The state herald., 1910-11-11
CHAPTER iV-Continued.

Some one was on the floor at our
feet, face down. 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 predicament
II don't know whether there's any
connection or not, conductor" | said,
but am victim, too, in less degree;
I've been robbed of everything pos.
sess, except a red and yellow bath
robe. l happened to be wearing the
bath-robe, which was probably the
reason the thief overlooked it."
There was fresh murmur In the
crowd. Somebody laughed nervously.
The conductor was irritated.
81 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 company's cars, it's their affair.
Why didn't you sleep in your clothes
do"
took an angry step forward. Then
somebody touched my arm, and un-
clenched my fist. could understand
the conductors position, and beside,
in the law, had been guilty myself
of contributory negligence.
ssu,,, MT tr,.{pn nab
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 valise
contained valuable papers, and 1t is to
your interest as well as mine to find
the man who stole It."
why. of course" the doctor said
shrewdly. Find the man who skipped
out with this gentleman's clothes, and
you've probably got the murderer"
II went to bed In lower nine" I
said, my mind full again of my lost
papers, land | wakened In number
seven. was up in the night prowl.
ing around, us was unable to sleep,
and I must have gone back to the
wrong berth. Anyhow, until the por.
ter wakened me this morning | knew
nothing of my mistake. In the inter.
val the thief-murdercr. too. perhaps
must have come back. discovered
my error. and taken advantage Of II
TO further his escape"
The inquisitlye man looked at me
from between narrowed eyelids, fer.
retlike.
Did anyone on the train suspect
you of having valuable papers?" he
inquired. The crowd was listening in.
tently.
mo one" 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.hnndled revolver OF the
type women usually keep around. A
gold watch with Masonic charm had
slid down between the mattress and
the window. while n snowy diamond
stud was still fastened In the bosom
OF his shirt Taken as u whole. tho
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-
tive" he reflected. 'or the thief over
looked these things in HIS hurry"
The latter hypothesis seemed the
more tcnable. when. after thorough
search, we found no pocketbook and
loss than n dollar In small change
The suitcase gave no elew. II con
tnined one empty leather.eoyorod flask
and pint bottle. also empty. change
OF linen and some collars with the
laundry mark. s. II. In the leather
ting on the handle was card with the
name Simon Harrington. plttsburg.
The conductor sat down ON my un
made berth. across. and made an on,
try Of the name and address. Then
on nm old envelope. he wrote few
words and gave II TO the porter. who
disappeared.
Il guess that's all can do" he
said 'tya had enough trouble this
rip TO last for year, They don,
need + conductor on these trains any
mor.; vnnt they ought to have Is a
sheriff and a posse"
Tho porter from the next car came
In and whispered to him. The con.
duotor rose unhnppily.
Next cars caught the disease" he
srumbiod. Doctor. woman back
there has got mumpa or bubonie
plague. or something. WIN you come
tsekf"
The strange porter stood aside.