of this second
passenger explained. Bateman had
died suddenly almost In the other
mans arms.
IL evilly disposed II would be but the
matter of a moment for the latter tc
get possession Of purse and pocket.
book and all valuables--everythin n
faet-and make off, leaving the car
riage at once, even at the risk Of his
life.
1t was a pretty, a plausible theory
enough, and / put 1t before the inspect
or with the whole of the facts
I'm inclined to agree with you, sir,
always supposing there was any such
man." he replied. "Your tunnel story
is big mouthful to swallow"
There he goes" whispered, clutch.
ing at the inspectors arm and point.
ing to the tails Of a check ulster dis.
appearing into the booking office. He
must not see me; he might recognize
me as having been in the north ex.
press. But go-sharps the word. Find
out where he's booking to and take o
ticket for me to the same place. Here
are couple Of sovcreigns. You'll find
me in the waiting room"
He came to me there, bringing q
ticket for Kings Cross, the other
mans destination.
Travelling up, no doubt, by the 120d
midnight express, due in London at
2.40. Mark you now, inspector, want
you to telegraph to Scotland Yard and
ask them to have detective on the
arrival platform to watch for our
gentleman In check ulster and Zap
cape and stop him.
Mention my name; tell the Office to
look out for me, and we'll arrange fur.
ther together"
An electric bell sounded in the sig.
nal box and the inspector cried; Here
she comes! You wait, sir, till the last
I'll mark the ulster down to his car.
riage and I'll put you the next door,
You must be on the lookout at Peter.
borough and Finsbury Park. He might
get off at one of those stations"
mo fear" said, as 1 got into the
carriage with parting injunction to
the inspector that he had better tele'
graph also to York, giving the de-
ceased's name, and inform his rela.
tions in Grantham.
My man in the ulster did not move
on the way to town. l was continu.
ally ON the lookout alert and wakeful,
watching in every tunnel we passed
through for some corroboration Of my
former experience. In the flying train
probably at this time of night every
one but myself was sound asleep. The
lights We're certainly reflected onto the
brick walls, but no action or incident.
Nevertheless, l was now quite con-
vinced that 1 had made no mistake as
TO what had seen.
l was close behind the check ulster
directly its wearer alighted. So was
my friend Mountstuart, the detective,
to whom, as he ranged alongside,
whispered:
Take him straight to the nearest
station. l will charge him there with
robbery from the person. Mind he
does not sling throw away any stuff"
Except for my caution l believe he
would have got rid Of fat, bulky
pocketbook, but Mountstuart caught
him in the act and took it from his
hand. He began TO buster, shouting
What does this mean? How dare you
interefer with me? Who are you"
"You will hear soon enough" said
Mountstuart, quietly. ain with you.
We are going to Portland road"
never saw a man so dumbfounded.
He was q dark-eyed, lantern jawed,
cadaverous looking, and he was shiver-
ing, no doubt with the sudden shock Of
his unexpected arrest. He gave his
name at the station as Gregory Car
stairs, a commercial traveller, and it
came out that he had had business
dealings with Mr.. Bateman. The
temptation had been irresistible when
he held the dead man in his arms to
search and despoil him. He thought
it was quite safe; no once could know
OF his presence in the carriage, and
the sudden death would be attributed
to natural causes.
His possession of the stolen property
was enough to secure his conviction for
theft, the only charge pressed, for
death had really been from heart
failure. My evidence as to what | had
seen was heard in court, and heard
with mixed feeling in which incredul.
ity predominated. The judge and some
others We're sufficiently interested,
however, to put my statement to the
test by actual experiment on the Un.
derground Railway, and the fact of
the telltale reflection was trlumphantly
proved.
The next time I met the guard of
that night express he was very crest.
fallen and admitted that he had made
an ass Of himself-The Taller.
Family Troubles,