Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. _ **T described the trunk you have here?” i “® Yes, sir.” _ ** Well, that is strange, I will admit.’ ~ ‘€ And what is more, the trunk I had here was marked ‘he same as the one you saw in Philadelphia. ’’ ‘ 66 How?”? <M aS” ** Well, I'll be hanged, this is very strange, or you are giving me what you call ° guff.””’ ‘¢T am telling you the truth, sir, absolutely the truth!’’ ** And you say the trunk was called for?’’ €é Yes. 3? ‘¢ Well, that ought to end it. How can it give you any more trouble?’’ ‘Tt laid here two weeks and was not called for, but since it has been called for three times. ”’ ‘* Tt has been called for three times?’’ ejaculated the de- tective. éé Yes. 3? ‘* Well, well, what you tell me is very strange, or you are making sport of me, ang it is not to your credit to make sport of an old man.’ ‘* T swear I am telling you the truth.” ‘** You have aroused my interest. ’’ ‘*T expect trouble about that trunk. I may be arrested at any moment. ”’ ** You may be arrested? ¢é Yes. 73 ** By whom?’’ ** One of the parties who called for it. He accuses me of having stolen the darned mysterious thifig. ” ** Nonsense. ’’ ‘* Tt is true.’ | ‘‘ Well, young man, if you are arrested call on me.” ** What can you do?’’ ** T will swear I saw the trunk in Philadelphia. ” ** But how can we prove it was the same trunk?’’ ‘“‘'We will let the man describe it, and then I will Bwear. ”’ ‘* But you will be accused as an accomplice. ”’ ** No, I will not.’ The old gentleman spoke in a very confident tone. ‘* No, no,’” he added; ‘‘I am too well known. You need not fear. I will stand by you and go your bail if you are arrested.’ ’ ** You are very kind, sir.’ ‘*T believe in anil the innocent; but let’s hear about the mysterious trunk.’’ ‘‘ Well, as I told you it was here two weeks, and had troubled me a great deal; as I said, I dreamed about it, and it haunted me day and night; but one day a veiled jady called and presented the checks for the trunk.” ‘Well, well.” ‘* She was an old maid; the checks were all right and I delivered the trunk, and I was glad it was claimed. I said to myself I had been a fool to worry about the thing; but what do you think, an hour after the trunk had been de- livered a man called and aiaceamase the checks for the same trunk!’’ ‘* Well, well.’’ ej ‘asilated the listener. ** IT told him the trunk was gone.”’ “** Gone!’ he exclaimed. I said ‘ yes,’ and he said, ‘how could you deliver a trunk without the checks?’ I said the checl#s were handed in. He seemed greatly disap- pointed and worried, and he asked what was the appear- ance of the party to whom I gave the trunk. I described the party and he said, ‘you have been imposed upon or you stole the trunk!’ and with that he went away. ’’ 933 3 And he had the right checks?” é¢ Yes. 7? ** Well, well. ”’ “ But the strangest thing i is to come.” éé Indeed. 33 ‘Yes; the next day another lady called and claimed the trunk.” ~ §* A third party?’ €é Yes. 33 ** And she had the checks?’’ ‘** Yes, the last party had the genuine checks.”’ ** And it was a lady?’’ €6 Yes. 33 ** Did you see her face?’ €¢ Yes. 33 ** Young or old?” ‘A young and beautiful girl, and I am satisfied she wae the rightful owner of the trunk.” The disguised detective pretended to be very indifferent, but in fact he was deeply interested. ‘* She was young and beautiful?” é¢ Yes.’? ‘* And you say she had the genuine checks?’’ 66 Yes. 33 ‘‘ How could you make the distinction between her checks and the others?’’ ‘‘The moment I saw her checks I knew they were the right ones.’’ ‘* What did you tell her?’’ ‘**T told her the trunk had 2995 claimed and delivered. ” ** What did she say?’’ ‘She did not say anything, but her beautiful face be- trayed great distress. ’ ‘* Did she ask you any questions?’’ ‘Yes; she asked me who got the trunk, and when I said a lady she appeared even more surprised.’’ ** Did you tell her about the man?” éé Yes. 33 ‘¢ What did she say then???” ** Well, I tell you her face wore a troubled look all the time, and I told her I would look the matter up.” ‘* Did she say she would come again?r”’ ee Yes. 33° ** Did she come?’’ ‘* It was only yesterday she was here.’’ “* And you expect her to-day?’’ ** Yes; and by George, it’s strange there should be go much trouble about that trunk! it’s strange, but I stood in awe of the thing the moment I first laid my eyes on it.”? ** Did the lady say what was in the runk?”’ ee No. 33 ‘* Give you no idea of its contents?’’ 6é No. 33 ‘ ** Well, I will come and see you again, young man, and if you get into trouble let. me know. ” ‘* How will I find you, sir?’ The old man gave the baggageman a card with the ade dress at a well-known hotel, and as he did go he gaid: ‘You must look out for my trunk.” ‘* Your trunk never came here, sir.”’ ‘* It may have been delayed on the road.’’ ‘* Yes, it may turn up some day. ” “Tf it does, be sure and hold it for me whether any ons presents checks or not. ”’ °° T will, sir.’ The disguised detective went away, seemingly, but in fact he merely went far enough to work a ‘‘ transform ” and returned. ‘aia com