The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-28
AN EXCHANGE
OF BAGS

Copyright, 1901 by T. c. McCiure.I
IL happened twenty years ago. and Il
this day am puzzled to know how
exchanged bags with q fellow traveler
on the train from London to Liverpool
- exchasgs wss made. however, and
20 exactly alike were the bags that |
supposed had my own until | found
that my key would not open II. / ad.
Wrtlsed for the owner OF the strange
bag and for the holder OF my own, and
let six weeks elapse before taking the
bag to iocksmith and having him &c a
key.
! had met with no great loss In my
bag. and gained nothing by the ex.
change. Aside from a few articles OF
wearing apparel the strange bug con.
tanned only papers. felt for a time
that had no right to read these docu.
ments, and they had been In my DOS.
session nearly six months before I
brought them out one evening and
spent two hours In their perusal.
] was an old bachelor. and am to this
csy Tor that matter. | was also bar
rister and am not 20 old but what
dabble In law bit yet. The papers
were carefully prepared legal docu.
ments bearing on the case OF Major
Saunders. an English army officer who
had been cashiered in Egypt. They
proved him great scoundrel, taken |
altogether. and my opinion was that
some ono with private grievance to
satisfy had employed lawyer and a
detective TO trace the majors record
back for many years and make him
ont az guilty Of almost everything but
murder. ! could not recall that I had
ever read or heard Of him and certain.
!y had no idea OF ever meeting him
face to face. Strange things happen in
this world, however.
On the second afternoon after nv
Derusal OF the papers was invited by
friend TO dine with him at bis club.
The Leisure Hour club was respecta.
bio In way, but had the reputation
n numbering good many high rollers
among its members. There was al
ways play going on, and II was 80 high
hat more than one man had come to
financial grief After dinner I was
AIKEN Into the card room. and II was
here that came face to face with Ma
or Saunders He had come home from
Egypt and changed his name and by
voiding the military clubs had escap.
q recognition. Indeed. be was posing
. Frenchman and making no claim
having been an officer.
You will wonder how | recognized
Inn. My profession has made me as
deserving rs detective. The papers
n minute description OF the
lan--as minute as II he had been a
lurderer fleeing from justice. One Of
ie points was n particular scar on his
Ice, another was the shape OF his nose.
mother was a slight limp In his gait,
tll another was finger missing from
In left hand, carried away by the bul-
I OF dervlsh.
Before making any move In the mat
r | set myself to find ont why the
aJor visited the club at all | soon
scovered that the high play was the
agnet, and the three OF lis who
atched him like 50 many hawks were
i long In making out that he was one
the cleverest card sharpers OF the
y. He had been winner from the
st, but was such slick one that he
q not been detected In cheating. We
ade no mistake on him. Not whis. 1
r was permitted to get around until /
had the most convincing proof that
was cheat and swindIer. +
How he got on to me and the fact L
1t ] had papers In my possession in.
him is greater mystery Il
IN the exchange Of bags. have
netimes figured that he might have =
an the owner OF the bag opened,
wing perhaps stolen 1t from the right. :,
owner. Something must have been =. -