Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-08-04


your placer
Sam was exceedingly thoughtful fora
minute.
"Why," he said at length, there's
lots of things I've never tried yet
could turn milkman, messenger, porter,
private detective-by Jove; that's just
the thing. Listen to this"
Taking a copy of an evening paper
from his pocket, Sam read aloud:
$500 Reward.-The above reward
will be paid to any person-not being
the actual thief-giying such informa-
ton as shall lead to the recovery of
Lady Manburgh's jewels, stolen from
her rooms Mt the Mount Hotel on the
night of Friday last.-Chlef Inspector
Taken, Police Station, Midhampton.
There you are" went on Sam. Sim
pie enough isn't it? Good pay, too!''
'If you get It," laughed Sally. "You
would cut a fine figure as detective.
Just fancy yourself with false whis-
kers and wig!
81 wish you wouldn't mention wigs"
said Sam grimly; I'm beginning to
hate the sight of em. The colonePs af-
fair was bad enough, but goodness
knows what the other will be-"
What? Another blunderp gasped
Sally.
Eyes! Another one, and n wig In 1t,
too! l didn't mean troubling you about
1t, but the murders out now. There
was a sudden rush of business this af-
ternoon, and happened to be the only
one at the window.
Everybody appeared to be in hur-
nv, and to save time l pushed the
things, with the checks on top, to one
side till the rush was over. In taking
In the last package | knocked over a
couple of brown leather bags, checks
as well, of course.
"Now those COMPOUNDED bags are as
much alike as two peas, and the ques-
ton Is, Which is which? The one was
handed in by dapper little fellow
gentleman, every inch of him, should
say; the other was a very suspicious
looking customer, who wore a straw
colored wig.
81 wouldn't trust that fellow any far
Their than | could throw him, and, as
likely as not, he'll get hold of the other
chaps bag, as there's nothing for it but
first come, first served. Now, what Is
fellow to dO?"
Sally didn't know.
Sam was standing at the window of
the Left Luggage Office on the follow
ing morning when a gentleman in a
light overcoat hurried past.
"Hullo!' he muttered, that's my dap
per little gent of yesterday. Doesn't
appear to be coming for his bag. By
Jove! I've an idea, and I'll work 1t If
| get the sack. Hi! Misterv'
The gentleman turned, and slowly
rctraced his steps. Sam, on the spur
Of the moment, had decided on a desper-
ate expedient. Selling one of the
brown leather bags at his side, he hur-
riedly whispered:
"Qulck, mister! Open it and satisfy
yourself"
The gentleman merely stared, and
made no effort to take the bag.
"For goodness sake, don't hesitate,
sir" implored Sam. Il couldn't trust
the other fellow for the world. If you
don't take just one peep, sir, you may
never have another chance. Lean over
the window SO that nobody will see
your
But, my dear fellow" gasped the
other; "do you know"
Il know it's not business" interrupt
ed Sam; but I'm desperate, and it's
the only way. Everything depends on
you"
Well" laughed the gentleman. "T'n
try, If you will stand all risks"
"I'll stand hanging" said Sam fierce
ly, 'only open It,"
Thus urged, the stranger produced a
bunch of keys; and at the third at
tempt the bag was opened. The result
was hardly what Sam had anticipated.
The gentleman stared into the open
bag as If he could scarcely believe his
eyes. Then he closed it with the re-
mark:
you've done good days work,
young manw
And Eefore Sam could get In a word,
man and bag had vanished. Sam
skipped round the counter with the
agility of a monkey, but the platform
was deserted.
Good graciousr he gasped. "The
fellows booked it! 1t amt his bag, I'll
bet my life. What on earth did trust
him for? Done good days work,
have l? l shall be lucky If l don't do
six months for this job"
For the next few minutes Sam, sit
ting in the Left Luggage Office. gave
himself to despair. A horrible certain
ty had suddenly dawned upon him.
The man who had carried off the bag
was not the 'dapper little gent" of the
day beforel
''Their voices amt a bit alike" groan-
ed the unlucky Sam, land like fool. I
never noticed 1t till too late. 1t strikes
me I'm the biggest ass unburied."
'What's the matter, SAM" asked a
clerk who entered at that moment.