porter, I presume?"

"Jenkins, you are exceedingly uncomplimentary at times," said Raffles
Holmes, showing more resentment than I had ever given him credit for.
"Perhaps you observed that I didn't go to the station in the omnibus."

"No, you went over to the drug-store after some phenacetine for your
headache," said I.

"Precisely," said Holmes, "and after purchasing the phenacetine I jumped
aboard the Garrymore express-wagon and got a lift over to the station. It
was during that ride that I transferred Mrs. Ward-Smythe's check from her
trunk to yours, and vice versa. It's one of the easiest jobs in the Raffles
business, especially at this season of the year, when travel is heavy and
porters are overworked."

"I'll see the trunk in the Hudson River, pearl rope and all, before I'll
claim it at Jersey City or anywhere else," said I.

"Perfectly right," Holmes returned. "We'll hand the check to the expressman
when he comes through the train, and neither of us need appear further in
the matter. It will merely be delivered at your apartment."

"Why not yours?" said I.

"Raffles!" said he, laconically, and I understood.

"And then what?" I asked.

"Let it alone, unopened, safe as a church, until Mrs. Wilbraham Ward-Smythe
discovers her loss, which will be to-morrow afternoon, and then--"

"Well?"

"Mr. Holmes will step in, unravel the mystery, prove it to be a mere
innocent mistake, collect about ten or fifteen thousand dollars reward,
divvy up with you, and the decks will be cleared for what turns up next,"
said this wonderful player of dangerous games. "And, as a beginning,
Jenkins, please sign this," he added.

Holmes handed me a typewritten-letter which read as follows.

"THE RICHMORE, June 30, 1905.
"Raffles Holmes, Esq..
"DEAR SIR,--I enclose herewith my check for $1000 as a retainer for your
services in locating for me a missing trunk, which contains articles which I
value at $10,000. This trunk was checked through to New York from Atlantic
City on Monday last, 9.40 train, and has not since been found. Whether or
not it has been stolen, or has gone astray in some wholly innocent manner,
is not as yet clear. I know of no one better equipped for the task of
finding it for me than yourself, who, I am given to understand, are the son
of the famous Sherlock Holmes of England. The check represents the ten per
cent. commission on the value of the lost articles, which I believe is the
customary fee for service