The Huttig news., 1910-04-16
grew nastv her flaw fell [ remember

grew pasty. her jaw fell. I remember trying to think of something to say, and of saying nothing at all. 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 little knot of men gathered around us, silent for the most part The doctor was making a search of the berth when the conduct or elhowed his way through, followed by the inquisitive man, who had evi- dently summoned him. had lost sight, for time, of the girl in blue.
 Do 1t himself?" the conductor uueried after business-like glance at the body.
 No. he didn't the doctor assert ed There's no weapon here. and the window is closed. He couldn't have thrown 1t c.t and he didn't sGi.llow 1t. What on earth are you looking for, maa?"
 oome one was on the floor at our feet, faee Jewn, head peering under the berth. Now he got up without apology, revealing the man who had summoned the conductor He was dusty, alert, cheerful, and he dragged up with him the dead mans suitcase. The sight of 1t brought back to me at once my own predieament.
 q don't know whether there's any connection or not, conductor" l said but am victim, too, in less degree; I've been robbed of everything I pos sess, except a red and yellow bath robe. happened to be wearing the bath-robe, which was probably the reason the thief overlooked it."
 There was a fresh murmur in the crowd Somebody laughed nervously The conductor was irritated.
 "I can't bother with that now" he snarled The railroad company is responsible for transportation, not for clothes, jewelry and morals. If peo pie want to be stabbed and robbed in the companys cars, it's their affair Why didn't you sleep in your clothes? I do"
 I took an angry step forward Then somebody touched my arm, and I un c,enched my fist I could understand he conductors position, and beside in the law, had been guilty myself of contributory negligence.
 ''I'm not trying to make you re sponsible." I protested, as amiably as 2 could, "and I believe the clothes the thief left are as good as my own They are certainly newer But my valise contained valuable papers, and it is to your interest as well as mine to find the yan who stole it."
 Why of course.' the doctor said shrewdly. Find the man who skipped out with this gentlemans clothes. and you've probably got the murderer
 "I went to bed in lower nine," I said, my mind full again of my lost papers. and I wakened in number seven. I was up in the night prowl- ing around, as I was unable to sleep. and must have gone back to the wrong berth Anyhow, until the DOT. ter wakened 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 fl so further his escape"
 The inquisitive man looked at me rom between narrowed eyelids, fer 'et-like
 Did anyone on the train suspect ou of having valuable papers?" he 'quired. The crowd was listening in antly.
 No 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 gold watch with Masonic charm had he window, while showy diamond stud was still fastened in the bosom of his shirt. Taken as a whole, the personal belongings were those of a man of some means, but without any particular degree of breeding. The doctor heaped them together.
 Either robbery was not the mo i've" he reflected. "or the thief over looked these things in his hurry
 The latter hypothesis seemed the nore tenable, when, after a thorough ;earch. we found no pocketbook and ess than dollar in small change.
 The suitcase gave no clew. It con I XE