Hutchinson gazette., 1899-07-20

Gladstone, II have never been AZ
Venice, and"--examinlng II more
cloaely--"this IL not my bag; the key
doesn't It,"
"Whew--wl" whlstled my partner.
"A case OF exchange no robbery;
You've bagged somebody else's, and
hos bagged yours"-laughlng ut his
own pun, "Awfully dlsgusted he'll bO
when he sees the documents"
TITS an imposslblllty," | calculated.
"Tho bag was put into the carriage
and taken out again by my own hands,
and II never left my sight throughout
tho Journey II was on the opposite
seat can swear there's been no mis-
take, It's robberyl Send for the
police"
The words died on my lips, A ter
riblo suspicion darted into my mind.
Mona Branscombe had carried black
bag--a Gladstone, the facsimile OF
mine-and ] had deposited 1t beside
my own on the vacant seat, In her
preclpltate flight she had taken the
bag, leaving cloak and book behind
her, and, as / remembered now, eff
fectually covering up tho Gladstone
she had left In her agitation she had
evidently exchanged the bags by mis-
take
Robbery Nonsense-it's case OF
exchanged" persisted James Rowton.
Cant you remember who had tho
other? Did he come all the way?"
"Yes," said confusedly putting my
hand to my head, IL remember; she
got out at Motion"
"Shel" echoed my partner WAS II
woman2 And with Gladstonel"
"Yes," / answered, heartily veEod
with myself for the involuntary admis-
sion, 1T was woman. I'll 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 frst train"
ION again?" exclaimed Rowton rue
fully. There's weeks fag hero
pointing to pile of documents which
filled tho table.
Cant help III" / retorted, "Tho
funeral takes place the day after to-
morrow. must be present to read
tho will, take executors instructions,
and 30 on; and there Is other buBl-
ness which must be attended to-"
Cant run DOWN." proposed Row
ton, rs the heiress there? l should
like to sec her"
II must find tho WILL" l replied.
"Theres no time to be lost. The Col
onel gave me special instructions; 1
am bound to DO present-other things
must walt"
you're off them" said Rowton, re-
luctantly. "Well, ta-ta, old fellows
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," 1
stopped to request as left the office,
the fatal bag In my hand--"it would
upset him"
"All right" nodded the chiers
nephew. ut was an awfuly nat thing
to do, you know, Fort-to let a wom-
an run off with the old ColonePs
will. And n steady-golng fellow ike
you, too! Now, II 1t had been L"
stayed to hear no more. My han
som was waiting. and my Jarvio
celved his instructions to hurry back
to Euston with the equanimlty OF his
order. What did 1t matter II all the
world had gone mad 30 long as his
fare was a good one2
My message was soon dispatched,
and whilst | waited for the answer II
made my way to the refreshment room.
But, Notwithstanding my long fast, l
was too fevered and excited to eat,
and could only swallow glass OF
wine and break n biscuit Then l
hovered impatlently about the door OF
the telegraph office, musing on the
complication which this unlucky acci-
dent had brought into the whole at-
fair.
ITn ha continual