The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-28

it was with a gasp of extraordinary re-
lief that 1 found my precious bag in the
corner beside me, where ! had carefully
placed 1t. 1t was concealed from view.
No one l felt assured, could have
touched it without awakening me.
1t was broad and bright daylight.
How long had I slept?
Can you tell me-" 1 inquired of my
opposite neighbor, a cheery-faced compa-
triot-"can YOU tell me how soon we get
to - junction by this train? 1 am
most anxious to catch the night mail at
Calais, and am quite out of my reckon
ings, owing to an extraordinary delay
at -. 1 have wasted half the night
by getting into a stopping train in
stead of the express"
He looked at me in establishment. He
must have thought me either mad or
just awaking from fit of intoXication
only l fatter myself 1 did not look as
If the latter were the case.
How soon we get to - junction ??
he repeated why. my good sir you
left it about three hours ago! 1t is
now S o'clock. We all got in at the
junction. You were alone, if / mistake
not?" He glanced at one or two of the
others, who indorsed his statement.
And very fast asleep you We're, and
must have been. not to be disturbed by
the hustle at the station. And as for
catching the evening boat at Calais
he burst into q loud guffaw-'why. it
would be very hard lines to do no bet
ter than that, We all hope to cross by
the midday one"
Then what train is this?' eX-
claimed. utterly expressed.
The express, Of course. All of us
excepting yourself, Joined it at the juno
ton he replied
THE express?" I repeated. THE ex-
press that leaves -" and / named my
own town. lat in the evening""
Exactly. You have got into the
right train after ALL" and here came an
other shout of amusement. How did
you think we had all sot in if YOU had
not yet passed the junction? You had
NJ, l take it? NJ, which you
passed at 9 O'Clock last night, if my
memory is correct"
Then" / persisted, this is the
double-fast express, which does not
stop between NJ and your juno
tom"
Exactly" he repeated; and then. con-
frmed most probably in his belief that l
was mad. or the other thing. he turned
to his newspaper and left me to my own
extraordinary cogitatiOns.
Had l been dreaming? Impossible!
Every sensation. the very taste of the
coffee, seemed still present with me-the
curious accent of the officials at the mys-
FERROUS town l could perfectly recall. l
still shivered at the remembrance of the
chilly waking in the ''restauration;" /
heard again the cakling cough.
But I felt / must collect myself, and
be ready for the important negotiation
intrusted TO me- And so to do this ]
must for the time Danish these fruitess
efforts at solving the problem.
We had a good run 10 Calais, found the
boat in waiting. and a fair passage
brought us prosperously across the chan
mel. / found myself in London punctual
fO the intended bo11r- of my arrival
At once 1 drove 10 the lodgings in
small street off the Strand which l was
accustomed TO frequent in such circum-
stances. 1 felt nervous till I had an op-
portunity Of thoroughly overhauling my
documents. The bag had been opened
by the custom house officials. but the
words private papers had sufficed TO
prevent any further examination; and to
my unspeakable delight they were in
tact glance satisfied me as to this
the moment l got them out, for they
were most carefully numbered.
The next morning saw me early on my
way tO-909, we will say-Rlackfriars-
St, where was the office of Messrs. Blue
stone & Fagg. l had never been there
before, but il was easy to find. and had
L felt any doubt, their name stared me
in the face at the side of the open door
way. Second floor" I thought l read:
but when l reached the first landing
imagined l must have been mistaken
For there, at a door ajar. stood an en-
inently espectable-looking gentleman.
who bowed as he saw me, with a discreet
smile.
Herr Schmidt" he said. "Ah, yes: 1
was on the lookout for YOU"
| felt little surprised and my glance
involuntarily strayed to the doorway.
There was no name upon it, and it ap-
peared to have been freshly painted
My new friend saw my glance.
&c oil mic -
the painters here. We are using these
lower rooms temporarily. I was watch
ing 10 prevent your having the trouble
of mounting to the second floor"
And as l followed him in [ caught
sight Of a painters ladder-a small one
on the stair above, and the smell was
also unmistakable
The large outer Office looked bare and
empty, but under the circumstances that
was natural. No one was at the first
glance, to be seen; but behind a dulled
glass partition screening off one cor
ner [ fancied 1 caught sight of a seated
figure. And an inner Office to which my
conductor led the way, had a. more com
Portable and inhabited look Here stood
a younger man. He bowed politely.
Mr.. Fagg. my Junior" said the first
individual airily. And now, Herr
Schmidt, 70 business al once, if you
please. Time is everything You have
all the documents ready?"
1 answered by opening my bag and
spreading out its contents Both men
were very grave, almost taciturn: but as
L proceeded to explain things 1t was
easy to see that they thoroughly under