The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-14
The Cigar-Case Mystery
By Edward Lucas White.

and of inconveniently large size. but it was, with some little exertion, pocketable. Made of black morocco, 1t had a metal frame, edges, hinges, and clasp brightly nickeled. It open ed in equal divisions, each of which held one row of cigars. which, a cen tral flap of the same black morocco divided and protected.
 handed it back to him.
 "Eexa mine it carefully,'. he ad- monished me. Others like it will play an important part in your mis- sion. And the packet which IS your object will be contained in a case ex- ternally identical with this cigar-case have shown you"
 Tell me more,'' I urged.
 We'll" he said, you will tell your aunts that you are going on an all- summer tour of Europe as core spondent for the Household Intelli- gencer, and that all your expenses will be met and your letters paid for
 That's alI-true, though, of course we pay your expenses. and the In telligencer only pays for the letters. arranged it with them. You wont have to do a thing but mail them the articles. You leave here day after tomorrow. Take only a small grip as if you were going for one day You are to buy a full outfit in New York. You'll have plenty of cash to buy the best. Whatever you buy is yours, and whatever cash you Shave left is yours to keep.
 ''You will buy two trunks. One you'll have in your stateroom. the other put in the baggage-room. When you land throw all the things you need going over, all your sea things into that second trunk. turn it owe, to the steamship company, have il shipped to the port you are to sai home from, and travel with the other and two good big valises.
 You must not travel too light Hire porters to carry your valises al all railway stations, go to and from railway stations in cab, make your self completely comfortable any. where
 "At New York go to the Fifth Ave nue Hotel. Everything you need will reach you there; and after you leave there no sort of further communica. ton from me will reach you, except one somewhere as you tour, and one when you are back in the Fifth Ave nue Hotel. When you sail you'll have to be all ready for anything.
 With your instructions you'll gel two cigar cases like mine. one rec and one black. The red one you. are to carry with you at all times, full ol cigars; and when you smoke use it and if you offer anybody a cigar offer it from that case.
 ''The black one you are to chuck into the bottom of your trunk, tn, trunk that goes with you. You are to leave it there until you get word to make the exchange. When yor make the exchange chuck the packe into your trunk as you did the case and leave 1t there till you make the final transfer
 Don't worry about it. don't bothe, about it, treat it precisely as if f were an empty cigar case. Do a! I tell you; treat it as an empty cigar case. Promise
 'I promise,' I said.
 And now" he spoke sharply, "Pn to give you the signs. by which you are to know your men, and the pass words. If you forget a word, if yol misplace a word, the whole game vii be spoiled
 "I won't forget" I assured him. He drilled me over and over unti had my cues exactly by heart. And now, thatu do,' he said a last. There's one thing more, O. maybe two. Have you a fountain pen?"
 "As always" I answered Just write your bank signature O, this pad" he instructed me. Writ it five or six times in your best style. What for?" I demanded. You'll have to have a letter 0 | credit" he explained 'I'H take ou the letter for you, or have it takel out The signature on it will be you signature, though you won't hav written it.''
 Forgery I exclaimed. Innocent forgery" he said; 'i1 the interest of humanity. It's onl, | technically forgery-caIl it a signing by deputy.''
 I wrote my signature a doze, 1 times.
 Finally. and to conc1ude," h, said, remember to avoid the polio everywhere, and all sorts of authori | ties. You are to take care of your 1 self from the time you start unti 1 you are free of that packet" | 1 understand,' I assured him.
 And I think that's all, then, MI Weigh" he said with a deep breath | Good night to you, and good-by an, good luck"