Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-29
DAILY SHORT STORY

THE CHANGED BAG.

was obliged TO wait before getting
| room. l bought pair of gloves, open
| ed my bag and put them in. l did so
without looking into the bag. 1 passed
| the lady for whom l had waited She
was standing at the end OF the counter
l had first visited. and l remember see
| ing a bag before her that looked so
like mine that looked down to discov-
er if / had my own bag in my hand
and saw that il was an exact duplicate
OF the one before the lady. l thought
nothing of this, for they were very
common type.
When l got home l tossed it into a
closet The next day, before going
out with 1t, l opened it to put in some
samples. l was surprised to find in it
a purse containing 500 Il few samples
and a letter. the envelope Of which
was missing. Eager to learn what
these things meant, read the letter. 1t
ran:
Dear Julie-Meet me Thursday after
noon GID at the northeast angle OF the
open square. l shall disguise myself as
an old man. Wear the costume of an old
woman. Mary doesn't suspect anything.
Don't fail. GILBERT.
1 was petrifed with horror l was
Mary: Gilbert was my lover. The
writing was disguised but the longer
l looked at 1t the more | was convinced
that it was a bad attempt to conceal
the hand of Gilbert Merriman. / glanc-
ed at the clock. l had just half an
hour to get to the place of meeting.
When reached the square the clock
in st. Paurs spire stood at $40. |
walked TO the northeast angle. draw
ing a heavy veil down over my face,
through which could see but not be
recognized. l 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 wom-
an came by with Il basket of apples
on her arm. As she passed me | ask
ed if she would sell me one. She held
out her basket for me to choose, but
did not speak / looked into her face
and felt sure that | had caught my
bird.
"Julie?" I asked
She gave a repressed shrek
You and Gilbert are mistaken in
thinking Mary does not suspect You
must have lost Gilbert's letter, for
Mary has it and will be here-perhaps
is here now-to expose you. As soon
as he comes both of you follow me. /
will take YOU to place where you
can confer in safety"
Dear, dear woman, how kind you
are! There he is now. I'll go and tell
him" .t
An old man. much bent and leaning
heavily ON his cane. came in at side
entrance to the square, and the old
woman FASTENED toward him. They
stood talking excitedly, the man look
ing at me with evident suspicion. The
woman was apparently begging him
to do as ! had suggested, but lie APP
peared to he of Il different mind. y
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.
began to be frightened.
When they reached me the old man !
called to Julie" to come forward.
lis that your bag?" he asked.
Heavens, yes. l 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 it was hanging TO my wrist. |
The old man took it from me and /
opened it.
Here's your property" he said to |
the woman. land here's the thief. Take |
her along. policeman"
''Not unless yOu1l agree to appear |
lgainSt her"
The man promised. giving his name
and address. was startled to hear
him say not Gilbert Merriman, but
George Gilbert The policeman took
the bag and its contents and-great
lravcns,-marched me TO the police
station.
The only person in the world on
whom ] could rely TO help me out of
he scrape was Gilbert Merriman.
-owed that l would be tried and con
-1cted as Il thief rather than send for
lin. Indeed. they took me to the very
loor Of a cell before / succumbed.
Dne look inside the horrid place was
,uough.
Wait" l said. 'T'n send for a
riend.'
They took me back to the office. gave
ne pencil and paper. and l wrote
tote TO Gilbert begging him 10 come
o me at once. The messenger was s
ong while finding him. and when ba
anne was ready To collapse. nev-
T shall forget the look of panied wUa
er on his face when she saw me
What in the world is the meaning
r
"Oh. Gilbert, I've been very silly.
-esterday I changed bags while shop
ing with a woman at a store. There
ras note I'm the bag I picked up
igned Gilbert" TO n girl named Julie.
ppointing to meet her in the park. /
rent there expecting to catch you. In
tead r.
Caught a tartar"
He went to the desk and explained
re matter to the inspector Then he
aturned to me and led me out. every