Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-08-01
BY GEORGE BARTON.

'''A tit AUiuIc 'iItCi - l
promising young American diplomat de-
beaded upon the solution OF the sudden
and mysterious disappearance of his suit
case. The newspapers were full of it
AT the time. but none of them ever learned
the inside facts. and they are now pre-
scented IN 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
rup,ion. 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
wrongdo!ng, the corporation had man
aged to make out II very plausible case
against him.
NY rare good fortune Lane got possess
sion OF a black covered letter book belong
Ing to n rival Company which furnished "A
complete v!rdicntion of his official acts.
lie packed 1t in his suit case. with some
personal belongings. and during the voy-
age over never let 1t 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 tiancce. The
sigh. of her bright brown eyes and blush
VIZ cilctkS tHTeW inc young diplomat lntD
an ecstacy OF delight. Involuntarily 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 sonc-had disappeared as com
plctely as IL the wharf had opened and
swallowed 1t.
Lane. frantic at his loss. hurried to the
custom house and told his story to
Barnes. the chief inspector. When he had
concluded Barnes sat back in tho revolv-
Ing chair In front OF the fiat top desk in
his office and carefully scrutinizei II fly
that was slowly making it's way across the
decorated ceiling. From the intensity of
his glance 1t might be supposed that the
fate of nations depended upon the Ger
tainty with which the insect made its
journey. fiut although Barrrs- ry-s-weFe-
Nh the ny. his thoughts were elsewhere.
Ut was simply one of his methods he en-
ployed 70 concentrate his mind and to
regulate and quicken his mental proc
csse3. Presently the chief turned to Lane
and said abruptly:
Nigh, | ask what passed between YOU
and Miss Th1mson?'
~. was purely personal"
But what was -"
Thc diplonlas hes.tated for a moment.
then spoke unreser.ediy
'H-e said John buckingham. her guard
Ian. WIS oppcsei to my engagement with
her. She SAL; Re was a very positive nan.
ara ! said 4 'uld be very positive too
whcrc she was concerned"
Haven t you even Il sigh. clow to tic
theft?" asked Earncs. .nus.agly.
Lare laughed ironically.
One of the inspectors said he saw a
man leave the wharf with a sui; casc.r
What vai he ike"
"He didn'S know. except tina h had on
q red cravat and .;o-c Il ion. rain coat
Aitor a lorS sflcaoe the c.icf SAID. n
differently:
Tome see me tbs afierroon; there is
nothing you can 90 just now"
Once outside Larc stare! in t,e d:roc-
tioa for the purpose of call.rg on Mss
Arriving at the brown store
he banded his card 10 the craze
raced butler. Presently that fuE%ceonary
with the reply thai NJ. Buck
tnVharn. as the guardian of Miss Thomson.
was aware of the fact that s.r. Lane was
AT present under a cloud. aad IN view o.
that fact would respectfully relre t that
MI IIii:c discontinue his Wis is and SC
auiintaaceihlp with air. D~uck.nss2.l .
wcrd.'
The uneyrec.cincss OF this blow maze
Lane gasp for breath. lie was instantly
nl!ed with resentment csairst Joan Buck
ingham. Wha, right had .has pc.zoa 10
trea. him in such a scuryy raas.c.: e
would return and have It out with Ai.a
ike a man. So5c- scsond thought. how
ever. convinced him that he was uHGer Il
cloud and THAI a careful guardian rad a
perfect right to loci; at,cc the intcrci Is 81
his ward.
EARLY IN the afternoon Lane returned TO
Barnes Office f'ourlshiag y latter.
i've Just received this at my hot L."
he said excitcdly. Possibly you can make
something out OF 1t: | can't
Barces examined the letter carefully.
The name and address were :ypow.it.cn
~ n 1.f, Ia. ~ - -L.