The Lamar register., 1899-10-11
to


in such a presence.
mo? Then what has he done with
the estate? | thought he had no other
relations
HE had niece" / replied fumbling
for the key OF my bag. "Oh. here it
isl"-taking the key from my pocket.
Jennings must stay and make the
copy, and send it down.
"A niece?' interrupted Rowton.
who is she? Never heard of her
What's she like? Young or old2 Does
she come in for the land and all? Why
don't you speak out. man."
II viii in moment" l rejoined.
What on earth is the matter with
this key?'-hoiding it up to the light.
Something in the barrel-dust. l
dare say" suggested Rowton careless
ly. But about the niece-I'm inter-
ested, Fort. Is she young and beau
tiful. and an heiress?"
IT'S the lock-" / exclaimed; "the
keys right enough. and yet the bag
has scarcely been out of my sight.
What the" / stared at my partner,
whilst | felt every vestige of color
leaving my cheeks. This bag isn't
mine; it's-it's-look at this''-point
ing to half-effaced label OF a foreign
hotel adhering to the bottom of the
Gladstone. Il have never been at
Venice Understandings it more
ciosely-''this is not my bag; the key
doesn't ft''
''Whew-w.r whistled my partner.
"a case of exchange no robbery,
You've bagged somebody else's. and
he's bagged yours'-laughing at his
own pun. 'Awfully dlsgusted he'll be
when he sees the documents.
It's an impossibility,' calculated.
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 l can swear there's been no mis-
take. It's robbery. Send for the
! police"
| The words died on my lips. A ter
rible suspicion darted ;nto my mind.
\ Mona Branscombe had carried black
bag--a Gladstone. the facsimile of
| mine-and | had deposited it beside
my own on the vacant seat. In her
precipitate fight she had taken the
bag, leaving cloak and book behind
her. and, as remembered now. eff
fectually covering up the Gladstone
she had left. In her agitation she had
evidently exchanged the bags by mis-
| take.
Robbery? Nonsense-it's case of
exchange" persisted James Rowton.
Cant you remember who had the
other? Did he come all the way?''
YES" l said confusedly. putting my
hand to my head Il remember; she
| got out at Notion
'She!" echoed my partner. Was it
woman? And with Gladstone."
Yes" / answered. heartily vexed
with myself for the involuntary admis-
sion. sit 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 l will fol-
low the message by the first train
"of again." exclaimed Rowton rue
| fully. There's weeks flag here
/ pointing to a pile of documents which
filed the table.
Cant help it!'' 1 retorted. The
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-"
Can't run down." proposed Row
ton. lis the heiress there? l should
like to see her."
Il must find the WILL" I 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 them" said Rowton. re-
luctantly. We'll. ta-ta old fellow,
Wire when you've got the bag. It's
an awful joke, though-such sell for
the lady"
Don't let the chief hear of it," l
stopped to request as l left the office.
the fatal bag in my hand-"it would
Upset him"
"Au right nodded the chiefs
nephew "It was an awfully fiat thing
to do, you know, Fort-to let wom
an run off with the old Colonel's
will And steadygoing fellow like
you, tool Now, if 1t had been +"
| 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