The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-08-02
YHE STORY OF YHK
% MISSING SUIY CASE
BY GEORGE BARTON.

Inc reputation and the future career of
Il promising young American diplomat de-
pended upon the solution of the sudden
and mysterious disappearance of his suit
case. The newspapers We're full of it
at the time; but none of them ever learned
the inside facts, and they are now pre-
scented i'll their entirety for the first time.
The incident upon which the story
hinges can he briefly summarized. Fran
els Lane. consul general to the Flora
islands. had been summoned from his
post to appear at Washington to answer
charges of gross favoritism, If not cor
rupt1on, in the management of his office.
The charge had been made by the power
ful Consolidated Cocoanut company. and
although Lane was absolutely innocent of
wrongdoing, the corporation had man
aged TO make out a very plausible case
against him.
BY rare good fortune Lane got posses
sion of a black covered letter book belong
Ing to a rival company which furnished a
complete vindication of his official acts.
Ne packed it in his suit case, with some
personal belongings. and during the voy-
age over never let it out of his sight. He
held the suit case in his hand when the
Capricorn reached her dock. When the
gang plank was lowered he hurried on to
the wharf, and the first person to greet
him was Helen Thomson, his fiancee. The
sight of her bright brown eyes and blush
ing cheeks threw the young diplomat into
an ecstacN of delight. Involuntary he
dropped the suit case and rushed over to
greet the girl. The next minute he turned
to pick up his valuable piece of property.
1t was gonc-had disappeared as COM
pletely as if the wharf had opened and
swallowed 1T.
Lane, frantic az his loss. hurried to the
custom house and told his story to
q Barnes, the chief INSPECTOR. When he had
a4concluded Barnes sat back in the rcvolv~
ing chair in front of the fiat top desk in
his office and carefully scrutintzed a fly
that was slowly making its way across the
decorated ceiling. From the intensity of
his glance ii might be supposed that the
fate of nations depended upon the GER
gtainty with which the insect made its
Journey. But although Barnes eyes We're
on the fly, his thoughts We're elsewhere.
1t was simply one of his methods he en-
ployed to concentrate his mind and TO
regulate and quicken his mental proc
esses. Presently the chief turned to Lane
and said abruptly:
Might | ask what passed between You
and Miss Thomson?"
at was purely PERSONAL"
But what was it?'
The diplomat hesitated for a moment.
then spoke unrescrvedly:
Sc said John Buckingham. her guard
IAN, was opposed to my engagement with
her. She said he was a very positive man,
3AiA0 l. 9aAt j tftIt W VERY DUSlllNe loo
where she was concerned
Haven't You even a slight clew to the
thett?' asked Rarlles, musin2ly.
Lane laughed ironically.
one of the inspectors sad he saw a
man leave the wharf with a suit case"
What was he like"
"He didn't know, except that he had on
. red cravat and wore a long rain coat"
After a long silence the chief SAID. in
differently:
Come see me this afternoon; there is
nothing you can do just now
Once outside Lane starred in the direc-
ocn for the purpose of Calling on Miss
Thomson. Arriving AT the brown stone
residence. he handed his card to the grave
faced butler. Presently That funct.onary
returned with the reply that Mn. Buck
tngham, as the guardian of Miss Thomson.
was aware of the fact that Mr.. Lane was
at present under a cloud. ana in view OF
that fact would respectfully roQuest that
Mr.. Lane discontinue his visits and ac-
Quaintanceship with Mr.. IBuc..ingham's
ward"
The unexpecjedncss of this blow made
Lane gasp for breath. He wa; instantly
filled with resentment against john Buck
tngham. What right had that person to
treat him in such a scurNy manner" tie
would return and have it out with him
like a man. Sober second thousht, ROW
ever, convinced him that he was under a
49, o-'e eAiot q te.i SuttlAltIi iIstu Il
perfect right to look after the interests of
his ward.
Early in the afternoon Lane returned to
Barnes office tiourishins a letter.
I've just received this at my hotel
he said eXcitedly. "Possibly you can make
6somethfng out of it; / can't
Barnes examined the letter carefully.
gThe name and address We're typewriter
on a plain envelope, which was free from
any other printed or written matter. The
mark of the cancelins machine indicated
that II had been mailed at the main post
8offce at 6 O'Clock the night before. In
SIDE the envelope was a round brass check
and a plain bristol board visiting card.
The metal check was Numbered and had
the imprint OF the package room Of the
Grand Trunk railroad station. The card
on it in old Gothic type these words: