Detective and mystery stories; French, Joseph (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Police -- Great Britain -- Fiction
He did not stop to ask questions, but leaping once more on his
machine, did the six miles at the highest speed he dared. At precisely
4:00 P.M. he pushed the bicycle into Newton Abbot station, and handing
half a crown to a porter, told him to look after it until his return.
Hasty inquiries informed him that the train with which that from
Torquay connected was a slow local from Plymouth to Exeter. It had not
yet arrived, but was due directly. It stopped for seven minutes, being
scheduled out at 4:10 P.M. On chance Cheyne bought a third single to
Exeter, and putting up his collar, pulling down his hat over his eyes
and affecting a stoop, he passed on to the platform. A few people were
waiting, but a glance told him that neither Price nor Lewisham was
among them.
As, however, they might be watching from the shelter of one of the
waiting rooms, he strolled away towards the Exeter end of the
platform. As he did so the train came in from Plymouth, the engine
stopping just opposite where he was standing. He began to move back,
so as to keep a sharp eye on those getting in. But at once a familiar
figure caught his eye and he stood for a moment motionless.
The coach next the engine was a third, and in the corner of its fourth
compartment sat Lewisham!
Fortunately he was sitting with his back to the engine and he did not
see Cheyne approaching from behind. Fortunately, also, the opposite
corner was occupied by a lady, as, had Price been there, Cheyne would
unquestionably have been discovered.
Retreating quickly, but with triumph in his heart, Cheyne got into the
end compartment of the coach. It was already occupied by three other
men, two sitting in the corner seats next the platform, the third with
his back to the engine at the opposite end. Cheyne dropped into the
remaining corner seat—facing the engine and next the corridor. He did
not then realize the important issues that hung on his having taken up
this position, but later he marveled at the lucky chance which had
placed him there.
As the train proceeded he had an opportunity, for the first time since
embarking on this wild chase, of calmly considering the position, and
he at once saw that the fugitives’ moves up to the present had been
dictated by their circumstances and were almost obligatory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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