Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-08-04
..whati Another blunderr' gaspeo

Sally.
Yes! Another one, and q Wig In II,
too! I didn't mean troubling you about
II, but the murders out now. There
was . sudden rush Of business this AT
ternoon. and l happened to be the only
one at the window.
Everybody appeared to be in hur'
~. 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.
Nov those confounded bags are ~
much alike as two peas. and the Qucs-
tion Ia. Which is which7 The one was
ns nded in by a dapper little fellow
gentleman. every inch Of him. should
say; the other was a very suspicious-
looking customer, who wore . straw
colOred wig.
Il wouldn't trust that fellow any far
ther than I could throw him, and, as
likely as not. he'll get hold Of the other
chaps bag, as there's nothing for 1t but
first come, first served. Now, what Is
O fellow to dor
Sally didn't know.
Sam was standing at the window Of
the Left Luggage ONCE on the follow
ing morning when . gentleman In Q
light overcoat hurried past.
"HullOr' he muttcred, that's my dap
oer little gent of yesterday. Doesn't
tppear 20 be coming for his bag. BY
:ove! I've an idea, and I'll work 1t IL
I get the sack. Hill MisterP'
The gentleman turned, and slowly
retrs ced his steps. Sam, on the spur
cf the moment, had decided on a desper-
ate expedient. Selling one OF the
brown leather bags at his side, no hur-
riedly whispered:
Quick. misterI OpeA 1t 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. III
try. IL you will stand all r1sks-"
'l'll stand hanging" said Sam fierce
ly, "only open it,
Thus urged. the stranger produced q
bunch of keys; and Mt 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 n good days work,
young man.
And Eefore Sam could get in n word,
skipped round the counter with the
agility of n monkey, but the platform
was deserted.
"GOod graciOusr he gasped. "The
fellows hooked it! 1t amt his bag, I'll
bet my life. What on earth did l trust
him for? Done n good days work.
have 1? l shall he lucky if l don't do
six months for this job
For the next few minutes Sam, sit
ting in the Left Luggage Office. CAV"
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
Gay before.
Their voices amt n bit alike" groan-
ed the unlucky Sam, ''and like fool,
never noticed IT till too late. 1t strikes
me I'm the biggest ass unburied"
whats the matter, SamT asked
clerk who entered Mt that moment.
whats always the matter" de-
manded Sam fiercely. I'm in bot va,
ter again, that's a!lI'
Then you've heardT
Heard whatT'
"The statiOn-maste wants to see you
in his office. He's got a visitOr-Col.
Sowerby, 1 expect! Hope you'll come
through nll right"
Don't care whether I do or not" re-
marked Sam recklessly, as he turned
towards the station masters office.
Whats the colOners affair now? A
mere iieabite compared to thisv'
The station masters visitor was not
Col. SOwerby, after all. To the un-
bounded astOnishmens of Sam Merry.
it was the mysterious stranger who
had walked Off with the bag.
This is the man." remarked that in
dividuli as Sam entered the private
office Of his superior. IF you don't
mind, Mr.-er-Merry, 1 want to ask
you question or two"
Sam offered no objection; the cool I'm
pudence Of this bag-snatcher had taken
his breath away.
by some means or another" wera
IN the stranger, you have discovered
who I am"
Sam, OF course had discovered moth.
Ing Of the kind. By a strange stroke OF
luck, however, he did not feel called
apon to speak.
Now" went on Sans questioner.
when was this bag left in your
charger
"Three-forty-fve yesterday after.
noon"
Can you describe the man who lef,
it,"
Sam hesitated. He had good reasons
to doubt his ability to 40 80. Matters
we're getting complicated, and for the
moment he hardiy knc" whether he
stood on bis head or on his heels. For