Tossing his walking stick like a juggler, the Dapper Man laughed a silent laugh.

Leering, the Ring Master curled his black moustache, glowering down at a young woman he'd bound to the rail tracks.

Betty Boo wriggled in mute fear, her bow lips parting wide at the awful realisation of her painful destiny.

Then the Dapper Man doffed his hat and hurled his stick, hitting the Ring Master’s head with expert precision.

The scoundrel crumpled to the ground, and Betty Boo let out a soundless scream as the Ring Master squirmed in pain beside her.

Like magic, Dapper Man produced a knife and slashed at the bonds that had cruelly incapacitated his only true love.

Joyful, Betty Boo leapt up and into his arms while the Ring Master roared unheard roars of impotent fury behind them.

After the couple had demurely kissed and hugged, the Dapper Man, cocking his head to one side, pointed a finger due south in an inaudible but inviting question.

Betty Boo nodded and hand in hand, they both skipped off into a flickering, white spotted sunset.

In the distance, grainy smoke signalled the fast approach of the Deadwood Train. The Ring Master’s horrified gaze followed its lethal progress towards him.

Soon his body will be split in two, but in that taciturn, black and white world, no one will hear his final screams of agony.