The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-01-01
A TRAGEDY I'm A TUNNEL

what's become of him? A fine
story
"Would I have given the alarm if
I was implicated in any way?" I an
swered hotly. Don't be a fool,
guard"
The guard would have answered me
rudely, no doubt, but at that moment
doctor appeared upon the scene.
"Thc man is dead-beyond all ques-
ton dead" he said at the very first
glance,
And the cause of death?" I asked
eagerly, while the guard frowned at
me as though 1 We're making myself
too busy. "Are there any marks Of
foul play?"
"None visible replied the doctor
after a brief examination. II should
say it was heart, but I cannot be
certain till I have looked further"
(Which you can do somewhere else
and better than here" interposed the
guard. "We've lost too much time
already. I must push on to York and
report there. This is too big job for
me-"
You had better go back to Grant
ham," protested. Its quite Close
not half 4 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 I so
back"
ITO identify the dead man-he got
in at Grantham-and to give informa-
ton as to the man who got out"
"Oh, boshr' cried the guard. "There
was no man-no one but yourself, and
you've got to come along with me, and
-tllat'-he pointed to the corpse-"on
to York"
Il certainly shall not 50 on with the
train. I shall go back to Grantham
alone. There is no time to be lost.
The other man"
. I 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
I am a government official. Here is
my card. Let there be an end Of this.
I think you are wrong in going on, but
at any rate 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 I alighted
and left the guard rather crestfallen.
Within few minutes, walking rap
idly, I re-entered the tunnel which had
been the scene OF the strange incident,
and in less than half an hour I reached
the station. 1t was dimly lighted, for
the next express train, the 1906 "up,"
was nearly due, and there We're several
officials upon the platform.
I went up to one, an inspector, and
briefly told him what had happened.
Dear, dear! Of course. I 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 at
Hull tomorrow. He buys lot for his
furniture factory-that is, he did, I
suppose I ought to say. Poor Mr..
Bateman! He was heavy, overfat for
his age, and he ought not to have run
so fast"
"Wouid 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 motive for foul play. I
saw the disappearance of this second
passenger explained. Bateman had
died suddenly almost in the other
mans arms.
If evilly disposed it would be but the
matter of a moment for the latter to
get possession Of purse and pocket
book and all valuables-everything, N
fact-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 it before the inspect
Oh 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," I 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 sec me; he might recognize
me as having been in the north ex'
press. But go-sharp's the word. Find
out where he's booking to and take q
ticket for ME to the same place. Here
are a couple of sovereigns. You'll ind
me in the waiting room."
He came to me there, bringing a
ticket for Kings Cross, the other
mans destination.
"Traveling up, no doubt, by the 12.OG
midnight express, due in London al
2.4O. Mark you now. inspector, 1 want
you to telegraph to Scotland Yard and
ask them to have detective on the
arrival platform to watch for oul
gentleman in check ulster and flap
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
ne! box and the inspector cried: Here
she comes! You wait, sir, till the last
I'll mark the ulster down to his car
riage ard III 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" 1 said, as I got into the
carriage with a parting injunction tc
the inspector that he had better tele
graph also to York, giving the de-
ceaseds name, and inform his rela
tions in Grantham.
My man in the ulster did not move
on the way to town. I was continu
ally on the lookout, alert and wakeful
watching in every tunnel We passed