Life — June 6, 1907 — page 36: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Are you sure the trunk went with us? It would be so awkward if it should have been delayed. My clothes’’"—— “Yes,” replied the professor. ‘You know how punctilious Iam about those matters. After I checked the trunk I saw it go on the train.” He stopped suddenly and looked at his wife, “About that bomb,” he said, “of course, you did not leave it alone. ‘Theonly way it could go off was in case it should happen to be wound up. I am always nervous about those affairs. I meant to have cautioned you before I went out to buy the cigars. Of course, nothing could happen. Still, one never can tell.’ “Certainly I did not leave it alone. I put it in the trunk—but wait— there was a telephone call. I stepped out a moment to answer it.” “You did!” “Yes, but”?—_ “Where was Adele?” The professor and his wife looked at each other. The eyes of each showed terror. “Adele was there. Could she—— Come here, Adcle.” Adele was sitting in the chair across the way still hugging her doll. Her mother motioned to her father not to speak. “Come, now, Adele, dear, tell mamma if you saw the pretty thing your papa was showing me yesterday when I was packing the trunk. Don’t you know, dear, it was like a clock ?” Adele shook her head. “Are you sure? Mammais not going to punish you. Look, here isa nice candy if Adele will tell.” Adele grabbed for the candy but didn’t get it. “First tell mamma.” “Yeth I did.” “And did Adele wind up the pretty clock?” Adele hesitated. She looked wonderingly from one to the other. The professor smiled. It was hard to smile when his heart was going like a triphammer, but he did it.” “Tell papa, dearest. It is all right. Papa wanted you to wind up the clock. He was afraid he might have forgotten to.” “Yeth.” “Did you wind it up real good and tight?” “Yeth.” The professor jumped from his seat. He was about to dart forward when his wife stopped him. “Let us be calm,” she muttered. ‘Let us think. Tell me, at what hour was the clock set?” “At ten o'clock. I remember distinctly “What time is it now?” ‘The professor gazed at his watch. Five minutes past ten! “Tt is too late. But nothing has happened.” “But don’t you understand, my dear, that the hands were movable ? The slightest tampering on Adele’s part, even unconscious, would serve to push the hands forward; she could not push them backward—they only go forward. Suppose she joggled the hands fifteen minutes ahead. Why, then”—— The professor’s wife held him tightly. “You mustn’t go.”” “T must and will.” He rushed through the train. The baggage-car was four cars ahead. When he came to the rear end of the car he was stopped by the brake- man. “Let me through. It is important—a matter of life and death. Where is the baggageman?”” “What is the matter, sir?” “Thave no time to explain. My trunk. It cantainsa bomb. It has been set by mistake. Don’t you see there is no time?” Together they rushed into the baggage-car. The baggageman was asleep on a couple of hampers. He was roughly aroused. The situation was explained to him in gasping mono- syllables. He started up. “Where is the trunk? Do you see it?” “Yes, yes; here it is. Quick, quick, my key! Ah, here is the key!” The professor brought out a bunch of keys, took one between two fingers and inserted it in the lock of the trunk. Tt would only go half way in. Then he tried another, and another. The perspiration was rolling in streams off the baggageman and the brakeman. “My keys do not fit.” The baggageman interposed. ‘Let metry. Perhaps this is not the right trunk.” “Oh, yes, it is. It looks like my trunk. It is the only trunk here like mine.” “Your check!” “Here is the check.” “The numbers do not correspond.” “Then it is not my trunk, although it looks exactly likeit. No! Here are some other initials on it. But where is my trunk?” The baggageman shrugged his shoulders. All experienced a moment of relief. “This trunk is covered with canvas,” he said. ‘So is yours. Those canvas-covered trunks all look alike. When you checked your trunk was there”—— “Yes, there was another like it. I hadn’t thought of it before, but now Iremember. ‘There was a great rush. People in crowds. Checks being called out. A mistake has been made. My trunk has gone some- where else. You must stop the train. You must telegraph back. There is not a moment to lose.” All three rushed back through the train, which was going at the rate of forty miles an hour. The situation was hurriedly explained to the conductor. While they were talking the professor’s wife, unable to bear the suspense, and grasp- ing Adele firmly by the hand, came forward and met them. “What is it, dear? Quick! Are we safe?” “Yes, yes, for the present, we are. The wrong trunk is on the train. Our trunk—I don’t know where it is.” The conductor was the only really calm one. “Now, here’s probably the way it happened,” he said. “The man who put on the checks got the numbers mixed up, or he may have gotten the checks mixed. The numbers were recorded, weren’t they?” “Oh, yes,” said the professor. “I remember that. A man sat at a desk. He took down the numbers as they were called off by the men who checked the trunks.” “And your trunk and this trunk we have on the train by mistake were close together?” “Yes,” “Then there is a good chance that the numbers of the trunks were recorded together; that is, one right after the other.” “But the man’s name isn’t given.” “Certainly not, but the destination is. That is a clue. Canvas-cov- ered trunks are not too common. Now, if we can ascertain the desti- nation of the other trank—your trunk—the baggageman at that place will probably know to whom he delivered it—that is, there is a reason- able chance.” “But how can this be explained? Can you telegraph back and make it clear to the people in the baggage-room?” The conductor smiled. His mind worked rapidly. “Now, all you have to do is just what I say. Of course, you can’t take chances on a wire. They probably wouldn’t get it through their heads. They’re a lot of yaps there, anyway. You go back. We'll meet an express at the next station in ten minutes. You take it right back to where you came from. You go to the head baggageman. You get him to look up the record. The baggage items are all specified; that is, they say, as a rule, ‘dress-suit case,’ ‘canvas trunk,’ and so forth. You find if there are two items of two canvas trunks, or else give him the number of your check, and he can trace it that way. Then, if there is a canvas trunk checked next to yours, find out where it is going. Wire destination in advance, and follow on yourself.” “It’s the only way to do,” said the professor, quietly. “TI see it all very plainly. If the child pushed the hands far enough around, there may yet be time.” “T questioned her just now,” said the professor's wife, “but it’s no use. She doesn’t remember.” “All right. You go on to Bowderville, and I will go back.” The professor’s laid her hand firmly on her husband’s arm. “What!” she exclaimed. “Leave you to make that journey alone! This story is continued on page 782 ‘ 2 mse ee ek rs comicbooks.com