Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-04

discovered small brown leather tray
enng-bag, apparently quite new.
Here 1t is" / said, not so gracious
as might have been; I had suffered
considerably for that traveling-bag.
The sight of it restored Wardrops
poise at once. His twitching features
relaxed.
by Jove, I'm glad to see 1t" he said.
I can't explain, but-tremendous
things were depending on that bag,
Mr.. Knox. don't know how to apollo
gize to you; must have nearly Drained
you"
"You did," I said grimly, and gave
him the bag. The moment he took IT
knew there was something wrong;
he hurried into the house and lighted
the library lamp. Then he opened the
traveling-bag with shaking fingers. It
was empty!
He stood for moment staring In
credulously into it. Then he hurled 1t
down on the table and turned on me,
as stood beside him.
"It's trick!" he said furiously
you've hidden 1t somewhere. This is
not my bag. You've substituted one
Just like it."
Don't be a fool!" 1 retorted. "How
could substitute an empty satchel for
yours when up to fifteen minutes ago
had never seen you or your grip
either? Use little common sense.
Some place tonight you have put down
that bag, and some clever thief has
substituted a similar one. It's an old
trick"
He dropped into chair and buried
his face in his hands.
otis impossible" he said, after a
pause, while he seemed to be going
over. minute by minute, the events of
the night. II was followed, as far as
that goes, in Plattsburg. Two men
watched me from the minute I got
there, on Tuesday; I changed my
hotel, and for all Of yesterday
nesday, that isl felt secure enough.
But on my way to the train felt that
I was under surveillance again, and
by turning quickly came face to face
with one of the men,"
"'Would you know him." asged.
eyes. I thought he was detective;
you know I've had lot of that sort OF
thing lately, with election coming on.
He didn't get on the train, however"
''But the other one may have done
So"
Eyes, the other one may. The thing
/ don't understand is this, Mr.. Knox.
when we drew in at Bellwood station
I distinctly remember opening the bag
and putting my newspaper and rail-
road schedule inside. It was the right
bag then; my clothing was In it and
my brushes"
l had been examining the empty bag
as he talked.
"Where did you put your railroad
schedule?" asked.
'Tn the leather pocket at the side. "
ut is here" I said, drawing out the
yellow folder. For moment my com.
panion looked almost haunted. He
pressed his hands to his head and be-
gan to pace the room like crazy man.
"The whole thing Is impossible. I
tell you, that valise was heavy when l
walked up from the station. I changed
it from one hand to the other because
of the weight. When got here / sci
it down on the edge of the porch and
tried the door. When found Il
locked"
"But it wasn't locked I broke in.
s'When I came downstairs to look for
burglar, found it open at least an
inch"
He stopped in his pacing up and
down, and looked at me curiously.
Were both crazy, them" he assert
ed gravely. II. tell you tried every
way knew to unlock that door, and
could hear the chain rafting. I'm
locked! You don't know the way this
house is fastened up at night"
Nevertheless, 1t was unlocked
when came down."
We were so engrossed that neither
of US had heard steps on the stairs.
The sound of smothered exclamation
from the doorway caused us both to
turn suddenly Standing there, in a
loose gown Of some sort, very much
surprised and startled, was Margery
Fleming. Wardrop pulled himself to.
gether at once. AS for me- knew what
sort Of figure l cut, my collar stained
with blood, a lump on my forehead
that felt as big as door-knob, and no
shoes.
What is the matter?" she asked un-
certainly II heard such queer noises,
and l thought some one had broken
into the house,
"Mr. Wardrop was trying to break
In" explained, "and heard him and
came down. On the way / had bloody
encounter with an open door, in which
/ came out loser
don't think she quite believed me.
She looked from my swollen head to
the open bag, and then to Wardrop's
pale face. Then think, woman-like
she remembered the two great braids
that hung over her shoulders and the
dressing gown she wore, for she backed
precipitately into the hall.
I'm glad that's all 1t is,''' she called
back cautiously. and we could hear her
running up the stairs.
You'd BETTER go to bed" Wardrop
said, picking up his hat. "I'm going
down to the station. There's no train
out Of here between midnight and q
flag train at four-thirty a. m. It's not
likely to be of any use, but want to
see who goes on that train"
1T is only half-past two" / said
glancing at my watch. "We might look
around outside first"
The necessity for action made him