“A few minutes later, on some sacks stretched on the floor of the express-car, lay the dead traveller. The lamplight fell over his pale face and rendered it ghastly, like the faces of corpses.
“Conductor Golden said that the mystery of the passenger’s death puzzled him. He was sure that no other person tenanted the fatal coach when he locked it, after taking up the only through ticket, and giving the proper check.
“The theory of suicide was discussed, but abandoned, as no weapons were found on the passenger’s person. The messenger recollected a certain robbery of the company’s car works several years prior to the fatal night, and stated that a number of coach keys were then taken.
“In all probability some person in possession of one of those keys had entered the coach at some station, murdered the unknown passenger while the train was in motion, and made good his escape.
“This theory satisfied messenger and conductor, but not the detective.
“‘Gentlemen,’ he said, calmly, ‘this man was killed by an old enemy. His watch, worth at least two hundred dollars, remains on his person, but everything else has been removed. The murderer has carefully removed all traces of his identity, but his shrewdness shall avail him naught. For I tell you,’ the speaker’s cold but piercing eyes were fixed on Golden, ‘I tell you,’ he repeated, ‘that I will hunt him down and make him pay dearly for his terrible work.’
“‘Your hand on that,’ said the conductor, putting forth his hand, and the men clasped.
“‘Why, there’s blood on your hand!’ suddenly said Dixon, noting a crimson spot on Golden’s member. ‘I’ve a mind to arrest you,’ he added, with a smile.
“‘Do so, and hunt no further for your man,’ returned the conductor. ‘I had my hand in the dead man’s bosom, hence the gore on my skin. But do you think you’ll ever catch the perpetrator of the deed?’
“‘Catch him!” cried Dixon. ‘In my detective life I have never followed a man in vain. John Golden, you have heard of me in the capacity of a man-hunter, and I promise that you shall be present at the death of your passenger’s assassin.’