Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Man on the Train - A Mystery Sleep Story

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Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with the bell to get alerts on all new free content thank you have you ever gazed in wonder at the great pyramid have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun

Starting point is 00:01:16 or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti if you have you'll probably like the History of Egypt podcast every week we explore tales of this ancient culture The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. Hello and welcome to Sleep Cove with Christopher Fitten. Tonight you'll be listening to the classic mystery, The Man on the Train by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Starting point is 00:02:00 It's a classic story where a grandma rides the train, train for the very first time and meets an interesting passenger. Please listen to this recording in a place where you can safely go to sleep. Let's begin on the train by Lucy Maud Montgomery. When the telegram came from William George, Grandma Sheldon was all alone with Cyrus and Louise, and Cyrus and Louise, age respectively, 12 and 11, were not very much good, Grandma thought, when it came to advising what was to be done.

Starting point is 00:02:51 Grandma was all in a flutter, dear, oh dear, as she said. The telegram said that Delia William George's wife were seriously ill down at Green Village, and William George wanted Samuel to bring Grandma down immediately. Devia had always thought there was nobody like Grandma when it came to nursing sick folks, but Samuel and his wife were both away. Had been away for two days and intended to be away for five more. They had driven to St Clair 20 miles away to visit with. Mrs. Samuels folks for a week.

Starting point is 00:03:42 Dear, oh dear, what shall I do? said Grandma. Go right to Green Village on the evening train, said Cyrus briskly. Dear, oh dear, leave you two alone, cried Grandma. Louise and I will do very well until tomorrow, said Silas sturdily. We will send word to Sinclair by today's men. and father and mother will be home by tomorrow night. But I never was on the cars in my life, protested Grandma nervously, so frightened to start alone, and you never know what kind of people you may meet on the train.

Starting point is 00:04:29 You'll be alright Grandma, I'll drive you to the station, get your ticket and put you on the train. Then you'll have nothing to do. until the train gets to Green Village. I'll send a telegram to Uncle William George to meet you. I shall fall and break my neck getting off the train, said Grandma pessimistically, but she was wondering at the same time whether she had better take the back valets or the yellow,

Starting point is 00:05:04 and whether William George would be likely to have. have plenty of flaxseed in the house. It was six miles to the station and Cyrus drove Grandma over in time to catch a train that reached Green Village at nine o'clock. Yeah, said Grandma, what if William George's folks aren't there to meet me? It's all very well, Cyrus, to say that they will be there, but you don't know, and it's all. all very well to say not to be nervous because everything will be all right. If you were 75 years old and had never set foot on the cars in your life, you'd be nervous too, and you can't be sure that everything will be all right.

Starting point is 00:06:03 You never know what sort of people you'll meet on the train. I may get on the wrong train or lose my ticket, or get carried past Green Village, or get my pocket picked. Well, I won't do that. One cent will I carry with me. You shall take back home all the money. You don't need to get my ticket. Then I shall be easier in my mind.

Starting point is 00:06:36 Dear O dear, if it wasn't that deaer, is so seriously ill, I wouldn't go one step. Oh, you'll be all right, Grandma, assured Cyrus. He got Grandma's ticket for her, and Grandma tied it up in the corner of her handkerchief. Then the train came in, and Grandma, clinging closely to Cyrus, was put on it. Cyrus found a comfortable seat for her and shook hands cheerily. Goodbye, Grandma. Don't be frightened.

Starting point is 00:07:12 Here's the weekly Argus. I got it at the stall. You may like to look over it. Cyrus was gone. And in a minute, the station house rode dear. The next moment she exclaimed aloud, Why, it's us, that's moving, not it. Some of the passengers smiled pleasantly at Grandma. She was the variety of old lady, at which people do smile pleasantly, a grandma with round pink cheeks, soft brown eyes, a person to look at wherever she is found. After a while, Grandma, to her amazement, discovered that she liked riding on the cars. It was not at all the disagreeable experience she had expected it to be. Why, she was just as comfortable as if she were in her own with such a lot of people to look at, the people you meet prisingly, like the people you meet off it.

Starting point is 00:08:54 If it had not been for wondering how she would get off at Green Village, Grandma would have enjoyed herself, four or five stations farther on. The train halted at a lonely-looking place, consisting of the station house and a barn, surrounded by scrub woods and Blueberry Barra passenger got on, and finding only one vacant seat in the crowded car, sat right down besides Grandma Sheldon. Grandma Sheldon held her breath when she looked over. Was he a pit-pocket? He didn't appear like one, but you can never be sure.

Starting point is 00:09:43 of the people you meet on the train. Grandma remembered with a sigh of thankfulness that she had no money. Besides, he seemed really very respectable and harmless. He was quietly dressed in a suit of dark blue serge with a black overcoat. He wore his hat well down on his forehead and was clean. shaven. His hair was very black, but his eyes were blue. Nice eyes, Grandma thought. These felt great confidence in a man who'd bright open. Grandpa Sheldon, who had died so long ago, four years after their marriage, had bright blue eyes. To be sure, he had fair

Starting point is 00:10:43 hair reflected Grandma. It's really odd to see such black hair with such light blue eyes. Well, he's real nice looking and I don't believe there's a might of harm. Far could not amuse herself by watching the scenery. She bethought herself of the paper Cyrus had given her and took it out of her basket. It was an old weekly, a fortnight pack. On the first page was a long account of a murder case with scareheads, who would not have harmed a fly and hated to see even a mousetrap set, simply reveled in the newspaper accounts of murders.

Starting point is 00:11:47 And the more shocking and cold-blooded they were, but more eagerly read of them. This murder story was particularly good from Grandma's point of view. It was full of thrills. A man had been shot down, apparently in cold blood, and his supposed murderer was still at large and had eluded all the efforts of justice to capture him. His name was Mark Hartwell, and he was described as a tall, fair man, with full,

Starting point is 00:12:30 auburn beard and curly light hair. What a shocking thing, said Grandma aloud. Her companion looked at her with a kindly amused smile. What is it? he asked. Why this murder at Charlottetville answered Grandma, forgetting in her excitement, that it was not safe to talk to people you meet on the train. It just makes my bullet run cold to read about it,

Starting point is 00:13:03 and to think that the man who did this is still around the country somewhere, plotting other murders, I haven't a doubt. What is the good of the police? Their dull fellows, agreed the dark man, But I don't envy that man has conscious, said Grandma solemnly, and somewhat inconsistently in her view of a statement about the murderers that were being plotted. What must a man feel like who has the blood of a fellow creature on his hands?

Starting point is 00:13:43 Depend on it, his punishment has begun already, caught on. That is true. said the dark man quietly. Such a good-looking man too, said Grandma, looking wistfully at the murderous picture. It doesn't seem possible that he can have killed anybody, but the paper says there isn't a doubt. He is probably guilty, said the dark man.

Starting point is 00:14:15 But nothing has known of his provocation. The affair might not have been so. I recall blooded, as the account states. Those newspaper photos never err on the side of undercolouring. I really think, said Grandma slowly, that I would like to see a murderer. Just one. Whenever I say anything like that, Adelaide, Adelaide is Samuel's wife, looks at me as if she thought there was something wrong about me.

Starting point is 00:14:49 and perhaps there is, but I do all the same. When I was a little girl, there was a man in our settlement who were suspected of poisoning his wife. She died very suddenly. I used to look at him with such interest, but it wasn't satisfactory, because you could never be sure whether he was really guilty or not. I never could believe that he was, because he was such a nice man in some ways, and so good and kind to children. I don't believe a man who was bad enough to poison his wife could have any good, perhaps not?

Starting point is 00:15:37 Agreed the dark man. He had absent-mindedly folded up Grandma's old copy of the Argus and put it in his pocket. Grandma did not like to ask him for it. Although she would have liked to see if there were any more murder stories in it. Just as that moment, the conductor came around. Grandma looked in the basket for her handkerchief. It was not there. She looked on the floor and on the seat and under the seat.

Starting point is 00:16:18 It was not there. She stood up and shook herself. Still no handkerchief. Dear, oh dear, exclaimed Grandma, I've lost my ticket. I always knew I would. I told Cyrus I would. Oh, where can it be? The conductor scowled unsympathetically.

Starting point is 00:16:45 The dark man got up and helped Grandma search, but no ticket was to be found. You'll have to pay the money then, and something extra, said the conductor gruffly. I can't, I haven't a cent of money, wailed Grandma. I gave it all to Cyrus because I was afraid my pocket would be picked. Oh, what shall I do? Don't worry, I'll make it all right, said the dark man.

Starting point is 00:17:18 He took out his pocket book and handed the conductor a bill. The conductor grumbily made the change and marched onward, while Grandma pale with excitement and relief, sank back into her seat. I can't tell you how much I am obliged to you, sir, she said tremulously, I don't know what I should have done. Would he have put me off right here in the snow? I hardly think he would have gone to such lengths. said the dark man with a smile, but he's a cranky, disobliging, foul enough. I know of him of all. You must not feel overly grateful to me.

Starting point is 00:18:05 I am glad of the opportunity to help you. I had an old grandmother myself once. He added with a sigh. You must give me your name and address, of course, said Grandma. And my son, Samuel Sheldon of Midfern, will see that the money is returned to you. Well, this is a lesson to me. I shall never trust myself on a train again,

Starting point is 00:18:33 and all I wish is that I was safely off this one. The fuss has worked my nerves all up again. Don't worry, Grandma. I'll see you safely off the train when we get to Green Village. Will you, though? Will you now? said Grandma eagerly. I'll be real easy in my mind then, she added with a returning smile,

Starting point is 00:18:58 I feel as if I could trust you for a real suspicious person too. They had a long talk after that, or rather, Grandma talked and the dark man listened and smiled. She told them all about William, George and Delia and their baby, and about Samuel and Adelaide and Cyrus and Louise and the three cats and the parrot. He seemed to enjoy her accounts of them too. When they reached Green Village,

Starting point is 00:19:37 he gathered up Grandma's parcels and helped her tenderly off the train. Anybody here to meet Mrs. Sheldon? He asked at the stationmaster. The latter shook his head. Don't think so. Haven't seen anybody here to meet anybody tonight. Dear, oh dear, said poor grandma, this is just what I expected. They've never got Cyrus's telegram.

Starting point is 00:20:08 Well, I might have known it. What shall I do? How far is it to your sons? Asked the dark man. Only half a mile. Just over the tree there. but I'll never get there alone this dark night. Of course not, but I'll go with you. The road is good. We'll do finally.

Starting point is 00:20:33 But the train won't wait for you, gasped Grandma half in protest. It doesn't matter. The star month freight passes here in half an hour, and I'll go on her. Come along, Grandma. Oh, but your book. Good, said Grandma, some woman is proud to have you for a son. The man did not answer.

Starting point is 00:20:59 He had not answered any of the personal remarks Grandma had made to him in her conversation. They were not long in reaching William George Sheldon's house, for the village road was good, and Grandma was smart on her feet. She was welcomed with eagerness and surprise. "'To think that there was no one to meet you,' exclaimed William George. "'But I never dreamed of you coming by train,

Starting point is 00:21:31 "'knowing how you were set against it. "'Tethergram? No, I got no telegram. "'Suppose Cyrus forgot to send it. "'I most heartedly appellaged to you, sir, "'for looking after my mother so kindly. "'It was a pleasure. said the dark man courteously. He had taken off his hat, and they saw a curious scar, shaped like a large red butterfly high up on his forehead under his hair. I am delighted to have been

Starting point is 00:22:06 of any assistance to her. He would not wait for supper. The next train would be in, and he would not miss it. There are people looking for me. he said with a curious smile. They'll be much disappointed if they do not find me. He had gone, and the whistle of the starment freight had blown before Grandma remembered that he had not given her his name and address. Dear, oh dear, how are we ever going to send that many to him? She exclaimed, he is so nice and good-hearted.

Starting point is 00:22:50 Grandma worried over this for a week in the intervals of looking after Delia. One day William George came in with a large city daily in his hands. He looked curiously at Grandma and then showed her the front page picture of a man, clean-shaven with an oddly shaped scar high up on his forehead. Did you ever see that man, mother, here? Of course I did, said Grandmother excitedly. Why is the man I met on the train? Who is he?

Starting point is 00:23:29 What is his name? Now we'll know where to send. Who shot Amos Gray at Charlottetville three weeks ago? Said William George Quiet looked at him blankly for a moment. It couldn't be, she gasped at us. That man, a murderer. I'll never believe it. It's true enough, mother.

Starting point is 00:24:00 The whole story is here. He had shaven his beard and dyed his hair and came near getting clear out of the country. They were on his trail the day he came down in the train with you and lost it because of his getting off to bring you here. His disguise was so perfect that there was little fear of him being recollect.

Starting point is 00:24:24 so long as he hid the scar. But it was seen in Montreal, and he was run to earth there. He has made a full confession. I don't care, cried Grandma. I will never believe he was all bad. A man who would do what he did for a poor old woman like me when he was flying for his life too.

Starting point is 00:24:50 No, no, there was good in him, even if he did kill that man, and I am sure he must feel terrible over it. In this view, Grunmar persisted. She would never say or listen to a word against Mark Hartwell, and she only had pity for him, whom everyone else condemned. With her own trembling hands, she wrote him a letter to accompany the money Samuel sent before Hartwell was taken to the penitentiary for life. She thanked him again for his kindness to her

Starting point is 00:25:28 and assured him that she knew he was sorry for what he had done as she would pray for him every night of her life. Mark Hartwell had been hard and defiant enough, but the prison officials told that he cried like a child over Grandma Sheldon's little letter. there's nobody all bad, said Grandma when she relates the story. I used to believe a murderer must be, but I know better now. I think of that poor man often and often, and he was so kind and gentle to me.

Starting point is 00:26:07 He must have been a good boy once. I write him a letter every Christmas, and I send him trucks and papers. He's my own little charity. But I've never been on the car since, and I never will be again. You never can tell what will happen to you, or what sort of people you'll meet if you trust yourself on a train.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - The Man on the Train - A Mystery Sleep Story

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