The suburban citizen., 1902-12-27
A TRAGEDY IN A TUNNEL

through my mind, and it seemed an
age while waited to resolve my
doubts. Probably no more than a few
seconds elapsed before l put my hand
to the signal and stopped the train.
was first to get out, and hardly wv IT.
ing the stoppage clambered along the
footboard and stood upon it, looking
into the carriage.
No one was to be seen within.
"Quick, quickw l cried to the guard
when he came up. 'In here. Some
thing has happened. There is a man
sick; fear he has tainted. He wasn't
alone, but cannot see the other man"
Now the carriage door was opened
and disclosed body lying recumbent,
inert, in a strangely stiff, haphazard
fashion ON the floor. The guard
stopped down, waving his lantern over
the white, drawn face and moving the
body gently on one side.
"All up with him, l expect. Run,
somebody, along the train and see If
there's a doctor aboard. And you, sir,
what do you know of this?"
l described what l had heard or
though had heard and seen, including
the glimpse reflected in the tunnel.
You must have been dreaming or
you're inventing," was the guards
rather abrupt comment. Couldn't
have seen anything like that-taint
possible. And how comes it you know
such a lot about it? You tell us, too,
there was another man in the carriage
what's become of him? A tine
story"
would l have given the alarm If
was implicated in any way?" / an
swered hotly. Don't be a fool,
guard"
The guard would have answered me
rudely, no doubt. but at that moment
a doctor appeared upon the scene.
The man is dead-beyond all ques-
tion dead" he, said at the very first
glance. ~
And the cause of deathY l asked
eagerly, while the guard frowned at
me as though l We're making myself
too busy. Are there any marks of
foul playY
None visible replied the doctor
after a brief examination. II should
say it was heart, but | cannot be
certain till have looked further"
(Which you can do somewhere else
and better than here" interposed the
guard. We've lost too much time
already l must push on to York and
raNort there. This is too big a job for
me
on had better go back to Grant
lam 1 protested. ITS quite close
not half a dozen miles"
Il don't want you to teach me my
duty, and I'm not going. I've got first
Of all to keep time. Why should l go
back"
ITO identify the dead man-he got
in at Grantham-and to give informa-
tion as to the man who got out"
"Oh, bosh! cried the guard. "There
was no man-no one but yourself, and
you've got to come along with me, and
-that"-he pointed to the corpse-"on
to York"
81 certainly shall not go on with the
train. / shall go back to Grantham
alone, There is no time to be lost.
The other man"
l thought the guard would have
struck me. He was obviously ready
to lay violent hands on me, and he re-
peated that. he meant to take me on
to York. If necessary by force.
you've no authority. You're not a
police officer, and am, or as good, for
l am government official. Here Is
my card. Let there be an end of this.
l think you are wrong in going on but
at any rate l shall walk back TO Grant
ham by the line. Be so good as to
look after my things in the next COM
partment," and with that l alighted
and left the guard rather crestfallen.
Within a few minutes, walking rap
idly, re-entered the tunnel which had
been the scene Of the strange incident.
and in less than half an hour / reached
the station. 1t was dimly lighted, for
the next express train, the 1906 up
was nearly due. and there were several
officials upon the platform.
], went up to one, an Inspector and
briefly told him what had happened.
Dear, dear! OF course. / remem-
Der. That was Mr.. Erasmus Bateman.
He belongs here-a rich man. greatly
respected; has the big stores in High
street. He was in hurry to catch
that train, for he was going down to.
night for the great timber auction nj
Hull tomorrow. Ee buys lot for his
furniture factory-.that is, he did, i
suppose / ought to say. Poor Mr..
Bateman! He was heavy, overfat for
his age, and he ought not to have run
so fast"
Would he be likely to have. much
money on him." I asked.
why, yes; likely enough. He was
his own buyer, and he always bought
for cash"
Here was a motive for foul play. ]