The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-20
The Changed Bag
torlsinall

was obliged tO walt before getting room. bought pair of gloves, open ed my bag and put them in. did so without looking Into the bag. Ipassed the lady for whom I had waited, She was standing at the end of the counter had first visited, and l remember sec ing bag before her that looked SO like mine that I lookeldowu to discov- CT if I had my own bag In my hand and saw that it was an exact duplicate of the one before the lady, thought nothing of this, for they were a very common type.
 When I got home I tossed it Into a closet The next day, before going out with 1t, opened It to put in some samples. was surprised Co md in it a purse containing S2O, few samples and a letter, the envelope of which was missing. Eager to learn what these things meant, | read the letter. It ran:
 Dear Juue-Mcet me Thursday after noon CS.l5) at the northeast guglc of tho open square I shah disguise myself as an old man. Wear the costume ot an old woman. Mary doesn't suspect any thing Don't fail GILBERT.
 I was petrifed with horror I was Mary; Gilbert was my lover. The writing was disguised, but the longer I looked at it the more ! was convinced that 1t was a bad attempt 10 conceal the hand of Gilbert Merriman. l g,anc- ed at the clock l had just han an hour to get to the place of meeting.
 When I reached the square the clock in St Paurs spire stood at S;lo | walked to the northeast angle draw ing a heavy veil down over my face, through which l could see, but not be recognized. I concluded to sit on one of the benches and wait Several women came In, but they were all young and passed on. Five minutes before the appointed time an old wcm- an came by with a basket Of apples on her arm. As she passed me ask cd if she would sell me one She held out her basket for mc Co choose, but did not speak. l looked Into her face and felt sure that I had caught my bird.
 "Juliey" I asked,
 She gave a reprcsScd Shr.cG
 You and Gilbert arc mistaken ig thinking Mary does not suspect You must have lost Gl6crt'S letter, for Mary has it and win he hcre-pcyhspS is here now-to expose you. AS soon as be comes both of you follow me | win take you to a place where you can confer in safety
 'Dear, dear woman. how kind you are, There he Is now. I'll % and tell him"
 An old man. much bent and leaning heavily on his cane, came in at side entrance to the square, and the old woman hastened toward him They stood taking excitedly, the man look ing at me with evident suspicion. The woman was apparently begging h.m to do as I had suggested, but be ap- peared to be of a different mind. A policeman happened to stroll by, and the man called to him and said some thing to him, and they both started for me. followed by the woman.
 Ibegan to be frightened.
 When they reached me the old man called to Julie" to come forward.
 "Is that your bagy" he asked
 Heavens, yes, didn't notice it be- fore"
 In my excitement at my discovery of the letter on leaving the house l had snatched up the bag with its contents, and there 1t was hanging 10 my wrist. The old man took 1t from me and opened 1t.
 Heres your property" he said to the woman, and heres the thief. Take her along. policeman"
 "Not unless youn agree to appear against her"
 The man promised. giving his name and address. was startled 10 hear him say not Gilbert Merriman, but George Gilbert. Tho policem'n toUk the bag and its contents and-grcot heayens!-marched me to the pOliSe station.
 The only person in the world on whom could rely to help me out of the scrape was Gilbert Merriman. l vowed that would be tried and cOo- victed as thief rather than send for him. Indeed, they took me to the vegy door of a cell before I succumbed. One look Inside the horrid place was. enough.
 wait" I said. 'T'n send for a friend"
 They took me back to the office, gave me pencil and paper, and wrote a note to Gilbert begging him to come to me at once. The messenger was 6 long while finding him, and when he came I was ready to collapse. I neS- CT shall forget the look of pained won der on his face when he saw me.
 "what in the world Is the meaning cf'-
 "Oh, Gilbert, I've been very silly. Yesterday I changed bags while shop v,s,c, ,.-ttN a x,roD,cn at a efolan There