The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-08
EDcERToN's BAGGAGE.

not Infltct any injury upon it. 1t be-
Ilonged to a man named Edgerton-War-
rem Etgerton, l believe-a drummer for
la wholesale millinery establishment
in the East.
lie was tall, good-looking man, with
sandy hair and a cunning eye. His
voice was mellow for man Of his years
and habits, and he often delighted his
tellow-traYeers with certain songs
which he could sing TO perfection. His
huge trunk was the only thing that ac-
C mpanied HIM on his drumming eXpe-
idltlons, anu as he never looked after its
wei are, which he consigned to the care
0f baggage masters and porlers, many
people deemed him a careless fellow.
Edgerton's trunk, by It's repeated tran
sits over the line have m 3ntioned, had
lamiliariZod itself with the men OF the
road, VINO were won't to bestoW many
Ijocose remarks upon it when it reap
pearei after one OF its brief absences.
"Here we are again, old boy" said
Wilson McGrew one evening, as he saw
the great trunk pushed into his car by
the eXpressman and his sable ssistant.
Haven't seen you for three weeks. BY
ljoke! you're heavier than usualP' ne
exclaimed, as he moved the ponderous
thing over the floor OF the car, and haV-
ing completed his task he turned 10 Mur-
ply, the agent. "Where's the owner Of
mat confounded trunk?'
"Don'G KNOW" answered Murphy,
smiling at the almost exhausted appear
ance OF McGrew. "He's been up to the
Hatfield House these two days. Guess
nell be on hand in Cincinnati to claim
IhIs trunk. WHAT'S the matter, Mack?"
"Nuthing particular. He must be
running for hardware store, now,"
McGreW said, with one of his peculiar
laughs. "Pve handled that trunk for
six years ON this line, and Pll wager my
salary that it Is one hundred and fifty
pounds heavier tonight than it has
ever been BEFORE"
"Nothing bat womanish gewgaws in
it, know" Murphy answered, as he
took up the liues ana spoke 10 his horse.
| "Pli tell The boys about EdgeIton and
the hardware store, ana We'll have big
laugh at him when he comes up again"
Tnen the train moved of, and McGrew
laughing at Murphy's last words,
turned upon the heap Of trunks and
other baggage that almost filed the
baggage-car.
"Fll 60 back and joke Edgerton," be
said to himself alter having looked to
the baggage entrusted 10 his care at the
city Just left behind, and was about to
leave the car when Clyde, the messen.
ger, entered.
Before McGrew could address Clyde,
that worthy was at the great trunk look
| ing at it as though lie MALT doubted Its
identity.
'It's Edgerton's iron mountain," sal
| McGrew. Instead o. flowers and RIB
lbuns, he's flied it with king bolts and
samples OF wagon-tire. l plLy the por-
ters at the Gibson"
tl,O kn.,H
riousness in the messengers looks as h e
huisned this inspection of tue urunk, ana
! turned TO the baggage master, 81 tell
you there's some strange mysery mere.
nave you seen Eus useElon to-ligntr'
IN :"
| "fnls Is his trunkW
| "UndouDtedH l recognize it after
an acquaintance OF six ears"
Nv ell, we'A call Me identity Of the
| trunk settled" said Clyde. "Now tor
the luentiLy Of the man who checked il
IN the name OF Warren Edgerton."
| "W mere is hef" askeu McGrew, be-
coming Interested in The messengers
manner.
500 into the third car-number ten
| and .ook at the man asleep IL tue fourth
! ligut Iand seat from the forward door.
| Go, and take good look, then come
|
may put to YOU"
| McGrew looked at Clyde in beneyo.
ieut manner. The young messenger was
excited, and tAe baggage master seen
tuat something singular had happened.
| lie regretted to leave the car without
Questioning Clyde about the suspicious
ue seem cd to hold, but when ne Was Lold
u go q 1ietly and look at the sleeping
man, he hustled out OF the Car, wonder
ling i, The messenger could not We partly
out OF his splendid head.
| The baggage master found the man In
| the seat Indicated.
| Pooh !" he exclaimed as his eyes fell
upon tue man. Nobody but Engerton.
Pve notion to wake him and tell him
now ne has deceived jim"
| "Hs Approached the sleeper. douDl les 8
for the purpose OF rOuGing hlm, wAen he
suddenly stopped.
a. closer look told him that the man
was not Warren Edgerton, lhe drum
mer. There was The Grummel's nalr,
his peculiarly cut whiskers, his long
eyelashes auu broad face, but yet they
| dld not Complete Warren Edgerton. Tue
ldrummei's ielt index fuger was missing :
but the eft hand oil this man was whole
| Win tuis exception ne was the com
plete aoub.e OF Eugerton.
"rnis means sVmethingW 'MeGrew
said, us he turned from lne man, who
really slept, and returaed to Clyde.
| "MeliW sai1 the messenger, with
triumph in It's tone.
| eli he had tnger missing he'd be
Edgertun," sad McGIeW.
| just 50; but since he does not lack a
nnger, he's somebody else. l saw Ell.
ge! ton AZ Sidney day before yesterday,
aud he had no fug9r missing. There's
some mystery here, aud Pan going to
solve it before we get to Cincinnati
| WHAT do you think 0IilW
| McGreW, who mad been thinking, an,
swered:
"He might have stolen Edgerton's bag.
sage. HIS face would help ulm.p
"Admltting IL, would ask where is
EdgertonW
Ine baggage.rnaster smiled family and
shook his mead.
''rhis is Edgerton's trunk,V said
| Clyde. ''lt ls heavier than we have
ever known it 10 be, 1t contains some.
thing more than tue drummers line ol
millinery samples. ana that some thing
seems 10 I'LL the Llunk in a single bulk
j The llan has robped EdgerL0n, what
mas he put into The Trunk mat he is max.
Ing III wltnW
"And ii he has robbed EdgerLon
| woulu ne run the risk OF detection w hicn