He finally breathed a sigh of relief when he lifted a small black handbag made of sturdy calf leather, divided it into two compartments and carefully placed it on the empty seat next to it (the compartment was empty).
When he lifted the handbag, he could see that he had made great efforts. However, he is a big and strong young man, and he is a little beautiful. His hair and beard are light yellow, his face is round, and his attitude is quiet and honest, but he is not very clever. There was tension and worry in his pale blue eyes. That's not surprising, poor guy! He is taking a big risk. There are five thousand pounds worth of gold and banknotes in that humble purse. He is a small clerk of the famous Gehua Grant Bank, and is remitting this huge sum of money from the head office in London to a branch 200 miles away along the railway.
The clerk who often transports gold is older and more experienced than him. Before he left, he suddenly fell ill for no reason.
The bank manager needs someone to replace him. He said, "Jim Penlock, he can do it. He is big enough. Anyone who tries to play tricks on him will definitely hit him on the head and move. "
In this way, the burden fell on Jim. On pan laoke. If you snap up tickets for a football match in England, the big man won't flinch from anyone, but now he hurts Bob like a two-year-old child. Along the way, until now, his alert eyes and powerful right hand have never left his handbag for a moment. But here, at the Come United Rail station in Eddis, he locked himself in a single room in the first-class car, and the train would have to travel 47 miles to the next station.
Therefore, he breathed a sigh of relief, shrugged his shoulders easily, leaned back on the soft seat, lit his pipe, took out a sports newspaper from his pocket, and soon concentrated on reading the report of the international football championship, because Jim himself had the hope of becoming a player in the near future.
The train rumbled out of the station and began its smooth journey-traveling at 50 miles an hour in the wilderness.
The newspaper still attracted all his attention, and he didn't realize that there were a pair of sneaky sharp eyes staring at him in the shadow under the opposite seat. He didn't see the lanky, strong and dexterous human body straight, crawling quietly on the floor of the carriage like a snake.
He saw nothing and felt nothing until he felt a pair of killing hands stuck around his neck and a knee pressed against his chest.
Jim was very strong, but before he could exert himself, he lay on his back on the floor of the carriage, with a handkerchief soaked in chloroform next to his mouth and nose.
He struggled desperately for a while; He half lifted himself up and almost pushed the strong disciple who caught him away. But even though he was still struggling, the anesthetic made his strength and consciousness disappear! He gave a heavy example, lying on the floor of the carriage like wood. Before losing consciousness, the last thought of the honest man was: "the gold is lost!" " "When he woke up from a dead coma, he was still in a daze and had a headache. His first thought was static." The gold is gone! "The train is still at full speed; The car door is still locked. But the carriage was empty and the handbag was gone.
He nervously searched the luggage rack and under the seat-there was nothing. Jim slammed the window and shouted. The train began to slow down and stand. Six porters came running together, and the stationmaster walked slowly behind according to his identity. Soon a group of people gathered in front of Jim's car.
"I have a five-pound black handbag!" He shouted.
At this moment, the administrator pushed his way through the crowd and came over.
"Where were you robbed, sir?" As he spoke, he looked suspiciously at Jim, who was disheveled and frightened.
"From Eddis Station to this station."
"Impossible, Sir. From Eddis to this station, the train is non-stop and the carriage is empty. "
"I thought the carriage was empty when I came in, Eddie, but someone must be hiding under the seat."
"There is no one under the seat now," the librarian rudely pushed back Jim's words. "You'd better tell the police the situation. There is a detective on the platform. "
Jim told the detective the situation. After listening carefully, he told Jim that he should take Jim into custody before reconnaissance. I sent a telegram to Eddis Come, but found that the telecommunication was interrupted. The fault must have just happened, because a telegram was sent less than an hour ago. The fault was soon discovered. About nine miles from Eddis Come, several wires were pulled down and hung, and the insulating porcelain bottle on the stem of one wire was broken. There were deep footprints on the surrounding ground, which could be seen for a long time and then disappeared. Other didn't find any clues.
On the third day after the accident, female detective Dura Mill was sitting in the small living room she called the "study" and concentrating on her work. A business card was sent in from the outside. Sir Gregory Grant. Then he walked into a tall and kind middle-aged gentleman.
"Is that Miss Mill?" He held out his hand and said. "My friend Lord millicent once told me about you. I'm here to ask you for help. I'm the managing partner of Gehua Grant Bank. You have probably heard of the robbery on the railway. "
"All I know is what is published in the newspaper."
"I can't talk more. I came to visit you myself, Miss Mill, because I am very concerned about this case myself. It's not all about money-although the amount can certainly be said to be considerable. The credibility of banks is facing a crisis. We are very kind to our employees, which we have always been proud of. And until now, the effect of what we do is extremely obvious! In the past hundred years, there has never been a case of fraud or fraud among our staff. For our bank, this is a record that we can be proud of, and we should do everything possible to keep it. Now it's young Jim's turn. Penlock, I doubt it. Of course, if he is guilty, I demand that he be punished! But if he is innocent, then I demand his release. That's why I came to you. "
"What do the police think!"
"Oh, they think there is no doubt that he committed the case. They have a theory. There is no one else in the carriage! The train is speeding, and no one can leave the carriage. Pan Laoke threw his handbag to an accomplice who had ambushed along the way in advance. The police even pretended to find the trace of the handbag falling to the ground, which was a few hundred yards closer to Eddis Combe than the place where the wire was broken. "
"What action has been taken?"
"They arrested the young man and offered a reward to a man with a heavy calf leather handbag-that's all. They are very sure. In any case, the principal offender has been caught by them. "
"What do you think?"
"Miss Mill, I tell you frankly that I have doubts. This case seems to be very conclusive. It is impossible for anyone to jump off a train running at full speed. But I have seen this young man and I have questions. "
"Can I go and see him?"
"If you go to see him, I will be very happy."
With Jim. Penlock talked for five minutes, and then Dura pulled Sir Gregory aside.
"I think I have an idea," she said. "I will take this case, but I have a companion."
"No matter what the cost ..."
"Not an accusation. I never talk about expenses until the case is over. If you give me Mr. Penlock to help me, I am willing to accept this case. Sir Gregory, your answer is right. The child is innocent. "
The bank filed a complaint and withdrew the lawsuit. Jim Penlock was released from custody. The police were very dissatisfied and threatened that the court would intervene.
At this moment, Pan Laoke is coming from London by the early train with Miss Duramir, Eddis. His heart is full of gratitude and gratitude. Of course, they talked about robbery on the way.
"This handbag is very heavy, isn't it? Mr. Penlock. " Dura asked.
"I can only walk behind with it, Miss Mill."
"But I think the figure is quite impressive."
She skillfully stroked his bulging upper arm muscles with her fingertips, and he blushed to the top of his head.
"The man who robbed you, if you see him again, do you recognize him?" Dura asked.
"beyond recognition. I still don't understand what happened. He put his hand around my neck and stuffed the anesthetic into my mouth. At this time, the train left Eddis for about nine or ten miles. You believe there is a man in the car, miss mill, don't you? You may be the only one who believes this. I don't blame them, because the train is running at 60 miles an hour. How did that guy leave the train? To be honest, I don't understand it myself. " He said incoherently, "If I were someone else, I would believe I was guilty in front of the evidence. Can you tell me what game he plays, Miss Mill? "
"Mr Pan, this is still my secret. But I can tell you this. When we arrived in the beautiful town of Combe, Eddis, I was looking for a stranger with a bent cane, not a black handbag. "
There are three hotels in Come, Eddis. But it is difficult for Mr mark brown and his sister to wait on them. They changed rooms in these three hotels one by one. They pay attention to whether there are strangers with curved crutches around them, and when they are free, they ride two good bicycles (rented weekly) to shuttle between the city and the countryside.
A week after they arrived at Come on, Edith, on a sunny afternoon in the third hotel where they stayed, when Miss Danblank (the pseudonym of Dura Mill) walked down the stairs, he met a tall middle-aged man on the way. He had a pair of legs that were a little-a little vicious, leaning on a solid oak cane, black, shiny and bent. She walked past without looking. But that night, she chatted with the maid who cleaned the room and learned that the stranger was a businessman named Mr. Mike Claude. He stayed in this hotel for several weeks, occasionally going to London by Huo Xin, and sometimes going to the country by bike. The maid offered to introduce him, "He is a good gentleman with a kind attitude and pleasant talk."
The next day, Duramir met the stranger in the same place on the stairs. I don't know whether she didn't notice or he didn't notice. When she stood aside to make way for him, her little foot hooked the crutch and pulled it out of his hand. It rolled from the stairs to the hall.
She quickly ran down the ladder, picked up the crutch, took it back to its owner and apologized. Before that, she had seen a deep dent on the downward side of the curved handle of the crutch, the paint was wiped off and the dent was engraved on the wood.
At dinner that day, their table was next to Mr. Mike Claude. Halfway through the meal, she asked Jim to tell her what time it was because her watch had stopped. This is a strange request, because her position is facing the wall clock, and Jim has to turn around to see it. But Jim obediently turned around and met Mr. Mike Claude. When Claude saw him, he was startled as if he had seen a ghost, and his eyes were wide open. Jim looked back at him stupidly, and there was no expression on his face that recognized Claude. After a while, Mr. Claude continued to eat. Then, Dura made her watch, or made it look like it was wound, and this little weird episode ended.
After dinner, Dura casually played the piano in her private living room, apparently lost in thought; Suddenly, she slammed the piano cover.
"Is Mr. Penlock there?"
"Yes, Miss Mill." Jim said. He always looks at her with patience, loyalty and stupid admiration like a giant Newfoundland dog.
"Let's go out by bike tomorrow. I can't say when to leave yet. You get them ready first, and then we'll ride away. "
"Yes, Miss Mill."
"Put a strong rope in your pocket."
"Yes, Miss Mill."
"Oh, do you have a revolver?"
"I have never seen such a thing in my life."
"If I give you one, will you use it?"
"I know nothing about this kind of thing, but-"he said modestly, "if my fist is of any use, I can do it again."
"In this case, it's no use. A small lead pill can hold a 200 kg champion. In addition, having a six-shooter is enough, and I am not a bad shooter. "
"You mean, Miss Mill, you ..."
"I mean, we don't talk about it now, Mr. Penlock. Just get the bike ready for use at any time, and the rope. "
The next day, they had breakfast unexpectedly early. After breakfast, Dura found a curved window with a view of the street in the empty living room, and curled up on the sofa by the window with a book in his hand. She looked at the book with one eye and the window with the other eye, from which she could clearly see the stone steps in front of the hotel.
At about 9: 30, she saw Mr. Mike Claude walk down the stone steps. His legs were not lame at all, and he was pushing a bicycle with a big canvas bag tied to the handlebar.
In the blink of an eye, she has walked to the hall and her bike is there. In the blink of an eye, she and Pan Laoke were already cycling in the street, when the tall figure of Mr. Mike Claude was about to disappear into a corner in the distance.
"We must keep an eye on him," Du La whispered to her partner. "Oh, well, I have to stare at him, and you have to stare at me. Now let me go ahead, and you are behind me, as far away as possible, as long as you can see me. As soon as I wave my white handkerchief, you will rush forward with full horsepower! "
Pan Laoke nodded and fell behind. Three cyclists left the city in this order and entered the wilderness-each about half a mile apart.
The person in front maintained a high speed of 12 miles per hour, but the road conditions were very good, and Dura could keep up with it easily, so Pan Laoke had to slow down on purpose. For a whole hour, they played this tracking game like this, and nothing changed. Mike. Mr. Claude went in the opposite direction to the railway line when he left the city, and now he is turning around and heading for the railway line. Once, when he turned around, there was no one on the road, except single girls, who was riding a bicycle in the distance. When he looked back for the second time, no one saw it because Dura was in the inner circle of the curve.
Now, they are only about a mile away from the place where the wire is pulled. Dura is familiar with the terrain in this area, and she knows that their little bike trip is coming to an end.
The highway here is a long, winding gentle slope, with lush forests on both sides. The person in front picked up speed, while Dura watched it accelerate. Pan Laoke at the back rushed forward desperately to shorten the distance with Dura. The person in front rode to the most beautiful corner of the hillside, made a sharp turn and accelerated downhill, where the branches were staggered and the shade was dense.
After walking half a mile downhill, he took a quick look at the road and suddenly jumped out of the car. He didn't see anyone because Dura was a little behind at the corner. There is a wall on the left and a deep ditch in front, which ordinary passers-by will not notice. He pushed his bike straight to the wall, took off his pocket from the handlebar and climbed up the wall-compared with his age, his dexterity in climbing the wall was amazing.
Dura turned around and just saw him jump off the wall and get into the jungle. She immediately took out a white handkerchief and waved it, then got on the bus and flew down the hill like a gust of wind.
When Pan Laoke saw the signal, he leaned forward, his legs turned as fast as the piston rod of a steam engine and rode uphill.
The bicycle that the man put on the side of the road seems to have set up a road sign for Dura. This time it was her turn to fly over the wall like a bird. She wrapped the sewing worker's exquisite skirt tightly around her body and watched and listened attentively. She didn't see anything, but not far ahead, the sound of branches rubbing gently reached her keen ears. She moved quietly and gently in the bushes like a rabbit, and suddenly she caught a glimpse of a dark gray tweed coat through the cracks in the branches and leaves, which was about fifteen to twenty yards away from her. She took a few more steps to see clearly. The man knelt on the ground. He took out a black leather bag from the grass beside the root of a huge old beech tree and was busy putting many small canvas bags into his car pocket.
Dura moved forward carefully and stopped in a small clearing. There is no bush here, and nothing stands in her way when she uses it.
"Good morning, Mr. Mike Crowder!" She let out a scream.
Startled, the man turned around and saw a girl standing in the sun, five or six yards away from him, with a mocking smile on her face. He scolded severely, and took his right hand out of his handbag and put it in his pocket.
"Don't move! Hands up! " The order is crisp and neat.
He took another look and saw the sun shining on the barrel of the pistol, a firm hand holding the gun, and the muzzle pointed at his head.
"Hands up, or I'll shoot!" He put his hand on his head. At this time, Jim Penlock opened the bush like an elephant through the jungle.
He gave a cry of surprise and then stopped.
"Calm down!" There came the calm voice of Dura. "Don't walk into my pistol range. Go around on the left-that way. Hand over his gun. The gun on his coat is in the side pocket. Now, tie his hands! "
Jim Penlock did his work honestly according to the instructions, but when he tied Mr. Mike Claude's wrist and arm with a rope, he thought of the carriage, the hands that would kill him, the anesthetic, and the slander he was later subjected to, so it is not surprising that he tied the rope buckle so firmly.
"Now," said Dura, "pack him up." Jim put the rest of the canvas bag in the cart pocket.
"You're not afraid of being heavy, are you?" .
He smiled happily; It's an answer, with a bag in one hand and a hand shaking.
"Stand up!" Dura said to the robber. He stood up with a sullen face. "Go ahead. I want to take you back to Eddis. "
They walked to the side of the road, and Pan Laoke hung the car pocket on the handlebar.
"Mr. Penlock, could you please take the pedal off this gentleman's bicycle?" Du La said.
It fell off in the blink of an eye. "Now help him get in the car," Dura said to Jim. "He must ride back on the pedal."
The frustrated robber raised his bound wrist imploringly.
"Oh, that doesn't matter. I noticed that when you rode out just now, you grabbed the middle of the handlebar. You like this. You also go home now; But this time it's not because I like it, but because I have to do it. We will take care of you; Don't complain that you have played a bold gamble. When you lose the last deck of key cards, you have to pay the bill, that's all. "
At noon in broad daylight, the bank robber was taken to the police station and detained on a bicycle with only one pedal. At this time, the whole city of Eddis was a sensation. Dura rode back to the hotel through the cheering crowd.
A telegram was sent to Sir Gregory Grant, who came by train this afternoon. That night, he invited Dura and Jim to dinner, which is the best wine this hotel can provide. Sir Gregory was filled with joy, just like champagne bubbling in his glass.
"I wish you good health, Mr. Penlock." The banker said to the clerk. "We will make up for your trouble in the bank. Miss Mill, you decide the cost-or let me decide for you, if you agree. How about recovering half the stolen money? However, I really want to know how you found the robber and the stolen money. "
"But Sir Garfield, if you take an exam seriously, it's not hard to find. As long as that person is not a fool, he will not wander around the country with a black handbag full of gold coins at this time, because such a person has a reward. His plan is to hide his handbag and himself. This is exactly what he did. After seeing Mr. Pan Laoke at the hotel, he stepped up his action; This is exactly what I want. This is the whole thing. "
"No, not all. How did you find this man? How did he leave when the train was traveling at 60 miles an hour? But I think I'd better ask Mr. Penlock this question. He's in the car. "
"Sir, don't ask me any questions." Jim said, glancing at Dura with deep admiration. "She plays games all by herself. All I know is that this guy carved a dent in his cane after we finished. But I can't tell how it was carved. "
"Miss Mill, please satisfy my curiosity as soon as possible."
"Sir Gregory, I am very willing to do that. You must have noticed, as I did, that the railway subgrade was very high where the wires were damaged, and the wires were close to the train carriages. It is easy for a person with flexible hands and feet to bend crutches like this. Mr. Claude hooked two or three wires, hung himself in the air and left the train car. Because of inertia, he will slide along the wire to a telephone pole and may break the insulating porcelain bottle. "
"Oh my God! You're right, Miss Mill. If you think about it, it's simple. But I still don't understand how ... "
"Wire friction," dura continued in a steady voice on the loudspeaker. "Plus the child size of the human body, it will leave a deep dent in the wood of the walking stick, like this!" She showed Sir Gregory the curved thick black oak cane handle, and he looked at it carefully through his gold-rimmed glasses.
"As soon as I saw the gap," Pillar continued quietly, "I knew it was Mike. How did Mr. Claude leave it on the handle of his cane? "