Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-03
III.-The Discovery.

III.-The Discovery.
l was standing in my shop; II was
dull morning in November, and the
visitor who came in spoke first to my
assistant, who referred him to me, and
then in a moment recognized my fell
, low passenger. Not wishing to make
everything quite public, led the way
to the inner room 1 reserved for my
self, and handed the gentleman
chair. He was too excited to sit down.
but began his story at once.
You remember the day I Travelled
with you from Holyhead, sir" said ne
Perfectly" replied. Il have toe
good reason to remember it.
$50 have 1. l had been on the An
glesea coast all the night before
searching for some relic, perhaps the
body, of my drowned brother. / had
only twenty -four hours, and was OBJ
liged to hurry back, with only a few
bits Of wood and iron gathered from
the wreckage which strewed the
beach; these I put into a small black
bag"
"a black bag?" said I; had you
black bag, too?"
Listen" said the gentleman. Il saw
tnat you had one, and remarked that
1t was like mine-so much so that at
Chester, where you got out and I did
MOI, you may remember you took my
ba&; with you instead Of your own.
felt sure you were coming back, for
you had left your coat and umbrella
H.. the carriage, so I did not follow
you"
Yes" said I, getting excited; "but
that does not account"
wait a moment" said the gentle
man. Il know perfectly what you
would say; it does not account for my
not advertising your bag, or making
some sort Of sign all this time-quite
so--you will understand presently
how it has happened"
sat down, and begged him to dc
the same.
when I got out at Crewe, took a
I supposed my bag. When I reached
home, I found that my poor mother
whom 1 had left in the most utter grief
and prostration at my brothers death
had not rallied at all; told our doc
tor, who was there, that my search fol
any personal relic Of my brother had
been fruitless, but that had a few
bits of iron and wood from the wreck
1.-THE doctor advised me to say moth
ing to her about it-not to tell her
even that he j these sad relics. put
the bag just as it was into a cupboard
in my own room and locked 1t up. That
very day I had to leave England.
had business engagement which took
me to Australia. If broke the en-
gagement, it would have involved my
mother in considerable pecuniary loss
She knew I had to go. and as she did
not urge me to stay, and as my sister
and her husband were with her and
could take care of her, left the house
that very day, and journeyed back
north to Liverpool, just in time to
catch my steamer bound for Mel
bourne.
Il only returned yesterday morning
The first thing I heard after greeting
my mother was Where is the bag you
brought with you from Moelfra?
"In my room,' said.
"'Get it for me- said she.
Without another word, though
wondered how she had heard Of 1t,
went to my room, unlocked the cup
board, found the bag just as had left
1t, and took it down stairs.
Il was just going to open it when
to my still further surprise, my moth
er said, Are you quite sure that is
your bag, Arthur
II looked at her in astonishment
We'll, mother said, I am as sure as
human being can be Of anything
"'Did you open it after you came
home, dear?' 1 thought for a moment
and then said, No, 1 am certain I did
not. 1 could not bear it.
"'Then,' said my mother, be pre-
pared for a surprise. 1 think you will
find that you have some one else's
bag
81 did. not answer, for I was trying
to unlock the bag. 1t is very odd,'
said, my key won't open it.
MY mother rang the bell, and in
walked the inspector"
Here my visitor ceased speaking
and walking hastily to the shop-door
he beckoned to some person seated In
a hanson cab close by. It was my
friend, the inspector Of police at Crewe
He continued the story. But first he
placed on the table my "black bag"
There, sir" said he, "is your bag;
you were quite right-this gentleman
took it by mistake. That morning
when Mrs - sent for me, I found
the bag unopened. I forced the lock
and found your name inside the bag
Tie contents are intact, as you will
see"
opened my safe, and before would
allow them to open my bag, I took his
from the shelf, and placing it beside
my own, We all three saw that in size
make, indeed, in weight, they exactly
resembled each other
Although I felt that I had really
made the discovery myself, 1 cheer
fully paid the inspector the check he
deserved for the clever and prompt
manner in which he must have con-
veyed my suspicion. a very awkward
one, to Mrs. -.