The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-09-16
CHAPTER III.
Across the Aisle.

No solution offering itself, l went
back to my berth. The snorer across
had apparently strangled, or turned
over and so after time | dropped
asleep, to be awakened by the morn
ing sunlight across my face.
l felt for my watch, yawning pro-
digiously. l reached under the pillow
and failed to find it, but something
scratched the back of my hand. / sat
up irritably and nursed the wound,
which was bleeding little. Still
drowsy, ! felt more cautiously for
what l supposed had been my scarf
pin, but there was nothing there.
Wide awake now, I 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 1t was not my own!
Mine was of alligator hide. l had
killed the beast in Florida, after the
expenditure of enough money to have
bought house and enough energy to
have built 0ne. 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-
lng his head through the curtains OBJ
oeQuiously. Mcknight objects that
nobody can poke his head throught
q curtain and be obsequious. But Pull
man porters can and do.
NO." l snapped. 1T rang itself.
What in thunder do you mean by ex-
changing my valise for this one?
You'll have to find it if you waken the
entire car to do it. There are impor-
tant papers in that grip"
Porter" called a feminine voice
from an upper berth near by. Porter,
an to dangle here all day?"
Let her dangle," l said savagely.
~You find that bag of mine"
The porter frowned. Then he
looked at me with injured dignity. Il
brought in your overcoat, 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 {
victim of the usual sleeping car rob
berry. was in lather of perspira
ton by that time: The lady down thu
ear was still dangling and talking
about It: still nearer feminine voic'
was giving quick orders in French
presumably to a maid. The porte
was on his knees, looking under tn
berth.
mot there, SIR" he said, dusting hi
knees. He was visibly more cheerful
having been absolved of responsible
T.. Reckon it was taken while yo'
Was wanderin' around the car las
night."
''I'll give you $50 II you find it,
aid. "A hundred. Reach up m,
shoes and III"
stopped abruptly. My eyes wer'
0xed In stupefied amazement on
coat that hung from hook at th'
loot Of my berth. From the coat the!
travelled. dazed, to the soft-bosolet
shirt beside it. and from there to th'
collar and cravat In the net hammocl
across the windows.
"A hundred" the porter repeated
ohowing his teeth. But l caught hin
~ the arm and pointed to the foot o
the berth.
'sWhat-what color's that co:t?"
asked unsteadily.
Gray, SIR" His tone was une o
oontle reproof.
"And-the trousers?"
He reached over and held up on
creased leg. Gray. too" he xrinned
Gray" l could not believe even hi
ccrrobOratfon Of my own eyes. "Bu
ny clothes were blue!" Tie porte
was amused: he dived under the cul
tains and brought up pair of shoes
~Your shoes, sir" he' saia with
nourish. Reckon you've been dream
lns. sir.'
nov. there are two things l alway
aycld A my dress possibly an idie
oyncrney Of my bachelor existence
These abooed articles ara red necl
H. ax tan shoes. And net only wer
~ G1oeS the porter lifted from tn
/ loor o. : gorgeous shade Of yellow
III tho scarf which was run throug
49, tu1ned over collar vas gaud
! eo6. iktook : full minute for the res
1peef of things to penetrate m
Ssod ntellgence. Tten ! gave
vlnA3 11@ kick - the offending 81
S Ih NJ not milne. any Of them,"
\ yl6 ssIh1y sre some other fe
ovtS Il IN nlt heFe until take roc