The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-08-21

check. Fol greater dispatch in getting
away he went to point u his bag
gage. AS he approached the door Of
the disgorging baggage car he beheld
that which well-nigh made Him dis
trust his eyesight. A sta1wart cabman
was bearing away on his shoulder his
trunk-yes, his W trunk, with its
familiar canvas and the initials
) R. in black upon the end. Natur-
ally 1t was a spectacle not to be pas
sively endured.
"Hi. you! that's my trunkl" he
shouted, starting after the cabman.
Go along, don't mind him, he's
crazy" energetically whispered Red
guiding spirit. Come, I'm in a hurry!"
And, despite Graybeard's vigorous
remonstrances, the driver put the
trunk upon the rack of his carriage
and, with red-mustache inside the
vehicle, drove rapidly away.
Follow that robert" ordered Gray
! beard, in a voice trembling from in
dignation n excitement. Keep him
In sight, don't let him get away!" and
he undled himself hurriedly into the
cab that had been awaiting lin.
Meantime Sm~ooth-face had been
lowering about on the stage Of the
scene. He, too, had secured the SER
vices Of a hack driver, for whose vehi-
Gle he now made a sudden bolt.
Drive along after that old chap"
ae directed, meaning G~raybeard.
Don't let him out of you sight on any
account"
Red mustache was taken to a Wash
ington street hotel and had the can
va covered trunk quickly conveyed
to a room which he had engaged by
wire. Grayberad's carriage, owing to
the trafic-flled street, was kept at
some distane behind tina Of Red-mus-
tache, but his driver, a wideawake
young fellow, under the stimulus of a
heavy bonus offered, did not once lose
his quarry from view.
AS soon as Red-mustache had the
trunk safe in his room he locked h
door and set about unlocking the
trunk. That is to say, he took from his
pocket a bunch of keys and tried all
the likely ones on the trunk lock. It
was a patent C Of the best make,
and none Of his keys would even be-
gin to fit it. He decided to nave in a
locksmith, and accordingly pressed the
button to call a servant. When, after
a few moments later, he opened the
door to admit the boy, another person
came in also. 1t was Graybeard,
breathIess n indignant.
"What-do you-mean by-making
off with-my property in this-unwar-
rantable manners" he asked.
Keep YOU hair on, my friend" ad-
vised Red-mustache, with a breeziness
intended to be refreshing, but not
proving SO to the exasperated middle
aged gentleman by whom he was con-
fronted. II don't a your property;
I'm after something that doesn't be-
long to you at ALL"
Then why search for it in my
trunk 2" was the not unnatural query.
Simply because it happens to be
there" retorted Red-mustache. do
you mean to deny that there is, in the
bottom of that trunk a package of-of
papers that doesn't belong to your"
Before Graybeard, who looked con-
siderably astonished at this question,
could make any reply, a third person
quietly and unassumingly sided into
the room, closed the door behind him.
and, turning the key, withdrew it from
the lock and put it into his pocket.
M Jonas Ralston,'' said Smooth-face,
IT should like the favor Of a few words
with you"
"As you seem to think you are ad-
stiffy, IT will inform you that my name
Is James Ridley"
"Um! ahI I am willing to waive dis
cussion on that point for the present.
said Smooth-face, %suavely; but. whatever
your name may be, will you be so good as
to open your trunk and let me look at its
contents?"
mo. sir. I will not do anything of the
kind" exclaimed Graybeard, with as near
an approach to violence as was possible
in so mild q a II fail to understand
why ] should be interested with and de-
layed In this unlawful manner. It is near
ly half-past 6, and I lave to get to the
North Station in time for the z o'clock
train" +
Eyes. I know the Up. m. train for Port
land, st. John and~Halifax,'' murmured
S~mooth-face, with a certain significance,
but you don't start for Canada tonight,
you see, Mr.. Jonas Ralston," he added
quietly.
James Ridley, If you please" contra
dicted Graybeard. Am I to infer from
your tone and manner" he asked, that
you are a-an officer of the law"
well. you certainly might guess wider
of the mark than that"
"Ah! and I gather from your high
handed behavior that you take me for one
Jonas Ralston."
"I should hope I didn't take you for two
Of him." retorted the detective, humor-
ously. One Of that particular brand is
about enough to have lying around loose
at once-in my opinion"
IT perceive I must be at some trouble
Ito disabuse you Of your strange error
said Graybeard, forcing himself to ap-
pear calm. ITO prove hat I am not
Jonas Ralston, there Is my card, sir"
Smooth-face accepted the bit Of paste
board and, %glancing at it with an air Of
politely feigned interest, read aloud:
James Ridley, A.. M, Wishewasha
University"
Then, handing the card back, he re-
marked, as il apropos Of nothing in par
ucular:
Zone dollar for the plate and about so
cents per hundred for printing; UNI! a
luxury within the reach of almos any
purse"
You don't believe me-" exclaimed
Graybeard, wiping his hot forehead.
"Here, look at these" and he drew from
bis pocket a number Of old letters. all Of
which were addressed to Professor
James Ridley"
The detective seemed a tride shaken as
to the identity of the man, but he was by
no means satisfied yet.
open your trunk and let us nave a
look into that" he said.
Graybeard gathered the few remain
ing shreds of his patience and submitted
to this command. The trunk was UNI
| locked and its lid turned back. While the