New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-06-02
sso1mepooy mas followed me ana robbea

eomeDody mas followed me ana robbea
me!' N n
what was ii. lie bagr, I, asked
valuable papers" he said shortly.
"You are certain you left It here2"
Where you are standing,
Something glistened beside the step.
and discovered a small brown leather
travelling bag, apparently quite new.
Here it is" said, not so gracious as
I might have been. had suffered con-
siderably for that travelling bag. The
sight Of it restored Wardrop's poise.
by Jove. I'm glad to see it" be said.
l can't explain. but tremendous things
were depending on that bag. Mr.. Knox.
| don't know how to apologize to you.
l must have nearly Drained you"
"You did," said grimly, and gave
him the bag. The moment he took It T
knew there was something wrong. He
hurried into the house and lighted the
library lamp. Then he opened the trav-
cling bag with shaking fingers. 1t was
empty! "a
Its trick!'' he said furiously.
you've hidden it somewhere. This is
not my bag. You've substituted one
just like it,
Don't be a fool.''I retorted. How
could substitute an empty satchel for
yours when up to fifteen minutes ago [
had never seen you or your grip Ell
ther?"
He dropped into chair, and after a
pause: II was followed in Plattsburg.
Two men watched me from the min
ute l got there on Tuesday. changed
my hotel. and for all Of yesterday
Wednesday,. that isl felt secure
enough. But on the way to the train
felt that ! was under surveillance
again, and by turning quickly came
face to face with one of the men. Il
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" &,g. Sss
when we drew in at Bellwood sta
ton l distinctly remember opening the
bag and putting my newspaper and
railroad schedule inside. 1t 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"I asked.
I'm the leather pocket at the side"
1T is here" I said. drawing out the
yellow folder. For a moment my COM
panion looked almost haunted.
1.-The whole thing is impossible: That
valise was heavy when l walked up
from the station. changed it from
one hand to the other because of the
weight. When got here set it down
on the edge of the porch and tried the
door. When found it locked''-
"But it wasn't locked" I-broke in.
when came downstairs to look for a
burglar l found it open at least an
inch" :
He stopped in his pacing up and
down and looked at me curiously.
We're both crazy, then,' he asserted
gravely. II tell you tried every way
I knew to unlock that door and could
: hear the chain rafting. Unlocked!
You don't know the way this house is
fastened up at night
Nevertheless it was unlocked when
came down."
The sound of smothered exclama-
ton 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.
"What is the matter?" she asked un-
certainly. ~ heard such queer noises"
''Mr. Wardrop was trying to break
in" l explained. land came down.
On the way had bloody encounter
with an open door,"
I 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. I think, womanlike,
she remembered the two great braids
that hung over her shoulders and the
dressing gown she wore. for she back
ed precipitately into the hall.
1T is only half past two" said,
glancing at my watch. eve might
look around outside
Reticent as be was, his ,feverish ex-
element made me think that some
thing vital hung on the recovery Of the
contents Of that Russia leather bag.
But we found nothing.
AS look back on that night the key
to what had passed and to much that
was coming was so simple. so direct
and yet we missed it entirely. It was
some time before we learned the true
inwardness of the events of that night.
was almost unrecognizable when
looked at myself in the mirror the next
morning. preparatory to dressing for
breakfast My nose boosted new
arch like the back Of an angry cat,
making my profile Roman and fero-
cious. and the lump on my forehead
from the chair was swollen. CLASSY and