The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-07-03

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yalise in my charge. which suspicion
was intensified when | was relieved M
nine with the article still unclaimed.
reflected. however. that its owner may |
have been chained 10 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, aud then. finding that !
he was pressed for time. and knowing
that his property would be- perfectly
safe. had gone direct 10 the city.
| handle! over the tag 10 the scDtry
who relieved me without mention
ing TO him anything Of the circum-
stances ~ the case; and when he
returned from duty at eleven. eagerly
asked him il the valise had been called
| for.
NO" he replied; lit il still lying
behind the wall
went on sentr, again at one o'clock
and no one had come for Il. IL was the
height of the London season and Hyde
Park presented lis customary gay APP
pcarance; but the imposing array Of
splendidIy-appointed equlpages. dash
ing equestrians and fashonably dressed
ladies and gentlemen. which at other
times was 10 me most interesting
spectacle. that afternoon passed by un-
Needed. rs all my thoughts were cen
tered on speculations regarding the fate
OF the owner Of the bag. Before being
relieved al three hal il conveyed 70
my room in barracks. and after coming
of guard placed il for greater security
in the troop store. That evening. before
Ia. rr.In~lr nnrrtar1I
had read out the duties for the succeed
ing day. he said. addressing me: Jones.
YOU have to attend the orderly room to-
morrow.
..Why?' | inquired.
You have been reported for neglect
ing TO salute Captain sir Carnaby jerks
! as he passed YOU while on sentry this
afternoon" was the corporal's answer.
| said nothing by way Of excuse. This
heinous charge was in all probability
true. believe might have omitted to
, present" TO Her Majesty the Queen
herself. il she had passed that afternoon
in her state carriage. 80 distracted was
) by the engrossing subject OF this
valise.
After stables. left barracks tor my
, customary walk. and purchasing cop,
OF the Echo from juvenile news
vcnder. l read the particulars Of tn
fatality ~ the morning. Friends hac
:. identified the body, which was that Of
gentleman named Nixon. who had re
! sided at Bayswater.
nixon, That corresponds with tn
initial M on the bag" ! thought Y
;. myself. now perfectly convinced tina
the deceased was the person l had seei
y in the morning. also ascertaines
il from the newspaper report that mai
had been apprehended on suspicion
having attempted TO rifle the pockets
e the clothes of the drowned man. an
Y who had been roughly handled by ID
: crowd. before policeman could b
procured to take him into custody
!. After moments reflect on decided
call at the address given in the paprl
in order to arrange about the restors
n ton OF the bag 70 the relatives OF IN
deceased.
Reaching the house 1 Knocked SOFT
at the door. and stated my business !
the domestic who appeared. by whoi
/ was shown into a room. and imm'
diately afterward was waited upon b.
Young lady. the daughter OF the d
ceased. who. naturally enough. vs.
perfectly overcome with grief ! e
planned TO her in few woris the o.
ur ject Of my visit
II am uncertain whether poor par
had Il valise Of that description when
left this morning." she said but 20
q sibly YOU may recognize him from q
n photograph. submitting one she too
as from the table for my inspection.
- experienced strange sense Of r
lief the features in the photo we
those Of person bearing no reSeI
IN blance whatever to the individual wi
al had left his bag in my charge
The young lady thanked me hearti
an for the trouble had taken in the ms
~ ter: and left the house Of mourniI
n. and returned TO the barracks in We
mystiiicd state Of mind
"a Gould the owner of the bag be I
de thief who was caught in the act
ne pluniering the dead mans clothcss
lie asked myself. nut immediately Il
~ missed the idea from my mind. a. bell
les absurd and improbable
~ Next day l attended the order
- room. and received severe admoniti
~ from the commanding officer Fort
an nately for me. rs II happened. Sir 81
~ naby had been in plain clothes. so
III otlense in the eve Of martial law was
a comparatively yenial character. Il
sty mcdiatcly afterwards ! considered i !
~. ~ duty to report the circumstances
me tending the valisc to the adjutant. "
' ior in turn communicated with the pol
.nr authorities al Scotland Yard; and Il
lcn evening. pursuant 70 instructions
'nu ccivcd. | had the bag conveyed 70 u
m establishment. After had explain
=. M. how il was placed in my charge. i
w opened in my presence hy an ONO