The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-22
THE MYSTERY OF The sATcHEL

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Judging from his appearance. he might
have been . years old AT Oakland
pier, Ca he had boarded the overland
train for the East 1t was an excursion
train, made 40 entirely OF t0rust sleep
ers, and the passengers IL car No. 3
were as sOciabis q crowd as ever got
together on one train. This young man.
however, took no part in the genera
sociability. He spoke 10 no one, and he
looked as though he wished no one 70
speak TO him
Some Of the good ladies on the car.
thinking that perhaps ne was bashful
and lonesome, went over and tried TO
talk 10 him They found him perfectly
courteous and not at all bashful He
talked well. without saying anything
whatever. and they returned 10 their
sections convinced that he was not So
cially inclined
He would sit for hours gazing out of
the windows. seemingly in TT of alb
straction. AT other times he would me-
chaRically unDack and rearrange his
satchels
There was one satchel. however, that
he never touched. 1t was a leather one.
and he wore IL attached TO his person
by means of a strap that went around
hts neck The curiosity Of the other
passengers finally cente-ed around this
satchel They asked the porter if he
slept with his head on il, and the por-
ter told them that he thought he did.
They could see for themselves that he
was wonderfully careful of IT, even
keeping it hanging 10 him while in the
dining car
In due time the train pulled into the
Union station at Chicago, and the pas
sengers scattered in various directions.
few from that same car load appearing
again at clock TO take the train for
Boston. Among these were the young
man and his mysterious satchel, and an
old gentlentn and his daughter from Al
amed8, who. between san Francisco and
Chicago, had occupied the section direct
~ opposite our dark friend.
The next day after arriving IN Boston
the old gentleman took his daughter to
ride on the new elevated street railroad.
The guards were just beginning TO get
the hOrdes that thrOnged every station
clamoring for places on the train. into
order. Just ahead Of them in the Park
street station, Miss California saw the
frozen chfmpanzee." as she had mis-
chievously named the unsociabIe one. HIS
satchel was still attached TO him, and he
still looked as though intent on some
thing in the distance.
They We're standing close behind him
when the train came in. The crowd surg
ed forward and the old man and his
daughter. being unused TO violent hust-
ling, failed TO get on. The gong sounded,
the guard slammed the gate in their faces
and the train began TO move. The young
man had stepped on just as the gate
slammed, and the iron-worl1 caught the
strap attached TO sthe satchel and broke
it. The satchel dropped outside, while
it's owner remained in the car. The old
gentleman caught it as it fell. and in a
moment the train was out OF sight
What are you going to do with it,
papa?' asked the young lady. Il sup
pose there must be an Office or some
place where we can leave il.
Wen just take it with US tc our hO-
tel, answered her father. III adver-
Use il: that will be the best way"
In less than an hour after the morning
papers were on sale the owner OF the
sGtchel appeared. He at first seemed anx
iously only 70 get his sacchel and get
away, but something in the strong, hon
est face of the kindly old man must have
inspired confidence, for he was presently
talking as though to an intimate friend.
And when he heard his hosts name he
knew that he was talking TO one of San
Francisco's wealthy men.
SO you arc an inventor exclaimed
the old gentemtn, "and your drawings
and model are in the satchel. no wonder
you stuck TO it so close. Ever invented
any Jhlng OefOreI
Yes, 1 invented a roasting furnace, !
and they are cheating me in all direc-
tons on it. Seven mining companies in
Colorado are using it illegally, and I can't
seem to help myself"
''Well. your invention must be good for
something, or they wouldn't be stealing
it,"
What can I do? I can't afford to go
to law with them
'Well. now, III tell YOU what you can
do. You can go ahead and bring suit
against those fellows. and I'll back YOU
for half the profits, when you get around
20 making profits. Some Of them viii set
tie when they see we mean business. ana /
we'I settle the rest. a patent is no good /
anyway, until you've had contest with
somebody and taken the case through the
supreme court. As for this other ma
chine. whatever It is, you get your patent
on it, then wen hire somebody 10 steal it
first thing. so we can go TO law with them
and nave the courts decide IL the begin
ming who it belongs to.
oh, no; YOU don't need TO feel any
great amount OF gratitude TO me; you're I
going 10 give me half the profits. you
know. can assure you I am actuated by /
purely selfish motives. and never do any {
hing for anybody unless 1 expect to get 1
something out of it for myself I'm +
especially prejudiced against doing any /
thing for young men And old DIT Cali /
fornia lay back IN his chair and laughed. 1
Boston Post