The state herald., 1910-11-04
CHAPTER III.
Across tho Aisle.

No solution offering itself. l went
had apparently strangled, or turned
over, and so after time | dropped
asleep, to be awakened by the morn
ing sunlight across my face.
felt for my watch, yawning pro
digiously. ! reached under the pillow
scratched the back of my hand. ] sat
up irritably and nursed the wound,
which was bleeding little. Still
drowsy. / felt more cautiously for
what | supposed had been my scarf
pin, but there was nothing there.
Wide awake now, | reached for my
travelling bag on the chance that !
had put my watch in there. / had
drawn the satchel to me and had my
hand on the lock before / realized
that It was not my own!
Mine was of alligator hide. / had
expenditure of enough money to have
bought house and enough energy to
have built one. The bag held in my
hand was black one, sealskin, |
think. The staggering thought of
what the loss of my bag meant to me
put my finger on the bell and kept it
there until the porter came.
Did you ring, sir?" he asked. pok-
Ing his head through the curtains OBJ
sequiously. Mcknight objects that
nobody can poke his head throught
4 curtain and be obsequious. But Pull
man porters can and do.
NO" | snapped. 1T rang itself.
What in thunder do you mean by ex.
changing my valise for this one?
You'll have to find It II you waken the
entire car to do 1t. There are impor-
tant papers in that grip"
Porter" called feminine voice
from an upper berth near by. Porter,
am to dangle here all day?"
Let her dangle." | said savagely.
You find that bag of mine"
The porter frowned. Then he
looked at me with injured dignity. 81
brought In your oyercoat, sir. You
carried your own valise."
The fellow was right! In an excess
of caution had refused to relInquish
my alligator bag. and had turned over
my other traps to the porter. 1t was
clear enough then. was simply n
victim OF the usual sleeping car rob
berry. ! wns In a lather of perspirn.
tion by that time: The lady down the
car was stlll dangling and talking
about IL. stlll nearer a feminine voice
was giving quick orders in French,
presumably to maid. The porter
was on his knees. looking under the
berth.
Not there. sir" he said dusting his
knees. He was risibly more cheerful.
having been absolved OF responsible,
v. Reckon II was taken while you
was wanderin' around the car last
night"
"Ill give you $50 II you find IT,"
said "a hundred, Reach up my
shoes and M"
! stopped abruptly. My eyes were
nred In stupeiied amazement on
coat that hung from n hook at the
foot OF my berth. From the coat they
Travelled, daEcd. to the Boftbosomod
shirt beside Il. and from there TO the
collar and crayat In the net hammock
across the windows.
"A hundred" the porter repeated.
showing his teeth. hut caught him
by the arm and pointed TO the foot OF
the berth
"what-what eolor's that coatT"
asked unstcadily.
Gray. sir" Ills tone was one OF
gentle roproof
"And-tho trousora7"
lie reached over and held up one
creased leg, Gray, too" ho grlnnod,
GRAY" ! could not believe oven his
confederation OF my own eyes but
my clothes were bluol" The porter
was amused. he diycd under the cur.
tainu aud brought up n pair OF shoes.
Your shoes. air." he said with n
nourish. Reckon you've been dream.
ing. air"
Now. there are two things always
avoid In my drena-posaihly an lido.
tynofaey OF my bachelor existence.
These thbooud articles are rcd neck,
ties and tan shoes, Aud not only were
the shoes the porter lifted from tho
floor OF gorgeous shade OF yellow.
but the scarf which was run through
the turned over collar was a gaudy
red. II took full minute ior the real
import Of things to penrtfata my
dREcd intelligence, Then I gave
'indictiye Kick At the offending on.
semblu
They're not mine. any OF them"
snnHInh l--IhnN ar. nnIna niAun IuI-