The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-06-26

4
present to Fer Majesty the Queen
herself, If she had passed that afternoon
in her state carriage, so distracted was
by the engrossing subject of this
valise.
After stables, / left barracks fer my
customary walk, and purchasing copy
OF the Echo from a juvenile news
vender, l read the particulars Of the
fatality of the morning. Friends had
identified the body, which was that of a
gentleman named Nixon, who had re-
sided at Bayswater.
Nixon! That corresponds with the
initial IN on the bag" l thought to
myself, now perfectly convinced that
the deceased was the person had seen
in the morning. also ascertained
from the newspaper report that man
had been apprehended on suspicion of
having attempted to rifle the pockets OF
the clothes of the drowned man, and
who had been roughly handled by the
crowd, before policeman could be
procured to take him into custo ".
After moments reflection | decided to
call at the address given in the paper,
in order to arrange about the restora-
ton of the bag to the relatives of the
deceased.
Reaching the house I knocked softly
at the door and stated my business to
the domestic who appeared, by whom
l was shown into room, and imme-
diately afterward was waited upon by a
young lady, the daughter of the de-
ceased, who, naturally enough, was
perfectly overcome with grief. I ex-
planned to her in a few words the OBJ
ject of my visit.
Il am uncertain whether poor papa
had valise of that description when he
LETT this morning." she said; shut pos
sibly you may recognize him from the
photograph" submitting one she took
from the table for my inspection.
| experienced strange sense of re-
lief-the features in the photo were
those of a person bearing no resem-
blance whatever to the individual who
had left his bag in my charge.
The young lady thanked me heartily
for the trouble | had taken in the mat
ter; and left the house of mourning
and returned to the barracks in a very
nystitied state of mind.
Gould the owner of the bag be the
thief who was caught in the act of
plunaering the dead mans clothes?" [
asked myself, but Immediately dis
missed the idea from my mind, as being
absurd and improbable.
Next day attended the orderly
room, and received a severe admonition
from the commanding officer. tortu-
nately for me. as it happened, Sir Car
naby had been in plain clothes, so my
odense in the eye of martial law was Of
o comparatively venial character I'm
mediately afterwards | considered it nv
duty to report the circumstances at
tending the valise to the adiutant, who
IN turn communicated with the police
authorities at Scotland Yard; and that
evening, pursuant to instructions re-
ceived, | had the bag conveyed to that
establishment. After had explained
how it was placed in my charge, it was
opened in my presence by an official,
and was found to contain Just a suit of
old clothes and O. few newspapers, but
no documents of any kind, as stated by
its owner.
After this the bag ceased to interest
ne, as the valueless character of its
contents caused me to speculate less on
the unaccountable conduct of it's pos
SCISSOR in never returning for it. l may
mention that | read an account
in the evening paper regarding
the alleged thief who had been
apprehended ON the Serpentine Bank
under the circumstances before alluded
to. BY. the name of Judd he had been
taken before magistrate and remanded
for week, in order that inquiries might
be made concerning him.
Some tine afterwards I was on
Queens guard, Westminster. l had
Just mounted my horse and taken up
position in one of the two boxes facing
Parliament street, when gentleman
stopped opposite me and scanned me
curlously. Addressing me, he said:
Don't you remember me?"
There was no mistaking the voice; it
was that of the owner of the BAG!
Otherwise, he was greatly altered, as he
had denuded himself OF the luxuriant
whiskers and mustache which he wore
when | saw him previously.
''What has been wrong?" I asked.
sob, / was seized with a fit that
morning when came out of the water,
and was taken home in an unconscious
state. have been very unwell ever
since, and have left my house for the
first time to-day. lmade inquiries at the
barracks about you; and as the soldier
| spoke to seemed to know about the
bag | left with you, he directed me
here"
"Well, sir 1 said, 81 had quite made
up my mind that you were the gentle
man who was drowned that morning;
and when [ discovered my mistake, 1
am almost ashamed to own that I took
you for the man who was apprehended
on the charge of trying to plumber the
drowned mans clothes"
The gentleman smiled pleasantly and
said: "Ah! 1 read about that. And now
to business. wish to get my bag at
once. I presume you have it in safe
keeping at the barracksP"
Its much nearer at hand, I replied
-''just across the street from here"
and then / told him that it was in the
custody of the police authorities at
Scotland Yard.
This information apparently discon-
certed him.
. 1t is very awkward indeed, he said.
81 have to catch the six train for Liver
pool, as | wish to sail by the steamer
that leaves tomorrow morning for New
York. Couldn't you come across with
me to get it?"
you forget that 1 am on sentry" 1
replied. Il won't be relieved until
four; and even then daren't leave the
guard nor would 1 care to ask permits.
sion to do SO. You should 60 at once
to the Captain of the guard and repre-
sent the case to him: and perhaps. nm