Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
'days, and after settling himself in his hotel, he took out a key to open his valise. The key did not fit Hor rors! It was not his valise! He had ,- picked up the wrong baggage in the station. He at once telephoned the "lost and found" department of the- information bureau and every thing of which he could think. 'to re ft store the property and get on 'the u a. uk. ul ms uwn. iNuiiimg coming of this, he called in a locksmith to fit a key to the lock, concluding that there might be something in the con tents that would lead to finding the owner. Some old clothes packed around two suspicious-looking boxes and some papers were inside. Whit beck set the boxes carefully aside. They might contain bombs, and he didn't care to investigate. He. began to examine the papers. They were mostly letters, all typewritten, and signed P. B. They seemed trivial, al most nonsensical, until it dawned on Whitbeck they were undoubtedly in cipher, whereat he gave the two boxes a still wider berth. There was nothing in the shape of an address and "Whitbeck was considerably non plussed and, feeling that he had un wittingly become a factor In an an ., archist plot, concluded to consult the police. He went down to get some infor mation from the hotel clerk. When he heard around an angle of the desk a woman speaking. "Is there any one here by the name of Whitley?" she asked. The clerk assured her there" was no sucn name on the register. "Why, that is strange," she per sisted. "They said at the station that - was the name given over the phone." "People don't always speak plain i ly over the phone," laughed the clerk: Whitbeck wheeled and faced the girl. It was Mary Warren! She gasped, ranetit at thfi desk and her far.f wont white. The clerk stared from one1o I the other. - i "It was a mistake in the name. Miss Warren. I presume you came about the lost valise?" Whitbeck said in the most matter of fact way in order tovshield the girl. "I did sur prise you, didn't I?" She stammered out that he'-had and allowed herself to be led into a secluded corner of a reception room. He looked a't her questioniningly, but she did not speak. The terror in her eyes was that of an animal at bay. Finally he said: "Does that valise belong to you?" "What differenceoes that make?" she asked. "Just give it to me." "Not till you answer me." "It is not mine." "It belongs to some man," he ven tured. "A coward who lets you come in his place." "No! not a coward!" she blazed out "I made him let me come. You have opened it!" "Yesv Who is he?" "I won't telL Now do with me what you like." "I don't mean to do anything un less .you make me. But you must confide in me. I only want to help you." Something in his tone swept away the barriers and she told him her story. While in his office shebecame aware that a man whose welfare was very dear to her had become involved in something dangerous. She went at once to him to try to dissuade him from it But she found him too deeply involved to listen to her per suasions. "You see," she said he had been a long time out of work. "He became very bitter against the existing state of things. He believes that some thing better must come for the working man or the whole social fab ric will be shattered by an awful war." "It is true, something better must come. Both labor and capital must be enlightened. But the bomb is not the way." 'No," she agreed. "But can you