Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-14

for any one indeed who could crack
even feeble joke under such circum-
stances. or who could run an imper-
sonal finger over that wound and
those stains. Odd how a healthy, nor
nal man holds the medical profession
In half contemptuous regard until be
gets sick, or an emergency like this
arises, and then turns meekly 20 the
man who knows the ms and outs OF
his mortal tenement. takes his pills
or HIS patronage. ties 70 him like
rudderless ship in a gale.
Suicide, Is ~. doctor7" asked.
He stood erect. after drawing the
bed-clothing over the face. and. Ia
king OF his glasses, he wiped them
slowly.
mo. Il Is not suicide he announced
decls'vely. 1T is murder"
or course. I had expected that, but
the word itself brought SILVER
was Just q bit dizzy. Curious faces
through the car were turned toward
us. and I could hear the porter behind
me breathing audibly. A stout WON
an I'm negligee came down the aisle
and Querulously confronted the por-
ter. she wore pink dressinC-iackct
and carried portions OF her clothing
Porter" she began. fin the voice OF
the lady who bad "danEled." lis there
rule Of this company that viii al
low "a woman 20 occupy the dressing
room for one hour and curl her hair
with an alcohol lamp while respect
able people haven't q place where
they can hook their"
She stopped suddenly and stared IN
90 lower ten. Her shining pink cheeks
grew pasty. her Jaw fen. T remember
trying 20 think OF something 20 say.
and OF saying nothing at an. Then
she had buried her eyes in the non
descript garments that hung from her
arm and tottered back the way she
had come Slowly a little knot of men
gathered around us. silent for the most
part The doctor was making
search OF the berth when the conduct
or elbowed his way through. followed
by The inQuisitive man. who had evi-
IDENTIFY summoned him. had lost
sight, for a time. of the girl in blue
do 60 HIMSELF" the conductor
Queried after a busiuess-like glance at
the body
no, he didn't" the doctor assert
ed. There's no weapon here. and the
window IS closed TIE couldn't have
thrown 40 out. and he didn't swallow
e. what on earth are you looking
for. man."
Some one was on the aoor at our
feet, face down. head poering under
the berth. Now he got up without
apology. revealing the man who had
summoned the conductor. He was
up with him the dead mans suitcase.
The sight OF it brought back 20 me at
once my own predieament
Il don't know whether there's any
connection or not. conductor" I said.
but am victim, too. in less degree:
I've been robbed OF everything pos
sess except red and yellow bath
robe. I happened % be wearing the
bath-robe. which was probably the
reason the thief overlooked f."
Their was a fresh murmur IN the
crowd. Somebody laughed neryously.
The conductor was irritRted
7 can't bother with that now" bs
sparled. The railroad company Is
responsible for transportation, not for
clothes. jewelry and morals. II peo-
pie want 20 be stabbed and robbed In
the company's cars. it's their AFFAIR.
Why didn't you sleep IN your clothesY
I do"
took an angry step forward. Then
somebody touched my arm. and I I'M
olenoSed my fist / could understand
the Conductors position. and beside.
IN the law, ! had been guilty myself
Of contributory negligence.
I'm not trying to make you re-
sponsible," protested. as amiably as
could, and believe the clothes the
thief left are as good as my own. They
are certainly newer. But my valiss
contained valuable papers. and Il Is to
your interest as well as mine TO ind
the man who stole g."
why. Of course" the doctor said
shrewdly. Find the man who skipped
out with this gsntleman's clothes, and
you've probably got the murderer"
Il went 70 bed IN lower nine"
said. my mind fun again OF my lost
papers, and I wakened In number
seven. I was up in the night prowl-
ing around, as was unable TO sleep,
and ] must have gone back TO the
wrong berth. Anyhow, until ths por-
ter wakensd me this morning I knew
nothing OF my mistake. In the inter
val the thief-murderer. too. perhaps
must have come back, discovered
my error, and taken advantage OF e
20 further his escape"
The inquisitivs man looked At me
from between narrowed eyelids. fer
ret-like.
did anyone OF the train suspect
you OF having valuable papers2" he
inquired. The crowd was listening In
tsntly.
mo one" I answered promptly and
positively.
The doctor was investigating the
murdered mans effects. The pockets
OF his trousers contained the usual
miscellany OF keys and small change.
while In his hip pocket was found a
small pearl-handled revolver OF the
type women usually keep around. A
KOid watch with a Masonic charm had