Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06

gum and a most bowildering array Of nury
lingerie. After that he reached In again
and lifted out a wooden tray containing a
dozen silver medals, each one reposing In
n case Of velvet.
The chief looked at them critically.
Presently he turned to the professor.
Perhaps you will give us some explains
ton Of these coins"
Perhaps I WON'T" he cried recklcssly;
that stun don't belong to me-"
Something like a grosn came from the
lady's side of the room. stun" she re-
pcated to herself with a half sob.
Did you wish to speak, madam" asked
the unrufied one.
III l may have your royal permlsslon"
she exclaimed. her nose tilted up TO an
angle OF Is degrees above zero, eyes flashing;
You have madam" he said. rising and
bowling so low that the strain on the band
OF his waistcoat came perlously near the
breaking point. II am your most obedlent
servant"
"To begin at the beginning" she said,
mimiclsfng his Introductory words, that
trunk and all that II contains belong to
me-"
The chief inspector bowed again.
Everything will be passed without uues-
llOHt ne Silu IN MS most lnSlnuaNnK
voice, III you will simply explain the char
ncter Of these coins and the use YOU pro-
pose to make of them" Then with a ptir-
rims laugh, Il don't suppose they are inn
ported for commercial purposes?"
II brought them over for my collection
of coins" she said, standing In the center
OF the room and keeping her back TO the
professor. II am devoted to the science
OF numismatlcs. My collection begins with
coins used by the Greeks in the seventh
century before the Christian era. The
dozen medals in the trunk contain the
heads of twelve Of the Roman emperors.
They are not to be sold; they are for my
personal curio cabinet"
Perfectly satisfactory" exclaimed the
chief, with grandloquent gesture, land
on behalf of the government beg to apollo
gize for the necessary annoyance we have
given you. Your trunk will be repacked
Immediately and forwarded to your adj
Dress
While the chief was speaking the porters
had brought in another big Saratoga trunk
as like the first one as IL 1t were its twin
brother
Now madam" said the suave one, re-
Stunning his official manner, at appears that
this trunk was delivered to your address"
The outward similarity Of the trunks
puzzled her. She scrutlnlzed the last one
carefully, and then said cautiously:
Yes, that is the one"
The professors attention was divided be-
tween the girl and the medals Admiration
and establishment were struggling for ex-
preston on his grave countenance He
noted merely in a mechanical way that
the last trunk was being opened The in-
spector dove down into It as he had in the
UTf.
rich one, for when they turned to him he
was holding up to their astonished gaze
pair of trousers. a bath robe, a meer-
schaum pipe and a leather flask.
The chief coughed discreetly behind the
palm of his hand.
Tit is scarcely necessary, madam, to
ask whether these-these articles are for
your own personal use and adornment."
Scarcely" she retorted, with her nose
once more tilted skyward and her eyes on
vacancy.
The professor had come out of his stupor
by this time.
Those things are mine that's my trunk"
he said.
II judged" she said in a stage whisper.
and with a deep information on the last
word, that It was your stuff"
Finish the examination-as a matter Of
fOrmt directed the CDleI 10 MS assistant
The assistant continued. bringing out such
articles Of distinctly masculine taste as a
: decorated beer mug, a leather tobacco
pouch and a walking stick. Suddenly he
paused and began TO unite a long, narrow
package. After he had opened 1t he gazed
on It with a puzzled look.
whats this?" he said finally
The professor who had been yawning,
began TO color. Being compelled to speak,
he said hastily:
"Oh, that's only mistletoer'
''Mistletoe?" queried the chief, amosa
losing his imperturbablllty.
Every eye was turned toward the hapless
; professor.
Perhaps should explain"
mot at all" said the chief indulgently.
ITS free Of duty"
'It's not that, you know" stammered the
professor. you see It's this way. I'm
; writing a monograph on the superstiti0ns
Of the Druids. This-this mistletoe grows
: on their sacred trees, and thought some-
= how to make a plausible explanation he
tween ancient superstitions and modern
customs $3.50 / got this mistletoe from
the apple orchards OF Normandy You
know" with deep sigh Of relief at reach-
! ing the end, there's nothing like studying
: from original documents"
Nothing liAe It," said the chief with Z
: laugh.
The professor turned TO see If the girl
was making sport OF him. She was not,
which made him foolishly happy. Indeed,
:, she gazed at him with something like sym-
pathetic interest.
III.
They left the room together, going along