The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-03-12

~ prevail IN thlS very travelling community
Who has not heard of mistakes which have
occurred owing to their frequency and sim.
ilarity-and who in fact has not lost one
himself? That these mistakes may some
times lead to merrly- serio- comic
results, is set forth not badly, as it seems
to us, in the following story
CHAPTER 1.
There were three of them, (traveling
bags,) all of shining black leather; one on
top Of the pile of trunks; one on the
ground; one in the owners hand-all going
to Philadelphia-all waiting to be checked.
The last bell rang. The baggage man
hustled, fuming from one pile of baggage
to another, dispensing chalk to the trunks,
checks to the passengers, and curses to the
porters, in approved railway style.
Mine! Philadelphia y cried stout,
military looking man, whith enormous
whiskers and red face, crowdng forward,
as the baggage. man laid his hand on the
first bag.
won't you please to give me check for
this now?' entered pale, slender, careful
ly dressed young man, for the ninth time,
holding out bag No. 2. 81 have lady to
look after"
''Say be you goin' TO give me check
for that ar or not p growled the proprie-
tor of bag No. ga short, pockmarked fellow,
in a shabby overcoat.
"All right, gcn'rmcn. Here you are"
says the functionary, rapidly distributing
the three checks. "Phladelfy, this ?'' "YeS,
sir" "1092-1740. 1l-lOlO. All right"
"All aboard!' shouted the conductor
"Whoo-whew ~ responded the locomo-
tive; and the train moved slowly out Of the
station-house.
The baggage man meditatively watched
it, as it sped away in the distance, and then,
as if a thought suddenly struck him, slap
ping his thigh. he eXclaimed-
"Blest if don't believe"
"What?' inquired the Swi,chman.
THAT I've gone and guv them three last
fellows the wrong checks The cussed lit
tie black things was all alike, ands they
bothered me-"
Telegraph" suggested the switchman.
"Never you mind," replied the baggage
man. They was all going to Philadelfy
They'll find it out when they get there"
They did.
CHAPTER III.
The scene shifts to the Continental Ho.
tel, Philadelphia. Front parlor, up stairs
Occupants, the young gentleman alluded
to in chapter |, and young lady. In ac-
cordance with the fast usages of the times
the twain had been made one in holy ma.
trimony at 7:3O A. NJ; duly kissed and
congratulated till s:l5; put aboard the ex.
press train at $40, and deposited at the
Continental, bag and baggage, at 1888.
They were seated on the sofa, the black
broadcloath coat-sleeve cncircling the slen
der waist of the gay travelling dress, and
the jetty moustache in equally afIectionate
proximity to the glossy curls.
"Are you tired, dearest ?'
'No, love, not much. But you are
aren't your"
me, darling
Kiss and pause.
Don't it seem funny ~ said the lady.
"What, love?"
"That we should be married"
"Yes, darling"
Won't they be glad to Gus at Georges !?
"Of course they will"
"I'm sure shall enjoy it so much
Shall we get there tonight? ?"
"Yes, love, if"
Rap. rap rap at the door,
A hasty separation took place between
man and wife to opposite ends Of the sofa
and-then-
"Come in."
"Av ys PLACE, sur, it's an NJ. P. is wait
to see yez."
"To see me! \ policeman?'
ayes, sur.'
"There must be some mistake"
"No, sur, it's yourself, and he's waiting
in the hall beyant."
"Well, I'll go to-no, tell him to come
here"
"Sorry to disturb you, sir" said the NJ
P, with huge brass star on his breat, ap,
pearing with great alacrity at the waiter S
elbow. "Blieve this is your black valise?''
"Yes, that is ours, certainly. 1t has
Julla's lady's things in it,
"Suspicious circumstances about that
ere valise, sir. Telegraph come this morn
ing that a burglar started on the $40 Phil
adelphia train with a lot of stolen spoons,
in black valiso-spoons marked L. B.
Watched at the ferry. Saw the black va
lise. Followed it up here. Took peek
inside. Sure enough, there were the
spoons. Marked L. b., too. Said it was
yours. Shall have to take you in charge" "
Take me in charge" echoed the dis
mayed bridegroom. "But assume you,
my dear sir, there is some strange mistake.
It's all mistake"
"S'pose you'll be able to account for the
spoons in your valise, then?'
"Why, lit isn't mine. 1t must be
somebody else's. Somebody put them
there-it is some villainouS conspiracy
Hope you will be able to tell straight
story before the magistrate, young man
cause if you don't, you stand smart
chance Of being sent up for six months.
"Oh, Charles, this is horrid! Do send
him away. Oh. dear wish was home, v
sobbed the little bride.
81 tell you, sir" said the bridegroom,
brist.ing up with indignation, "this is all Il
vile plot What would be doing with
your paltry spoons? was married this
morning in Fifth Avanue, and am on my
wedding tour have high connections in
New York. You'll repent it, sir, if you
dare arrest me-"
"Oh, come now," said the incredulous
official, ''I've heard stories like that before
This amt the first time swindlers has ira
veled in couples. DO you s'pose / don't
know nothin' ''Tain't no use; you've
just got to come along to the station house.
Might as well 60 peaceably, cause you'll
have to-"
"Charles, this is perfectly dreadful! Our
wedding night in the station house Do
send for somebody. Send for the landlord
to explain it." ....
The landlord was sent for and came; the
porters were sent for and came; the wait
ers, and chambermaids, and bar-room
loungers came, without being sent for, and
filled the room and adjoining hall-some to
laugh, some to say they wouldn't have be-
lieved it, but nearly all to exult that the un-
happy pair had been ''found out" No
explanation could be given; and the upshot
was. that in spite of tears, threats, cntrea-