making known the object of this interview, and accordingly spoke to three or four persons who had been attracted to the place by the unwonted movements, requesting them to call one of the police officers, some of whom were generally in the vicinity of that rail road station.
During this delay, and in order to prevent any attempt at escape, I put a series of questions to the baggage-master, calculated to allay the suspicion which began to be strongly indicated by his looks.
"Did you," I inquired, "find, in this morning's train from H——, a pocket-book, lost there by a passenger? If we can recover the papers, the money is less of an object."
This seemed to relieve his fears considerably, and he replied in a cheerful tone.
"I have found no such thing. It isn't my business to go through the trains, but this man's," pointing to the other person present.
"Ah, it's my mistake. Did you see anything of a pocket-book." I asked, turning to the person indicated.
"No," was the answer; "have you lost such an article?"
I was relieved from the difficulty of this question by a rap on the door from the Chief of Police, who was the man of all others whom I wished to see.
As he entered, I intimated to him, in a whisper, what was on foot, and then turning to the baggage-master, without any preamble or formality, I requested him to hand me the mail-key, which he had in his possession.