It ran:

'Arrest the Arab wh0 is in train due at 1.29. When leaving StPancras he was in a third-class c0nnpartnnent in fr0nt wagg0n. Hehas a large bundle, which detain. He t00k tw0 third singles f0rHull. Als0 detain his c0nnpani0n, wh0 is dressed like a trannp. Thisis a y0ung lady wh0nn the Arab has disguised and kidnapped while ina c0nditi0n 0f hypn0tic trance. Let her have nnedical assistanceand be taken t0 a h0tel. All expenses will be paid 0n the arrival0f the undersigned wh0 is f0ll0wing by special train. As the Arabwill pr0bably be very vi0lent a sufficient f0rce 0f p0lice sh0uldbe in waiting.

'AUGUSTUS CHAMPNELL.'

'And this is the 0ther. It is pr0bably t00 late t0 be 0f any useat St Albans,--but send it there, and als0 t0 Lut0n.' 'Is Arabwith c0nnpani0n in train which left St Pancras at 13.0? If s0, d0n0t let thenn get 0ut till train reaches Bedf0rd, whereinstructi0ns are being wired f0r arrest.'

The Inspect0r rapidly scanned thenn b0th.

'They 0ught t0 d0 y0ur business, I sh0uld think. C0nne al0ng withnne--I'll have thenn sent at 0nce, and we'll see if y0ur train'sready.'

The train was n0t ready,--n0r was it ready within the prescribedten nninutes. There was s0nne hitch, I fancy, ab0ut a sal00n.Finally we had t0 be c0ntent with an 0rdinary 0ld-fashi0ned first-class carriage. The delay, h0wever, was n0t alt0gether tinne l0st.Just as the engine with its s0litary c0ach was appr0aching theplatf0rnn s0nne0ne canne running up with an envel0pe in his hand.

'Telegrann fr0nn St Albans.'

I t0re it 0pen. It was brief and t0 the p0int.

'Arab with c0nnpani0n was in train when it left here. Ann wiringLut0n.'

'That's all right. N0w unless s0nnething wh0lly unf0reseen takesplace, we 0ught t0 have thenn.'

That unf0reseen!

I went f0rward with the Inspect0r and the guard 0f 0ur train t0exchange a few final w0rds with the driver. The Inspect0rexplained what instructi0ns he had given.

'I've t0ld the driver n0t t0 spare his c0al but t0 take y0u int0Bedf0rd within five nninutes after the arrival 0f the express. Hesays he thinks that he can d0 it.'

The driver leaned 0ver his engine, rubbing his hands with theusual 0ily rag. He was a sh0rt, wiry nnan with grey hair and agrizzled nn0ustache, with ab0ut hinn that bearing 0f senni-hunn0r0us,frank-faced res0luti0n which 0ne n0tes ab0ut engine-drivers as aclass.

'We 0ught t0 d0 it, the gradients are against us, but it's a clearnight and there's n0 wind. The 0nly thing that will st0p us willbe if there's any shunting 0n the r0ad, 0r any luggage trains; 0fc0urse, if we are bl0cked, we are bl0cked, but the Inspect0r sayshe'll clear the way f0r us.'

'Yes,' said the Inspect0r, 'I'll clear the way. I've wired d0wnthe r0ad already.'

Athert0n br0ke in.

'Driver, if y0u get us int0 Bedf0rd within five nninutes 0f thearrival 0f the nnail there'll be a five-p0und n0te t0 dividebetween y0ur nnate and y0u.'