Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-02
A MYSTERIOUS VALISE.
The Story Told by en- Ex-Life-
Guardsman.

"Sentry, will you kindly keep Your
eye on my bag for a few minutes? 1
am going to have plunge in the Ser
pentine," said well-dressed. middle
aged gentleman to me, one warm sum-
mer morning few years ago, as was
on duty at the park gate of Knights
bridge Cavalry Barracks.
IAN right, SIR" l replied. IF l am
relieved before your return. shall hand
ii over to the next sentry"
''Oh, ] shan't be more than half an
hour at the latest, as / must be in the
city by nine. / prefer leaving my va
lise with you; there are so many vaga-
bonds always swarming about Hyde
Park, that it is quite possible that one
Of them might take fancy to it while
am bathing 1t doesn't contain very
valuable property-only n suit Of clothes
and few documents 'Of no use TO any
one but the owner, as the saving Is.
All the same, however, have no desire
to lose L. ;" SO saying. the gentleman
turned away. and walked briskly across
the park in the direction Of the Serpen-
tine.
The request TO look after his property
did not in the least surprise
me, as numerous robberies from the
clothing OF persons bathing had for
some time before been reported to the
police. / lifted the bag-upon which
the letters w. n. were painted, and
which was in the battered condition in
dicatiye Of having been much tumbled
about-and placed IL behind the low
wall that lay between the barracks and
The footpath.
The barracks clock struck eight.
Fully half an hour had elapsed since the
owner o. the bag departed. and as vet
there was no sign OF him; the "quarier-
past was ehmed from the neighbor-
ing clocks, and still he did not turn up;
aud, as the minutes passed, thought
20 myself that II was time he was look
inc sharp II he really wished to be in
IIe IitN w nine.
About balf-past eight / perceived
great commotlon in the park. Men
were rushing from all quarters in the
direction OF the Serpentine; and soon
afterwards ! ascertained from passer-
by that the excitement was caused By
one Of the numerous bathers having
been drowned. An uneasy suspicion
was at once excited within me that the
person who had come 20 such sad end
was the gentleman who had left his
valse IN my charge. which suspicion
was intensified when / was relieved at
nine, with the article slill unclaimed. |
reelected. however, that lis owner may
have been chained TO the scene OF the
disaster by that morbid curiosity which
induces people 10 linger about the spot
where any calamity Of the kind has re-
Gently occurred, and then. finding that
he was pressed for time. and knowing
that his properly would be perfectly
safe, had gone direct 10 the city.
l handed over the bag TO the sentry !
who relieved me without mention |
ing 10 him anything OF the circum-
stances Of the case; and when be |
returned from duty at eleven, eagerly |
asked him II the yalise had been called |
for.
No. he replied; 'it is still lying
behind tie wall. -
] went on sentry again at one o'clock
and no one had come for t. lt was the
height OF the London season aud HYDE |
Pa k presented It's customary gay ap-
pearance; but the imposing array of
splendidly-appointed eqnipages, dash
ing equestrians and ashlOnably-dressed
ladies' aud gentlemen, which at other
timei was TO me a most interesting
spectacle, that afternoon passed by I'M
heede'l, as all my thoughts were cen
tered ON spcculations regarding the fate
OF tho owner Of the bag Before being
at three | had Il conveyed 10
ny room in barracks. and after coming
OIL guard placed II for greater security
IN the troop store. That evening, before
stables. when lhe orderly corporal
bad read out the duties for the succeed
ng day, busaid, addr ssing me; Jones.
lou have TO attend the orderly room to-
morrow"
"WhyF' / inQullod.
''ion bago been reported for neglect
ng 20 salute Captain Sir Cgynaby jerks
a no passed you while on sonffy this
'llnlNoqn." was the corpqral's answer
arid rolhng by way d oxcl3e Yals