The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-01-12
A VALUABLE
SATCHEL
By EDWIN c. SMTTHsc,N

"Put n few things in a hand bag at
once" ] said to my wife .T have n
letter from man in B. who says he
will publish my novel and give me 30
per cent Of the price OF the book"
"Oh, Henry! Just think of It! From
poverty we will jump right into CON-
FORT
HIN! II the book sells"
"Oh, my goodness gracious"
whats UP nowT'
I'VE have only one bag. and loaned
that yesterday to Maggie Jones'"
We'll. wrap some things in paper.
There's trunk store on the way to
the station. III stop and pick up n
satchel."
Ten minutes later / kissed my wife
goodby and started out with n light
heart. I had worked two years on my
novel and had used up all but enough
money to take me to B. 1 had offered
my story to ten different publishers,
and all had refused it. Here, at last,
was publisher who had had the In
telligence to discover it's value. But
he must be poor business man or he
would not have offered me 80 per cent.
when would have been glad to get 10.
i stopped in ut the trunk store and
found a bargain in n leather bag a
man had ordered, saying that he would
call FOR It, The bag was marked with
his initials, but he had not called. I
paid half price for It, the vender agree
ing to erase the initials on my return.
had no time for him to do It then.
Dumping my belongings into 1t, hur-
ried on to the station.
When I reached B. / met with a
shock. The publisher who had made
me the liberal offer had done so for the
renson that he proposed when he got
me to b. to soak ME for $500 with
which to get out u first edition of the
work. His letter was an advertising
dodge to secure a customer for his
printing business. I gave him piece
Of my mind, but what did it avail?
Nothing. 1 started for home to break
the sad news to my wife.
was sitting in the train waiting for
IL to start, with my eyes shut and my
hat drawn down over my eyes, when
some one sat down beside me.
'Foolw he whispered
started up and looked at him, as
tonished.
What do you mean by putting your
initials on you bagT' he added.
'What dc meanY'
''Yes. Are You crazy?" -.-.lyHSts
was on to something; that was evi-
dent What didn't know. 1 must
dissemble.
"How did You know me?" asked.
"Why, by the bag. Of course-R. L.
b. Besides, you were described, to me
as a sawed on man with q bad eye,
mutton chop vhiskers. and . hook
nose"
This was not pleasant Ny wife al.
ways told me that I was considered
moro than ordinarily handsons.
well. now you've got on to ME, teH
me what you want" I satd.
Hair"
"when and waeu. shsR 7 tau #
over?"
You're soinE 10 A.. arsnr ysxs"
Iwasn't, but said I waa
"Where do yoa put upfo
"At the s."
Suppose ses you at . s-e1sek To-
night"
Now. It was A. plain as tho no9s On
your face that there had been some
sort OF getaway With property ny 4
man whose initials were R. L. b.
1t occurred to mo that 1 might have
changed bags with him, but that
couldn't be. I had bought the bag
empty. and it now contained my BE-
long1ngs. I was sure Of that, because
ten minutes before I had opened It.
l nm n writer Of detective stories and
always looking for material was q
trifie discouraged by my late sxpe-
rience. but once a man gets the liter
ary fever he can't get It out Of his
system. ! must follow the thing up
To meet the man that evening would
be rather quick work. But what mat
ter? I could have a police force in an
adjoining room to listen and If the
plan ripened could arrest my man. So
I told him l would be ready for him.
The police came pretty near spelling
the next detective story I wrote by
arrest1ng me as left the station. One
Of them, who was keeping close
watch, saw the letters on my bag and
took me. Fortunately my par' had
given them the slip by crawling un-
der train and getting out another
way. was taken to the station.
where my bag was examined and a
nightshirt. comb and brush and tooth
brush found, whereas they were look
ing for $4,000 in negotiable securi-
ties. The reward offered was 10 per
cent OF the amount recovered. offer
ed 10 divide all over $4,000. and the
offer was a Iast accepted, since
threatened to keep mum on any other
terms.
Well at 8 o'clock my man appeared,