The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-10
A VALUABLE
SATCHEL
By EDWIN c. SMITHsoN


"Oh, Henry! Just think Of It'll From
poverty we will jump right into com
/ fort"
HIN! IL the book sells"
"Oh, my goodness graciousv'
| whats up nowT
Eve have only one bag, and loaned
that yesterday to Maggie Jones'
well, wrap some things in paper
| There's trunk store on the way to
the station. I'll stop and pick up a
satchel."
Ten minutes later | kissed my wife
heart. had worked two years on my
novel and had used up all but enough
money to take me to B. had of
my story TO ten different publish
and all had refused 1t. Here, at
was a publisher who had had tt
telligence to discover Its 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.
stopped In at the trunk store and
found d bargain In leather bag a
man had ordered, saying that he would
call for 1t. The bag was marked with
his initials, but he had not called
paid half price for it, the vender agree
ing TO erase the initials on my return.
/ had no time for him TO do 1t then
Dumping my belongings into 1t, hur-
ried on to the station.
When / reached B. I met with a
shock The publisher who had made
me the liberal offer had done so for the
reason that he proposed when he got
me TO b. 20 soak me for $500 with
which to get out 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 avail7
Nothing. l started for home to break
the sad news 10 my wife.
! was sitting IN the train waiting for
1t to start. with my eyes shut and my
hat drawn down over my eyes. when
some one sat down beside me.
FOOL" he whispered.
/ started up and looked at him, as
tonished.
What do you mean by putting your
initials on you bag?" he added.
What do | meanY'
Eyes. Are you crazyf"
! was or 70 something; that was evil
dent. What didn't know. l must
dissemble.
How did you know met" l asked.
why, by the bag, OF course-'R. L.
B.. Besides, you were described to me
as sawed off man with a bad eye,
mutton chop whiskers and hook
nose"
This was not pleasant My wife al
ways told me that was considered
more than ordinarily handsome.
"Well. now you've got on to me, tell
me what you want" | said.
Half"
when and where shall turn it
oyer7"
You're going to A., aren't you"
! wasn't, but / said | was.
"Where do you put up?"
AT the s."
Suppose I see you at s o'clock to-
night"
Now, 1t was as plain as the nose on
your face that there had been some
sort OF getaway with property by a
man whose initials were r.. l.. b.
1t occurred to me that l might have
bags with him, but that
be- had bought the bag
empty, and 1t now contained my be-
longings. / was sure of that, because
ten minutes before / had opened IL. |
I am a writer of detective stories and |
always looking for material. was a
trife discouraged by my late expe-
rience, but once man gets the liter
airy fever he can't get 1t out OF his |
system. i must follow the thing up. /
To meet the man that evening would /
be rather quick work. But what mat
ter? / could have police force In an
adjoining room to listen and IL the
plan ripened could arrest my man. So
| told him / would be ready for him.
The police came pretty near spelling
The next detective story l wrote by
lrresting me as left the station. One
Of them, who was keeping close
watch, saw the letters on my bag and
.ook me. Fortunately my paP' had
given them the slip by crawling I'M
Ter n train and getting out another
way. was taken to the station,
where my bag was examined and
lightshirt, comb and brush and tooth
,rush found. whereas they were look
ng for 100000 In negotiable securi-
les, The reward offered was 10 per
ent of the amount recovered. offer
d to divide all over $4,000, and the
'ffer was at last accepted, since l
to keep mum on any other
erms.
Well. at 8 o'clock my man appeared.
nd by lot of talk that l had been
cached in by the police l got him TO
i've away enough for them to get on
o the right man. / didn't 20 home
III l had followed the matter up. 1t
Tas a quick job, and when I did go
ONE had $1,000 in my pocket.
"0h, my, DEAR" exclaimed my wife.
l thought you were never eomingl
lid you make a good contractT
First rate" i said.
The next morning 1t was In the
ewspapers that detective story
ritter had shared big haul, and l {
fuvantv-fnur nfPara from, nuh