The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1899-07-14

Gladstone. II have never been ~
Venice, and''-examining 1t more
closely-"this is not my bag; the key
doesn't IT."
"Whew-w!" whistled my partner.
"a case of exchange no robbery.
You've bagged somebody else's, and
hos bagged yours"-laughing at his
own pun. "Awfully disguised he'll he
when he sees the documents"
Its an impossibility," l calculated.
1.-THE bag was put into the carriage
and taken out again by my own hands,
and it never left my sight throughout
the journey. 1t was on the opposite
seat. can swear there's been no mis-
take. It's a robbery! Send for the
police"
The words died on my lips. A ter
rible suspicion darted into my mind.
Mona Branscombe had carried a black
bag-a Gladstone, the facsimile OF
mine-and l had deposited it beside
my own on the vacant seat. In her
preclptate flight she had taken the
bag, leaving cloak and book behind
fectually covering up the Gladstone
she had left. In her agitation she had
evidently exchanged the bags by mis-
take.
Robbery? Nonsense-it's a case OF
exchanged" persisted James Rowton.
Cant you remember who had the
other? Did he come all the way?"
cot oAnF.,eaIlxr inc nv
hand to my head. II remember; she
got out at Motion"
"She!" echoed my partner. WAS 1t
a woman? And with a Gladstone!"
YES" l answered, heartily vexed
with myself for the involuntary admis-
sion, sit was woman. III go back to
Euston and wire to Motion at once.
The mistake may have been discovered
and my bag left there; and will fol-
low the message by the first train.
"Off again?" exclaimed Rowton rue
fully. There's a weeks flag hero
pointing to a pile of documents which
filled the table.
Cant help it," l retorted. Tho
funeral takes place the day after to-
morrow. | must be present to read
the will, take executors instructions,
and so on; and there is other bust
ness which must be attended to-
Cant l run DOWN." proposed Row
ton. as the heiress there? l should
like to see her"
81 must find the WILL" 1 replied.
There's no time to be lost. The Col
onel gave me special instructions;
am bound to be present-other things
must wait"
You're off then?" said Rowton, re-
luctantly. well, ta-ta, old fellow!
Wire when you've got the bag. It's
an awful joke, though-such a sell for
the lady"
Don't let the chief hear of it," l
stopped to request as left the office,
the fatal bag in my hand-"it would
upset him."
"All right" nodded the chiefs
nephew. 1T was an awfully fiat thing
to do, you know, Fort-to let a wom-
an run off with the old Colonefs
will. And steady-going fellow like
you, too! Now, if it had been L"
l stayed to hear no more. My han
som was waiting. and my Jarvie
ceived his Instructions to hurry back
to Euston with the equanimity OF his
order. What did it matter If all the
world had gone mad SO long as his
fare was good one?
My message was soon dispatched,
and whilst / waited for the answer
made my way to the refreshment room.
But. Notwithstanding my long fast,
was too fevered and excited to eat,
and could only swallow a glass OF
wine and break a biscuit. Then |
lowered impatiently about the door OF
the telegraph office, musing on the
complication which this unlucky acct
dent had brought into the whole at
fair.
(To be continued)