Let Down Gently

"I t.hink I lost :in umbrella in an elfivated train yesterdiiy," lie said timidly to the clerk in the lost luggage departinent. "You tlrink you lost it," replied the clerk. "Most persons are certain that they have lost an umbrella when tliey come here to inquire for it." "I am certain that I lost my umbrella," the man retorted in a severe tone, "and I think that I leít it in one of your trains." "Yesterday, was it?" "Yes." "Whatline?" "Sixth-ave, southbound." "Sixth-ave, southbound? Aboutwhat time of the day ?" "About 7 o'clock." "Seven a. m. or seven p. m.T" "Seven p. m." "Silk umbrella, I suppose." "Yes." "Black?" "Yes. Black silk umbrella." "Cherry stick with bent handle?" "That is it exactly" "No name inside?" "No; no name inside. I ahvays intended to have my name and address lut in, but have neglected it so far. I'll doitiow," said the ovvner, who expected that the umbrella would be handedto him after the cross-examination'. "Well, I'm Borry sir," replied the clerk, after he had run Iiis finger down two or three pages in a big book, "but no sucli umbrella has beu turned in