A VALUABLE SATCHEL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3711, 21 December 1912, Page 16

A VALUABLE SATCHEL

(By Edwin C. Smithson;. “Put a few things in a hand bag at once,” I said to my wife. “I have a letter from a 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 1 From poverty we will jump right into comfort.” “H’nil If the book sells.” • “Oh, my goodness gracious!" “What’s up now?” “We have only one bag, arid I loaned that yesterday to Maggie Jones. “Well, wrap some in paper. There’s a trunk store on the way to the station. I’ll stop and pick up a satchel.”

Ten minutes later I kissed my wife goodby and started out with a light heart.' I had worked two years on my novel and had used up all but enough money to take me to B. I had offered my story to ten different publishers, and all had refused it. Here, at .last, was a publisher who had had the intelligence to discover its value. But he must be a poor business man or he would not have offered me 30 per cent, when I would have been glad to get 10. I stopped in at the trunk store and found a bargain in a leather bag a man had ordered, saying that he would call for it. The hag was marked with his initials, but he had net called. I paid half price for it. the vendor agreeing to erase the initials on rnv return. I had no time for him to do it then. Dumping my belongings into it, I hurried on to the station. »

When I reached B. I met with a shock. Idle publisher who had made me the liberal offer had done so for the reason that he proposed when he got me to B. to soak me for 800 dols. with which to get out a first edition of the work. His letter was an advertising dodge to secure a customer for his printing business. I gave liim a piece of my mind, but what did it avail? Nothing. I started for home to break the sad news to my wife.

I was sitting in the train waiting for it to start, with my eyes shut and my hat drawn down over my eyes, when some one sat down beside me. “Fool!” lie whispered. I started tip and looked at him, astonished. “What do you mean by putting your initials on your bag?” he added. “What do I mean?” I was on to something: that was evident. What I didn’t know. I must dissemble. “How did you know me?” I asked. “Why, by tlie bag. of course—‘R.L.B.’ Besides, you were described to me as a sawed off man with a bad eye. mutton cliop whiskers and a hook nose.” This was not pleasant. My wife always told me that I was considered more than ordinarily handsome. “Well, now you’ve got on to me, tell me what you want.” I said. “Half.” “When and where shall I turn it over ?” “You’re going to A., aren't you?” T wasn’t, but I said I wa«. “Where do you put up?”

“‘Vt the S.” “Suppose I see you at S o'clock tonight.” Kow, it was as plain as the nose on your face that there had been some sort- of a get-away with property by a man whose initials were ILL.B. It occurred to me that I might have changed bags with him, but that couldn’t be. I had bought the bag

saw the letters on rny bag and took me. Fortunately “my pal” had . given them the slip * by crawling under a. train and getting out another way. I was taken to the station, where my bag was examined and a nightshirt, comb and brush, and toothbrush found, ’.vhereas they; were looking for 200.000 dols. in negotiable securities. The reward offered was 10 per c-enx. of the a mount recovered. I offered to divide all over 10,000 dols, and the offer was at last accepted, since I threatened to keep mum on any other terms. Well, at S o’clock my man appeared, and by a lot of talk that I had been coached in by the police I got him to give awav enough for them to get on to the right man. I didn't go home fill I had followed the matter un. It was a quick job. and when 1 did'go home I had 17,500 dols. in my pocket. “Oh. rnv dear,” exclaimed my wife. • ; I thought you wore never coming! Did vou make a good contract r; “First rate,” I said. The next morning, it- was in the newspapers that a detective story writer had snared a big haul, and I received twenty-fo”r offers from publishers for the book I had gone to B. to sell.