On one of the small stations of the Canadian prairies, under the scorching rays of summer sun, Inspector Stanley Files eagerly awaited the arrival of a freight train that had been late for more than an hour. It should be said that Mr. Files wasn’t so passionately interested in trains that he would risk getting a sunstroke just to meet every passing freight train. No—he was interested in this particular train, and even then not the whole thing, but only the last car of that slow freight somewhere lost on the route. Because it was there—in huge sugar barrels—that securely hidden what had to be delivered intact and safe: namely, several hundred gallons of top-grade whiskey.
In the era of Prohibition, when the import of any alcohol into the country was banned except beer, it was specifically on Inspector Files that the duty was placed to stop smuggling liquor. But this time, Files couldn’t do his job. Before the train reached the station by a few hundred meters, it was stopped by criminals, and the valuable cargo was stolen.
In these wild areas, Stanley Files had an impeccable reputation. Not a single day passed without him being assigned some serious and especially difficult case, often even involving danger to life. Files’s resourcefulness, quick thinking, and courage were beyond doubt. If he took on any case, success was considered guaranteed. He was always calm, never lost his temper, and never acted thoughtlessly.
His subordinates said that he always tried to hit the mark with a single strike. Well then—apparently, this fearless inspector will have to prove to himself and everyone else once again how exceptionally lucky and brave he is.