Someone to watch over me

remember because he’d just delivered our youngest boy two days before. The fifteenth of October, 1927. No, I’m getting it wrong: 1926.“
    “The boy was born that day? Or was it the day Oggleton left?“
    “Roddy was born the fifteenth. Dr. Oggleton left the seventeenth.”
    Robert could hardly believe his luck. He jotted the date in his notebook. “Did he leave any family behind?“
    “No. His wife had died of measles a year or so earlier, and they didn’t have children.“
    “And nobody ever heard anything of him again?“
    “In a manner of speaking, that’s right. But I was on duty and noticed he had his name and address on his trunk and suitcase as well. And about a year later, they were sent back from the city train terminal marked UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.“
    “What do you think happened to him?“
    “I have no idea. Probably leaped off the train at some dangerous spot. He was a really sad man after his wife died.“
    “Did he say anything to lead you to think that’s what he was planning?“
    “Didn’t say a word. I could be wrong, of course. Maybe he just couldn’t stand it here and wanted to make it look like he was taking a trip. And left his things unclaimed because he didn’t want any reminder before starting a new life.“
    “Did you open the trunk and suitcase?“
    “Yeah. But not for a month or so. With the new baby in the house, crying all the time, I didn’t have the energy. He was the only one of ours with the colic and he cried most of the time for a year and a half. My wife and I nearly went crazy.“
    “What was in the trunk? Do you remember?”
    Buchanan thought for a bit. “His medical bag. I gave that to Dr. Polhemus later. His second best suit. He was always a snappy dresser. Underwear. A lot of medical books. Gave those to Polhemus, too. Oh, and his uniform from the war, the whole thing—boots, socks, puttees, helmet, mess kit, and all. I found a museum that wanted the uniform.“
    “And the suitcase?“
    “Just the usual things. It was a sort of Gladstone bag but smaller than most. A change of shirts and underwear. Another medical book. Toothbrush and powder. Shaving tackle.”
    Robert had been writing furiously. He put his notebook back in his pocket and thanked Buchanan. “If you think of anything else about him, let me know, would you?“
    “Okey-doke. Why are you wondering about him?“
    “I’m trying to figure out whose body was found in our icehouse.“ Robert suddenly realized he had one more question. “Did you see him get on the train?“
    “I hoisted his trunk into the baggage car, I remember. It was heavy. But like I say, we had this squalling kid and I was too tired to hang around. I don’t remember if he got on the train or not. I just figured he had.“
    “Could he have just sent his luggage on, then? And walked back through town?“
    “I guess it’s possible. But why would anyone do that?“
    “Good question. Thanks again.”
    With a specific date in mind, Robert headed straight for the library. He wouldn’t need Lily to help. There might have been some sort of notice of his departure. The newspaper was still largely made up of announcements, like “Mrs. Blahblah and her lovely daughter embarked yesterday to visit Mrs. Blahblah’s family in Toledo to attend a family party honoring Mrs. Blahblah’s father’s eightieth birthday.”
    But his luck turned at the library. The librarian, the young Miss Philomena Exley, was helping a housewife find a specific cookbook. “What newspapers we have are shelved at the north end of the basement. I’m afraid there’s no index. I’ll help you in a moment.”
    Robert found the shelves but couldn’t determine what was where. The old versions of the Voorburg-on-Hudson Times were in order part of the time, but then a batch of earlier or later issues were jumbled in. And many of them had articles cut out or whole pages missing.
    Miss Exley came down the steps, and Robert couldn’t help but appreciate what lovely legs the young woman had. “I’ve been working on sorting those out for the last two years,“ she said. “I haven’t made much progress.“
    “How’d they get in such a mess?“
    “The former librarian was an enthusiastic volunteer who knew nothing about how libraries were meant to function, I’m afraid. He let people cut bits out instead of copying them by hand. And just dumped them periodically in any old pile that wasn’t already sliding off the shelves. What are you looking