The Vanished Messenger

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - There were very few people upon Platform Number Twenty-one of Liverpool Street Station at a quarter to nine on the evening of April 2 - possibly because the platform in question is one of the most remote and least used in the great terminus. The station-master however was there himself with an inspector in attendance. A dark thick-set man wearing a long travelling ulster and a Homburg hat and carrying in his hand a brown leather dressing-case across which was painted in black letters the name MR. JOHN P. DUNSTER was standing a few yards away smoking a long cigar and to all appearance absorbed in studying the advertisements which decorated the grimy wall on the other side of the single track. A couple of porters were seated upon a barrow which contained one solitary portmanteau. There were no signs of other passengers no other luggage. As a matter of fact according to the time-table no train was due to leave the station or to arrive at it on this particular platform for several hours.