New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-19

she scrutiniZcd all the fair heads she saw nothing
| at all like him Evidently he was not going on
to Paris
There was much more crowding nov, now than be;
| fore, and Frank and his wife found that they had
| 10 share the carriage with four other persons.
| Two gentlemen and two ladies. One was the reg
ular British father taking his daughters to Paris;
| the other a daIk-harcd, dark-whlskercd, middle
aged man, who was very much wrapped up, and
| entered Immediately after them.
Janet decided that the party was uninierestng.
| The dark. gentleman was sitting near the window
in front of Frank, while Janet had the scat next
TO her husband. Again the black bag was be-
| tween them, safe and barely visible
| Paris, Who does not know the pleasant sound
of the word the eager faces that look out of the
train even before the big station is reached; the
| gathering up of wraps and umbrellas
Three minutes before the arrival of the train
| the dark gentleman woke up and began making
careful preparations. lie opened the window AMI
| looked out knowingly, yawned, then looked out
again.
Good gracious he said in English, and speak
ing for the first time. There's some thing on the
| line. Instantly the opposite window was let
down by the British father and Frank seeing the
dark man filling up the window space, took one
stride across, and thrust his head out of the OPP
posltc window. His one idea was, " If there is
collision | must save Janet
En- ell ?' said the anxious father. What do
you scc?'
1t is all right said Frank. hastily retiring;
and in doing so hc faced the dark man, who was
sinking back into his place, while Janet, who had
Involuntary followed her husband To the other
| side. laughed at the Sudden collision OF voices.
Il
did not see it," said Frank, little scOrnfully.
No, upon my honor | didn't. Very sorry to
have caused fright TO the ladies, but here we are
al our destination
Now followed general packing up, and just as
the train stopped the dark gentleman opened the
carriage door and jumped out
Janet had lot finished packing up her rugs, but
Frank helped her with the straps.
Take your bag don't mind me. Is this really
Paris And I'm not bit tired. she said.
| "Ycs,-all right. You have the ticket for the
luggage Look here, Janet. We Will leave our
luggage and come for it later and III just manage
the officials possible, and get out OF the
station. | shall feel free afterward. Come this
way" They hurried on after the crowd, but
instead OF going to the waitng-room, passed
/ on through the station, where the official inquls
itors white chalk mark was required on every
Madame has only these rugs said Frank,
calmly. " We shall 90 and look for hotel and
come back later for our luggage"
IL was all very simple and natural hut the
official was grumpy, Madame must undo all her
rugs Cigars had lately been largely Struggled.
etc. Janet laughed and obeycd; then, after scv-
cral minutes OF useless unstrapping and strappinS
she was chalked.
Your bag, If You please monsieur? Have
you anything to declares
Frank had previously decided 10 make no oppo-
. Stion 10 search, this official was cantank.
crous. The boxes had been securely hidden by
shirts and common articles, SO hc calmly handed
the bag There was no fear from such a man as
The key. monsieur Come, dcpechons nous
Frank handed the key.
Mas WHAT'S this? II does not fit. Open
il yourself"
the key at the last moment Could the fool
have made a mistake?
No, it did not fit. Janet bending over
her wraps and did not notice her husbands face
as Frank llulsc once more took the bag and tried
the key. \ sudden pallor oycrspread his features
his hand shook slightly as the impatient official
called 20 another colleague and mentioned the
Wei, how is this? Monsieur has another
key"
:" No: this key must fit it
" But it does not Here, Pierre. it must be
broken open.
Janet now took in the situation
" How can there have been mistake, Frank 49,
she whispered. And then noticing the curious
expression on his face. she added
Must they open it, Pay them something
The lock apparently was not complicated: IN
two seconds The man had opened II. There
seemed curious collection of small odds and
ends, and in another the white chalk cross was
scrawlcd over il, and It was handed back TO It's
owner. Frank Hulsc took H. and then SAID dis
tinclly:
L have something else must have lcft it in
the carriage. must 60 back 10 the train Come.
Janet.
Indeed, YOU have not Frank. See, here are
my rugs and you know you said
She paused, for Frank took her arm and hur-
On. Frank, what is the matter? Are you--"
Tears were in Janct'S eyes, as SIZE followed her
husband through large and now deserted sale
daitentc.
Janet, me most terrible thng has happened
to us am undone. ruined. ] can hardly think
but it is wscs, say nothing yet This Is not
mine. When or how / know not, but the bag
has been changed; or else do YOU under
stand, Janet? ! have lost the diamonds
Before Janet could answer. the British father
and his two daughters came face TO face with
Sir, have you got my black bag? missed
it soon after ] reached the hall where they
cronmed rs IN for a quarter OF an hour These
foolish officials would hardly let me ont 10 look
for il, but--GoOd heavens! here II is. ELLA,
this gentleman is bringing 1t back. II contains
many useful things for
80. no said Janet seeing Frank said moth.
Ing and allowed the bag 10 be taken from him.
" ii this is Your bag, please give MS back ours.
II is exactly like II, certainly, but
Ny dear madam, am sorry 10 say did not
take yours: il may still be IN the train. though
own ! could not find IT, wish could stop 70
help in the search, but we are in a great hurry.
Bella my dear, make haste: this terrible place is
50 bcwidering, and these parlcyvous--7
They were gone, and Frank and Janet stood
silently bv looking al each other. Then little
sob from Janet told how powerfully She too was
affected.
Frank, dear make haste; it must be i'll the
train. How strange the two bags were much
alike, OF course ours IS there DO come back
Iiush said Frank, turning face altered 50
tcnibly in its expression that Janet ircmbled at
act cautiously l-I--7
Now the pair were stopped by another official
What does monsieur want No one goes
back into the station. \ bag lost-cAchanecd'
That ) pity there Is nothing IN the train. Come
this way 10 the office. or walt-It must be- IN
the Custom House
Now followed "a long and weary tTamping from
one large room Ia another, but all the search WAS
% end in disappointment Al last acting nofc
as if he in dream, Frank. having gwen a
description Of the missing article IN three separate
places slowly walked out Of the station, handed
his wife into a cab and ordered the man 10 drive
10 the Hotel Beaumont. Janet after The first
sentence, had never uttered word: She, too,
felt crushed the misfortune was really too great
10 he fully taken in.
The Hotel Beaumont was near NJ. Durands
business place. which was IN fact. u Hat III the
Rur R Frank had already secuted his rooms,
and now he was going there simply 20 think over
what he ought 10 do NOt'a word was spoken