The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-05
By Mrs. G.. ". WiZliamson


teau borrowed haunting alurement of mystery in the
Of the young man from Colorado and South Africa
Much of this luggage which the had neglected
to claim looked hardly claiming the in
rinsc value by the things themselves for they
things nearly all of them The boxes were mean
shabby Of tn others wood tied round with
while here and there to be battered leather
which might generations and
tear The bags less desirable in appearance than
the and the parcels held together string
"shaw forbiddng STILL there
thrill in the thought that Of these people who had
begun bid what they bidding
There fascination the knowledge that they stood
to win, for few shilngs treasure worth hundreds of
pounds.
Breakspear, gripped him
power. he going in
silence the with
desire to follow each be with him her when
the thing acquired it's secret But last the wish to
let down hook into this strange shpond overcame him.
Boxes and bags going for comparatively small sums
With boyish delight wait until
piece of luggage little than it's fellows
should be put up for SALE and then bid for it.
Almost the thought entered his head the auctioneer
drew the attention of the public small portmanteau of
black leather grim veteran, and had but single
distinguishing feature On one end Maltese
carefully painted in blue, once bright now faded or OBJ
with
The Maltese cross appealed to Breakspear He
it in the pormanteau, his lips had just
parted begin bidding by shi
lings, a voice guinea
Breakspear turned quickly but the of the voice was
hidden from him the brokers, and idle
lookers-on in the big
Competition game. JIM being
teu bid fifteen shlngs; from the other end of the
the bid raised to Jim to thirty shlings
Promptly offer of two pounds from the direc
ton as before So went on the struggle always between
those two other until at last Breakspear was
amazed to find himself bidding fifteen pounds for ugly
pormanteau dealer in Wa
terloo road might have sold for few shilings
But Jim his mettle There mystery in the
young enough sufficiently inspired Ste
picture exciting possibilities His
thru the battered leather and discovered jewels of price He
was not to lose this painted with the
blue Maltese which something, might
almost anything
Unfortunately, however he had been leaving town
fyuont n6s in hic had
] at th n1ato1e and rch.sin ifs of aovers and
Miss Vvien Oakley bidding higher he
the desire of his heart which rapidly becom
ing irresistible he succeeded in obtaining his OBJ
jec could certainly take the next train to Brighton
"stop; you this thing You'll be
bitterly disappointed disguised with
self if get it, But Jim Beakspear had not often listened
to the OF prudence and ne did not listen
than he would have listened the gaming fever had
been upon him at Monte Carlo the wicked and fair
Eighteen pounds" the inevitable voice from the
other end of the and Jim essayed final effort
rival.
AS he made his next bid he sprang chair and
stared around the Lately in his excitement he
had forgotten all about the in the black cloak and
VEIL but he her going hastily out pushing her way
the
Good heavens! wonder if it could possibly have been
trying pormanteau?" the quick
which mingled with his triumph that moment
there being bid against him. leather wreck
knocked down to him for the last shilling OF his twenty
pounds.
Success brought reaction Of spirit and as he paid the
himself
He certain there nothing worth having that black
portmanteau. The other probably the
buy the thing back and if shame
that stranger should have kept bidding But it
The luggage his luggage, and he
orders for it to be carried out by porter.
He had not check book with him, and he had
hardly enough in his pocket nothing
go back to his London lodgings in Seymour
AS Miss Oakles feelings went that would
much matter for she had spoken of Saturday to Monday
and this Friday afternoon He would probably not
till and then if he chose he could still
Brighton having only sacrificed hours and
twenty pounds to extraVagant Whlm
his portmanteau (ready packed Brighton)
put with his old acquisition and
giving Seymour street address the cabman when
he little distance the TALL thin eaglefaced who
knocked him down time Impotence
yelled black that
beEg watched wondered if he would be followed
Again purchase assumed artificial Importance
glad that he had secured it, at of twenty
that could hardly wait
what might sign Maltese cross.