The Red Cloud chief., 1899-07-28

Gladstone. II have never oeen vt
Venice, and"-examiniug II more
closely-"this Is not my bag: the koy
doesn't IT."
"Whew--w!" whistled my partner.
"A case OF exchange no robbery
You've bagged somebody else's, and
he's bagged yours"-laughing at his
W pun. "Awfully disguised he'll be
when he sees the documents"
ITS an impossibility," I calculated.
THE bag was put into the carriage
and taken out again by my W hands.
and It never left my sight throughout
the journey. II was on the opposite
seat. l can swear there's been no mis-
take. It's n robbery! Send for the
police"
The words died on my lips. A ter
rible suspicion dartcd into my mind.
Mona Branscombe had carried a black
bag-a Gladstone. the facsimile OF
mine-and l had deposited 1t beside
M own on the vacant seat. In her
precipitate flight she had taken the
bag. leaving cloak and book behind
her. and, as I 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 n case OF
exchanged" 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 Motion"
"She!" echoed my partner. WAS II
a woman? And with a Gladstone!"
YES" l answered, heartily vexee
with myself for the involuntary admis-
sion, 1T was q 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 tho first train
ION again." exclaimed Rowton rue
fully. There's a weeks fae here
pointing to a pile OF documents which
filed the table.
Cant help IT," I retortcd. "The
funeral takes place the day after to-
morrow. I 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 | run down." proposed Row
ton. as the heiress there? / should
like to sec her"
81 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 thing:
must wait"
you're off them" said Rowton, re
luctantly. well. ta-ta, old fellow!
Wire when you've got the bag. III
an awful joke, t~housh-such a sell foi
the lady"
Don't let the chief hear Of It,"
stopped to request as I left the oflce
the fatal bag in my hand-"it woult
upset him."
"All right" nodded the chiefs
nephew. 1T was an awfully fiat thlni
to do, you know. Fort-to let a WON
Will nun And al a VIE steeadyy 1s Hsa ,e, Sosoh "a'
you, too! Now. II It 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 1t matter II all the
world had gone mad so long as his
fare was a good one?
My message was 500 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 u glass o.
vino and break a biscuit. Then
lowered impatiently about the door o
the telegraph office. musing on thu
complication which this unlucky aoci
dent had brought into the whole af
fair. 81
Ito be cortlnued.)