The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-08-21
Selfet Starp.
EDGERTON'S BAGGAGE

1t was a trunk well-known to Wilso
McGrew, one of the baggage masters
the G II. & D 1t was monster trunl
. too, covered with sheet iron, and a lei
ror to the merciless smasher, who coul
not infict any injury uponit 1t 1t belong
ed to a man named Edgerton-Warre
Edgerton, / believe-a drummer for
wholesale millinery establishment in th
East.
He was tall, good-lcoking man, wit
sandy hair and cunning eye His voic
was mellow for man of his years an
habits, and be often delighted his,felloN
travellers with certain songs which b
could sing to perfection His huge trun
was the only thing that accompanied bir
on his drumming expeditions, and as b
never looked after its welfare, which b
consigned to the care of baggage mas
tiers and porters, many people deeme,
him careless fellow.
Edgerton's trunk, by its repeated trans
its over the line have mentioned, ha,
! familiarized itself with the men of th
road, who were wont to bestow man
jocose remarks rpon it when it reappear
ed after one of its brief absences.
"Here we are again. old boy" saiC
Wilson McGrew one evening, as he sav
the great trunk pushed into his car b,
the expressman and his sable assistant
Haven't seen you for three weeks B,
Jove! you're heavier than usual!' b,
exclaimed as he moved the ponderou:
thing over the floor of the car, and hav
ing completed this task he turned tc
Murphy, the agent, where's the owner
of that confounded trunk ?"
"Don't know answered Murphy ,smil
ing at the almost exhausted appearance
OF McGrew. "He been up to the Hat
field House these two days. Guess he'll
be on hand in Cincinnati to claim hi:
trunk. What's the matter. Mack ?"
Nothing particular, He must be run
ming for hardware store, now," Nc
Grew said, with one of his peculiar
laughs. "l've handled that trunk tor six
years on this line, and I'll wager my sal.
airy that it is one hundred and fifty
pounds heavier tonight than it has ever
been before"
Nothing but womanish gewgaws in
it, | know" Murphy answered, as he
took up the lines and spoke to his horse
"Tll tell the boys about Edgerton and
the hardware store, and we'll have big
laugh at him when he comes up again f"
Then the train moved off,an McGrew
laughing at Murphy's last words, turned
upon the heap of trunks and other bag.
gage that almost filed the baggage car
"Ill 60 back and joke Edgerton," he
said TO himself, after having looked to
the baggage entrusted to his care at the
city just left behind, aud was about to
leave the Car when Clyde,th messenger,
entered
Before McGrew could address Clyde,
that worthy was at the great trunk look.
ing at it as though he half doubted it's
identity. ji YJ
ats Edgerton's iron mountain" said
McGrew. "Ins,ead of flowers and rib
bons, he's filled it with king. bolts and
samples of wagon tire l pity the por.
lers at the Gibson" :"
"Mack," and there was startling Sc.
riousness in the messengers looks as be
finished this inspection of the trunk and
turned to the baggage-master, II tell you
there is some strange mystery here
Have you seen Edgerton tonight p
"No.n sf Ft
"This is his trunk?'
'Undoubtedly! I recognize it after
an acquaintance ofssix years"
"Well, we'll call the identity of the
trunk settled" said Clyde. SHOW for
the identity of the man who checked it
in the name Of Warren Edgerton."
"Where is he?" asked McGrew, be-
coming interested in the messengers
.-
$50 into the third car--number ten
and look at the man asleep in the fourth
right hand seat from the forward door.
Go end take a good look; then come
back here and answer what questions /
may put to YOU"
McGrew looked at Clyde in benevo.
ent manner; the young messenger was
excited, and the baggage master saw that
singular had happened He
to leave the car without ques.
;ioning Clyde about the suspicious he
seemed to hold, but when be was told TO
90 quietly and look at the sleeping man,
be hustled out of the Car, wondering if
he messenger could not be partly out of
Iis head.
The baggage master found the man in
,he seat indicated.
"Pooh!" be exclaimed, as his eyes fell
lpon the man. "Nobody but Edgerton
I've notion to wake him and tell him
low he has deceived Jim,"
He approached the sleeper, doubtless
or the purpose of rousing him, when he
stopped.
A closer look told him that the man
was not Warren Edgerton, the drummer.
There was the drummer's hair, his pecu-
iarilv cut whiskers, his long eye lashes
and broad face, but yet they did not CO m
plete Warren Edgerton. The drummer's
left index finger was missing, hut the lef,
hand Of this man was whole
With this exception he was the com.
plete double of Edgerton
This means something" McGrew
said, as he turned from the man, who re-
ally slept and returned to Clyde.
"Well?' said the messenger with tri
umph in his tone.
"Ii he had a finger missing he'd be
said McGrew.
"Just so; but since he does not lack
finger, he's somebody else. saw Ed
gerton at Sidney day before yesterday,
and he had finger missing. There's
some mystery here, and I'm going to
solve it before we get to Cincinnati
What do you think of it?"
McGrew, who had been thinking, an.
swered:
."He might have stolen Edgerton's
baggage. His face would help him"
"Admitting il, l would ask where is
?" a
The baggage master smiled family and
shook his head. i~
"This is Edger'on's trunk said Clyde
"It is heavier than we have ever known
it to be. 1t contains something more
than the drummer's line nj millinery