West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-07-17
A MYSTERIOUS VALISE.
The Story Told by an Ex-Life
Guardsman.

''sentry, will you kindly keep YOU
eye on my bag for few minutesp
am gong to have plunge in the Ser
PentIne," said well-dressed, middle
aged gentleman to me, one warm sum
mer morning few years ago, as 1 was
on duty at the park gate of knights
bridge Cavalry Barracks.
"All right, sir l replied. IF 1 am
relieved before your return, shall hand
1t over to the next sentry"
''Oh, l shan't be more than half an
hour at the latest, as 1 must be in the
city by nine. / prefer leaving nv va.
Use with you; there are so many vspa.
bonds always swarmiug about UTdp
%ark' that 1t IS quite possible that one
OF them might take fancy to il while
am bathing 1t doesn't contain very
valuable property-only a suit of clothes
and a few documents of no use To nnv
one but the owner as the saving il
All the same, however, have no desire
TO lose 1t. SO saying, the gentleman
turned away, and walked brisllIy across
the park In the direction of the Serpen-
tine.
The request to look after his propertv
oId not in the least surprise
me, rs numerous robberies from the
clothing OF persons bathing had for
some Tune before been reported TO the
ponce lited the bagrupon which
VIC iet'ers W \. were painted. and
when was in the battered condition in
uicatiYe OF having been much tumbled
OO2,ut-and placed IT behind the low
Ia N.r.Hy- a.
the footpath.
The barracks clock struck eight
ruuy nan an hour had elapsed since the
U"ner Ol me bag departed, and as vet
ehcIg was no sign OF him; the quarter
Pas' was chimed from the nei0heor.
ing CLOCKS. and still he did not turr ~.
and, as tho minutes passed. tbod,.bt
20 myself that il was time he was 49,
ing sharp if he really wished 10 he in
tho city by nine.
About hslf-past eight percoivod =
great cOmmOtion I'm the mark Me-
were rushing from all ouarfers 4, e.
direction Of the Serpeptine: and con
afterwards ] ascertained from a oa.ser.
by that the excitement was causcd nv
one OF the numerous bather. bavino
Deen drowned. An uneasy susr,icio5
'as ~ once excited within me MAJ dc
person who bad come ~ such sad ond
was the gentleman who had Iaft bis
Valise in my charge which suspioion
was intensified when was reIieveI a.
nine with The article sin unclaimed T
Ielcc.ed. however, that it, owner NOV
nave been chained % the scene If tbc
disaster boy that morbid curiosity which
INDUCES people 10 linQer about Inc spot
whore any calamity Of the kind ba. re-
c'nlly occurred. and then. finding that
Pc wa press for time. and kn0wino
tnai his properly would be- perfectlv
s'ie' had gone direct 10 the CITY
hande! over the bag to the senty,,
VINO relieved me without mention,
ing ~ him anything Of the circum.
stances of Che case, and when he
returned from dufy an eleven osl,,.ri,,
for '0'ie"
$50. be repl cd 20 s. str ly,,,
behIu0 the wal. '''"e
"en' on entry again &C. one o'cIosL
end no one bad come tor IT, m was tl,e
heIgni OF tho LONDON season and Uvdo
"a Is prc.eu.aS ts esstomarv nav 49,
sfHfanro Uut thc imposing srray -
sp.eHifl appointed empa1 De-
lng eque.iuans and faehtonably-fresso
ladies' snd gentlemen. which m otbe,
Vine was TO mo most interesfina
Fec'ac'e. Chat afternoon passed by nm
Ece'edf a. at my thoughts were con
cred ON spcculaiOns regarding the f,fe